One game in and the pressure is already on. The fixture list has not been kind to Sunderland and with the club notoriously bad travellers, there is a danger that Il Duce's Black Shirts could be cut adrift come the end of October.
Just how the Italian will cope with the pressure of losing regularly will be interesting to see. This is the man who once demanded to be substituted at West Ham because the referee wouldn't give him penalties. To say that his temperament is brittle is the understatement of the year!
His first mistake of the season was probably to go into the first game with five new faces in the team. Allardyce has received criticism for sticking with 11 players who were at the club at the end of last season to start the game against Cardiff, but it probably makes sense to ease players in, gently blending the ingredients together, rather than stirring the mix violently and hoping for a dramatic reaction. Messers Rat and Downing will get their chance soon, and Morrison may also get into the mix, but we ended last season well, so why fix what isn't broken?
The same isn't true of Sunderland, of course. Yes Di Canio got an initial reaction but if you explode a bomb in a dressing room, even the most lethargic players will react - a certain Danny Graham excepted of course. However, once the blood was cleaned from the walls, Sunderland reverted to type - and they are a moderate and grossly overpaid bunch.
Mistake number two may be the creation of a divided dressing room, with the Di Canio Foreign Legion parachuted in over the summer. Ten new faces already, and Il Duce reckons he needs another five. So, no long term future for any of the players already at the club when he arrived presumably? You can hear the mutterings of dissent down in London!
Fulham at home was a gimme fixture which Sunderland needed to win. The opening day defeat has pricked the Di Canio bubble and there may be big trouble ahead!
you dont have a clue you talk a load of crap one game and your come out with comments like that give him a chance instead of jummp on the band wagon and have a swipe at di canio
ReplyDeleteWhat's it got to do with you? Your post are all rubbish you make west ham fans look stupid
ReplyDeletewhat a load of rubish he has worked hard to get players in and we will see inprovements over the next few games i hate you doom and gloom people i was there on saturday and we played more than ok just unlucky i hope you eat your words befor the end of the season sir !!!
ReplyDeleteIs this Sunderland site?
ReplyDeleteNever read so much rubbish in my life.
ReplyDeletePoor poor article - after only one game into the season.
ReplyDeletePlease review the stats, we were dominant apart from one corner and one goal.
Can't wait until we burst West Ham's "Pretty bubble, in the air"
You really are an embarrassment Fanny - you love to slag off our best players - SP, PDC and why? for hits? for "controversy" for attention? You obviously have small man syndrome - here's betting you're under 5'8"
ReplyDeleteI don't like fascists 16:45. My mother and her sister were evacuated during the war and the family home in Dundee Road, E13, took a direct hit. So, apart from 6m Jews being murdered, and 20m people worldwide dying because of the Axis powers, it is a wee bit personal. Di Canio chose to have that tattoo and chose to give that Nazi salute. Sure he was a great player when in Claret (and Blue and when he was willing to travel to away games), but he is not a West Ham player any longer, and so does not deserve our support. Do you think he would care if Sunderland stayed up at the expense of West Ham this season?
ReplyDeleteAs for Parker, he is as big a Judas as Defoe. He chose Spurs remember, after being voted Hammer of the Year three years in succession. If he ever returns to Upton Park it should be through a renamed Traitor's Gate!
What an absolute clown!
ReplyDeleteDi Canio isnt a fascist HF. That salute was a roman salute used in italy long before it was a nazi salute.
ReplyDeleteThat's why he has a tattoo of Mussolini on his arm Fred. He thought the guy was a social democrat I suppose!
ReplyDelete17:08 small man syndrome it is then! #makessense
ReplyDeletefunny how you're the No.1 person on here that can't get irony
ReplyDeleteSee some pathetic troll is taking my name again. Ignore the irony comment HF, not me.
ReplyDeleteJust joking, it was me. Just wanted to see what you'd say! Apparently nothing.
ReplyDeleteWhy dont you Piss off you pathetic troll. Have u got nothing better to do then take someone elses name. Although im pretty sure HF could tell whos the original based off his favourite word, Grammar!
ReplyDelete