With each passing week, the possibility of spending next season in League One is becoming more of a reality. The loss against Ipswich was overridden with disappointment as another collapse was on show for the scarce Stadium of Light crowd.
In the recent 2-0 defeat, half of our squad consisted of players which maybe wouldn’t be considered first team players had injuries and poor recruitment not been a major factor in team selection over recent months.
The loan signings of players from prestigious clubs such as Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton saw expectations raise once again, especially considering their reputations in the English youth system.
Brendan Galloway is a perfect example of a player who arrived on Wearside full of confidence after a successful Summer, only for his ability to be questioned and the aforementioned confidence to be shot down.
We have to remember that these players have been sent to us, not out of goodwill but in the hope they can develop attributes they may struggle to in under 23’s football. They certainly cannot be expected to be the finished article, or anywhere near that for a matter of fact.
I, for one, do not and will not put any blame on these young loan players and academy products if the inevitable does happen and we end up relegated to the third tier of English football. These lads are giving everything for the cause and while their ability sometimes does not match these efforts, this is a step in the right direction in terms of developing an identity for the club.
Chris Coleman has played his part in developing a positive environment for the players by weeding out most of the disgraces we called footballers. Longevity in his planning is imperative at this stage as survival could leave us with the same problems we have faced this season, and that’s been no fun at all, has it?
Looking at the teams who have faced double relegation in the past, Wolves seem to be the club with the model for success in recovering from the unwanted achievement. Their near perfect season so far has not gone unnoticed in European football with some big names being linked in the most recent transfer window, most notably Portuguese duo Joao Moutinho and Andre Silva.
This revival from a team who found themselves in League One only four years ago gives us hope that our owner might too sell up and give the club a fighting chance at redemption. Maybe a little time out of the spotlight would be beneficial for Coleman to rebuild this once great force.
The joy of winning most weeks would also bring a smile back to the faces of many on Wearside and while it’ll not compete with victories over the biggest teams in the country, it will bring the long-awaited feel-good factor back to our loyal supporters.