Last week we had a long discussion on the Podcast about formations and came to the conclusion that Sunderland needed to change to a four at the back - and they did just that this weekend.
But the result? The same as the outcome of every home game we seem to play against average Championship teams - another humbling defeat.
Mark my words - this team is going down to League One. I see nothing to suggest that we can stay up. Defensively we are appalling, we have no goal scorers and we have won the least amount of games in the division.
Why would we suddenly win six of our last fourteen games when we have only won five of our last thirty-two Championship games?
Chris Coleman changed the formation and stuck in Aiden McGeady - but formations alone aren’t enough to make players play with heart. This team is fundamentally flawed in every position. Our manager has the worst job in football.
What is more baffling is the fact that we came from 3-0 down last week to draw 3-3. Surely the players would be up for this game following such a heroic resurgence?
The first twenty minutes of the game against Brentford was the worst I have seen from a Sunderland team in my lifetime. Second to every ball, no heart, no skill and no hope of ever doing anything in the game. If I have to watch John O’Shea and Tyias Browning punt another hopeless long ball up the field again I will gouge my eyeballs out.
Lee Cattermole seems incapable of playing a decent forward pass. Ethan Robson, for all I have praised him, looked completely out of his depth. The lad struggled to connect any passes and seemingly lost all his composure on the ball.
George Honeyman, like many of his colleagues, was all fart and no sh*t; and our 6’4” target man Ashley Fletcher struggled to win a header all game.
Then there’s Billy Jones. Billy Jones, man. How does that bloke earn a living playing football? It boggles the mind.
The only player who comes away with any credit recently is the teenager Joel Asoro. We are relying on a young boy to keep us afloat.
I’m usually fairly optimistic but I just don’t see how we turn this around now. The players just aren’t good enough, it’s that simple.
This week’s Roker Rapport Podcast will be out a day earlier, later tonight. Be sure to tune in - it’s free to download on iTunes, Acast and Youtube!