In the first few months that Phil Parkinson was in charge, many fans were worried about the future of their club. Parkinson came in to replace Jack Ross as manager; however, results and performances saw fans calling for the former Bolton Wanderers boss to be sacked. Parkinson appears to have steered the club around a huge corner, with Sunderland’s early-season problems fading away.
The Black Cats are back into the play-off positions after falling to their lowest ever league position. Nine games without defeat now have fans believing in Parkinson and his methods as they battle for promotion back to the Championship.
Sunderland’s Early-Season Problems Are Fading Away
Parkinson Finally Settling In
Sunderland are now looking a different proposition since early December. Changes in formation, players being taken out of the first team and others brought in; Phil Parkinson has begun to put his stamp on the club and the future seems brighter than it has all season. Several factors have played their part in an upturn in fortunes on Wearside.
Parkinson had a troubled start to his time as Sunderland manager. Results and performances were poor and off the field issues did not help. However, he now believes he and his team are getting it right: “It was a bit of a muddled start when I came in, with a couple of key players injured and then we had a run of cup games – four cup games in succession – where we changed the team and formation and were trying to have a look at everybody. It’s only now we’ve got a bit of cohesion and that’s shown in the results.”
“It’s great when it happens because it shows the lads in the team are doing well, but equally I’ve been pleased with the lads who’ve been out of the team because the standards in training have been outstanding and they’ve driven the lads in the team on each day.”
“We’ve got a lot of work to do and I feel we are only just getting starting to get the team playing the way we want it to. It’s about accepting that there will be different periods in the season where things don’t go your way and you’ve got to find a way through that. Each week, it’s concentrating on the training, making sure that’s right, trying to improve each individual player as we go along. That’s what we’re trying to do and we’re enjoying it at the moment.”
Nine Game Unbeaten Run Helping Sunderland’s Early-Season Problems
A home draw against Blackpool on December 14th saw the beginning of a current nine-game unbeaten streak. Five of these games have been won, with the Black Cats climbing from 15th in the table to fifth prior to an away trip to promotion rivals Portsmouth.
Before the Blackpool game, fans wondered what was happening to their club, with many questioning the decision to appoint Phil Parkinson. However, Parkinson and his team have began to show what they can do. The Black Cats travel to Portsmouth now full of confidence. For the latest betting odds for this game and many others, check out the bet9ja prediction.
Change of Formation
A major change that has brought success is a switch in formation. Phil Parkinson has switched to using three central defenders. This has allowed Luke O’Nien and Denver Hume to be deployed as wingbacks. Two central midfielders are behind Lynden Gooch and Chris Maguire who support the lone striker.
Clean Sheets
The old saying “if you don’t concede, you don’t lose” is proving apt at present. The Black Cats have kept five clean sheets during this unbeaten run. Four of these have been in the last four games. The change in formation is paying off. Sunderland look more solid as a unit now. Gone are the days where fans expected their team to concede, knowing that they would be required to outscore the opposition to win.
Aiden McGeady
Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady, who signed for Charlton on transfer deadline day, has not featured since being told he would not play for the club again. McGeady has not played since November 26th in a home defeat to Burton Albion. He was last seen in a matchday squad on December 7th in an away defeat to Gillingham. Rumours were rife of a training ground bust-up; however, no details have been made public.
Since the winger’s exclusion from the first-team, results and performances have improved significantly. McGeady had not been in the kind of form that saw him collect the Player of the Year award last season. The Black Cats are currently unbeaten since the former Celtic man wore the red and white shirt. It’s a decision that has certainly paid off for Phil Parkinson.
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