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The Moyes effect
What a difference a year makes.
Twelve months have passed since we defeated Everton 3-0 last season, securing our Premier League survival and Newcastle's relegation to the Championship in the process. The Stadium of Light was bouncing; people turned up in their droves for a midweek game and the clamour to make the occasion work for us was phenomenal. It was almost the most perfect night I've witnessed as a Sunderland supporter, led by a manager we could believe in and a squad that had bought into what it was like to be a Sunderland player - or so we thought.
Step forward to now and the difference between the two situations is not only saddening but makes me genuinely apathetic towards our plight. I couldn't even be bothered to go yesterday. How has it came to this? Watching Sam Allardyce give his post-match interview this afternoon after keeping Crystal Palace in the Premier League hurt my already broken heart immensely.
The official attendance given yesterday was 38,781 but anyone with half-decent eyesight could see that the actual crowd was far lower. I don't blame anyone for not turning up to watch that - the game was unimportant and we all knew Swansea were going to win regardless, because winning to them meant everything.
It's such a shame that we've gone out with such a whimper, and the sight of so many empty seats yesterday was indicative of that.
Player exodus cannot come soon enough
I just hate this squad. I hate them so, so much.
You can actually see quite clearly which of them feel they're doing us a favour by being here. You can count on less than one hand the ones that are genuinely irked by the fact we have been relegated.
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This lot couldn't even bring themselves to face the music after yesterday's game. David Moyes was the first man down the tunnel at full time and only seven of his players stayed to show appreciation for the fans that bothered to remain in the Stadium of Light once the whistle had blown.
This is a rotten, spineless squad led by a rotten and spineless manager.
The games against Arsenal and Chelsea in this next week are going to be pure torture - two quality sides that will be relishing home games against a team as poor as ours. Arsenal have to beat us to stand a chance of earning a top four finish, whilst Chelsea will be in a party mood as they celebrate winning the league title.
We just have to get through this week and we can start looking properly towards the summer. Enjoy the fact that, come next Sunday night, you won't have to see bottlers like Fabio Borini and Lamine Kone again in a Sunderland shirt.
Injured?
Call me cynical but I'm not entirely convinced that Jason Denayer and Victor Anichebe could be arsed yesterday and whether or not their 'injuries' were so bad that they could no longer continue is entirely up for debate. I suppose it'll all come out in the wash.
Shirkers.