By Ewah Chika.


While other clubs were busy recruiting numerous players in the transfer window , David Moyes and Sunderland left it late until the last day of the transfer window before attempting to sign a goalkeeper who will replace injured Vito Manonne. Though Sunderland's bid to sign Lorient's midfielder Didier Ndong for £13 million was successful the same cannot be said of the bid to sign goalkeeper Mika and Norwich's Steven Naismith.

Of all the teams in the Premier League, in theory Sunderland posses the weakest names and quality in attack with 33-year-old Jermain Defoe and inconsistent Victor Anichebe the only recognised strikers at the club with the likes of inexperienced Josh Rees, Robson Greeenwood and 17-year-old Joel Asoro making up the numbers. This is coming at the time Fabio Borini has been deemed out for months after injuring during training.

"Fabio Borini, we expect to be out for three months, that is a rough guide. We are told it is there months though, an abductor that came off the bone," were the words of David Moyes revealing the injury Borini suffered.

It is weird to further reveal that Sunderland signed nine new players in the summer yet the club couldn't sign a forward expect for Anichebe or goalkeeper for a team struggling to score goals at the same time conceding goals at an alarming rate. This season, the North East side have already lost twice against Manchester City and West Ham, gaining only one point (goalless draw against Middlesbrough ) from a possible nine. In defence , Moyes has the inexperienced likes of Jason Denayer, Paddy McNair, Liverpool flop Javier Manquillo , Love and Chelsea flop Papy Djilibodji who made only one substitute appearance in the league cup for Chelsea last season with only Lamine Kone and Patrick Van Aanholt standing out, though both are still largely inconsistent. And for a club that has escaped relegation twice on the last days for the past two years, nothing can be more shocking.

In midfield, Sunderland are not better as old exhausted players such as John O'Shea and Steven Piernaar battle it out with young but faded players like Jack Rodwell and Cattermole. In goal, Jordon Pickford will play until Mannone recovers and judging from his debut game it is difficult not to tip Sunderland as relegation favourites.

Therefore just like last season, Premier League survival for Sunderland this season will extensively depend on the ability of the likes of Jermain Defoe and Adan Januzaj to score important goals as anything contrary to this will be termed a 'Miracle' if Sunderland escape relegation come May 2017.

Source: Mailtelegraph..com

http://mailtelegraph..com.ng/2016/09/sunderlands-poor-summer-transfer-edges.html?m=1