Sunderland's New Year Resolutions

Stop Bemoaning Bad Luck

I've been as guilty of hiding behind this crutch for five months now myself and it quite honestly has to stop. Make no mistake the fixture list was ridiculously harsh on Sunderland this season with an incredible run of home fixtures against a potential top six and with the home leg of the derby hoyed into the mix for good measure too. However with Saturday's defeat to Spurs out of the way we are now in the clear and if we are to stand any chance of clawing our way out of this mess we need to do it on our own merit.

Sure there have also been some ludicrous refereeing decisions which have gone against us and results in games involving the teams around the drop zone haven't gone in our favour of late, but so what? We can't hid in the corner, licking our wounds and feeling sorry for ourselves for much longer or it will be too late.

If we're going to go down at least go down swinging.

Stand By Gus Poyet

The turnaround of managers at the Stadium of Light in recent years has been nothing short of staggering. What we need now is a prolonged period of stability and to show some faith in Gus Poyet, even if we are to face relegation come May.

While it is still very early days in the fledgling Sunderland manager's career in the North East the signs have been promising overall. Sure mistakes have been made but hopefully lessons have also been learned.

Poyet has a vision and a style of play which we should embrace, support and back to the hilt. The man is on the verge of providing this club with an actual identity, something which cannot be said for any other manager since Peter Reid and his swashbuckling wingers and big man/little man strike partnership.

All I'm saying is, give Gus a chance.

Solve The Left Back Problem... ONCE AND FOR ALL

I'm not even going to dwell on this one as it is painstakingly obvious to everyone involved with the club. Buy a sodding left back, preferably a good one .

Sign Liam Bridcutt

Following on from point number two, the club should back Poyet in the January transfer market and having somehow missed out on Paolo Di Canio's number one transfer target, Tom Huddlestone, bring in the new fella's personal favourite; Liam Bridcutt.

Poyet has waxed lyrical about his former midfielder, the player himself has recently talked up a move to the Premier League sooner rather than later and if you believe some of the online chitter-chatter the transfer looks to be nailed on.

Bridcutt would certainly bring more to the midfield party than Craig Gardner and co. you have to feel and would already be familiar with Poyet's system. Makes perfect sense.

Speaking of midfielders...

#BRINGALFHOME

Enough is enough. Quite why N'Diaye was allowed to leave on a loan deal in the summer months was a bizarre turn of events, bordering on a criminal offence, which still has me losing sleep to this day.

Sure, Alf is far from the finished article and is rather a rough diamond, but give me him in the middle of the park, providing a base for Ki Sung-Yeung and co. to build on any day of the week.

Thankfully Poyet looks set to give such a recall some thought although it is expected that the club will have to pay to release him from the deal.

Keep Colback At The Club

Sure Jack Colback's form has faltered a little recently but that should not be allowed to overshadow what has been a fantastic return to the centre of midfield since Poyet's arrival.

Colback is rarely going to be a player which catches the limelight and wins the headlines but his effective, workman like attitude to the midfield game has been key to the implementation of Poyet's 4-5-1 formation and looks at home in a three man midfield.

It would be an incredible waste to allow such a talent to leave for nothing in the summer and something we would undoubtedly come to regret.

Sign Ki And Build A Team Around Him And Giaccherini

Sunderland should move heaven and earth to sign Ki Sung-Yeung to a full time deal and the sooner the better, preferably January as this would also free up a spot for another loanee.

The Swansea man took a short while to make an impact on Wearside but has since become integral to Sunderland's side as especially Poyet's three man midfield. Securing his services on a permanent deal should be very high on the clubs list of things to do.

You also have to think that if Sunderland are to really get going this season that getting performances out of Emanuele Giaccherini could well be vital. The former Juventus man has endured a tough start to life on Wearside either forced out wide or out of the side altogether.

Personally I'd be tempted to give him a chance in the middle of the park or just off a loan striker but surely he has to be worth a spot in the side ahead of Craig Gardner or Sebastian Larsson at this stage? We have tried, tried and tried again with the same old crop of crap players who continue to disappoint - its time to shake things up.

oh, and I nearly forgot...

CUT OUT THE OWN-F'ING-GOALS!

Anything we've missed? Let us know in the comments below!