Looking back Part 1
The Last time Sunderland A.F.C played in the Premier League, the world was a very different place. Donald Trump was President, the country was divided over Brexit, tension in the middle east was causing global concern. I’m glad we are in a very different world now. the last game of that terrible 2016/17 season was against Chelsea and will be awkwardly remembered for when John Terry was awkwardly subbed off in the 26th Minute in his final game for the blues and the Black Cats ended their stay in the premier league with a wimper.
What is an interesting exercise, something Down By The Wear will look to make a regular feature, is looking back to see how the club has transformed over the years and how football has changed. Back then Antonio Conte was in the opposite dug out to David Moyes, who gave up on the season very quickly. It is hard to say if this was the darkest time at the club, embarrassed on a global stage and reflecting back makes it easy to see that the club was well and truely sleepwalking into disaster. Despite the bright moments from recent seasons, Defoe’s goal against Newcastle, beating Chelsea 3-2 at home and the League Cup final. Just 5 years later, the club would suffer back to back relegations to League 1. The rot had embedded itself and was eating the club from the inside out, Mercenaries, Manager merry go round and ownership decline.
While it wasn’t the start of the rot, Premier League relegation accelrated the decay. That final game consisted of names who will live in the hearts of a generation and names which need to be quietly uttered around the Stadium of Light.
Ellis Short was no longer interested in the fortunes of the club, while yes, £17 million had been spent on Didier N’Dong it feels like not an ounce of care or compassion was coming from above. Turbulent times on and off the pitch set our beloved club up for some very dark days. There was a shadow of failure looming over the club, Moyes bailed, players bailed and the club started the next season with renewed hope that maybe, this will be an opportunity to restart the club.
Subsitutes
Mannone, Love, Gibson, Asoro, Maja, Embleton, Gooch.
