It’s make or break time for Ellis Short

It’s been a whirlwind two weeks since my last blog. It has seen the Black Cats concede three at home to Norwich and Exeter City and hold an in-form Swansea to a draw.

One thing is for sure, Sunderland need to make some decent signings before the window shuts for many reasons. The squad, currently, isn’t good enough to remain in the Premier League in my eyes but more importantly, I can see Dick Advocaat walking if quality signings aren’t made after he was promised money to spend.

Many Sunderland fans are beginning to question Sunderland’s recruitment team, as since Ellis Short took charge, we seem to have failed to have had a decent transfer window.

We spend our time lingering in the bargain basement and signing a few players for £2/3 million and wonder why we’re in a relegation battle instead of making a couple of big money transfers. The players we have signed for £10m+ haven’t cut the mustard. Apart from Adam Johnson, players such as Jack Rodwell and Steven Fletcher have been a major let down.

Lee Congerton, Sunderland’s Director of Football, has a lot to answer for. So far his marquee signings have been anything but a success and quite frankly I don’t know why we bother wasting money on his wages.

Paolo Di Canio was always destined to fail but he was right about one thing – how poorly the club is run and how the players have too much control. Gus Poyet said exactly the same and it looks like Dick is having the same problem. Broken promises and lacklustre players.

The spine of the team is very much the same as it was since the end of the Bruce era, which makes it no surprise that we’ve been struggling ever since. These players have seen off four managers already and it could soon be five. When will it end? It’s clear the players aren’t good enough.

The defence still needs strengthening despite already signing three defenders this window. That’s how poor our recruitment team are. The defending against Norwich was genuinely laughable. If I’d have defended like that when I played as a kid my manager would have slated me, never mind at Premier League level.

There was a vast improvement in the Swansea game as the players looked committed and the introduction of John O’Shea was a welcome one. Swansea’s goal however, was again due to a sloppy bit of defending.

On Tuesday night, in the Capital One Cup, Sunderland conceded three goals to League Two side Exeter City. The final score was 6-3 to Sunderland after a Jermain Defoe hat-trick, a Jack Rodwell brace and another goal for super sub Duncan Watmore. But, should a Premier League team really be conceding three goals to a League Two side with a full strength squad?

You probably think I’m overreacting but it isn’t as if their goals were well-worked goals. All three were from embarrassing bits of defending. We’ve conceded 11 goals in four games in all competitions this season and just about all of them have been from embarrassing bits of defending.

Ellis Short has a lot to do if he wants to secure Premier League football next season. During the Norwich game, Sunderland fans were singing “are you watching Ellis Short?” which forced the owner to issue a statement.

I must say it didn’t fill me with the best of hope after saying we’ll “hopefully” be making a few more signings. The Texan billionaire also said he went for an “angry walk” when the third goal went in like many Sunderland fans did. Yes Ellis, I’m sure it was awful wandering around your multi-million dollar home whilst some Sunderland fans are spending every last penny they have watching their beloved team. Something needs to change.