We have got to try to get the balance right and obviously choose and get the right players at the right price in the transfer market.
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Younes Kaboul’s departure to Watford and Lamine Kone’s back injury forced Moyes into naming an unfamiliar XI, featuring a makeshift back four, for the 143rd Wear-Tees derby.
As Sunderland went into half-time facing a 2-0 defect to local rivals Middlesbrough, there was a feeling of “here we go again” at the Stadium of Light. We played well in the first half but second half we made it hard for ourselves.
Moyes handed home debuts to five players in a youthful line-up against Middlesbrough and hinted there could be more additions in the close season. “I actually thought we played quite well for 30 minutes, and I wasn’t sure it was the right result at half-time, that’s for sure”.
“I think it will be (another relegation battle)”, Moyes said after yet another summer defeat for Sunderland, reported by the BBC.
Patrick van Aanholt pulled a goal back in the 71st for Sunderland, which has lost its opening two games of the season under recently hired manager David Moyes and saw captain John O’Shea come off with an injury in the first half.
“The O’Shea change came at the worst time for us”, he said.
That said, Adnan Januzaj, Lynden Gooch and Duncan Watmore all started in promising fashion as the Black Cats took the game to their neighbours, although with star striker Jermain Defoe strangely subdued, they were able to create little of note before disaster struck.
“The key was the first half. We need to keep our chin up and work on it”.
This is Sunderland’s tenth consecutive season in the Premier League and yet the club which has spent the last seven years in the Championship look better equipped to stay among the elite.
“We’re working hard, everyone knows we’re short, no more than us here, but we’ll get the players”.
“We have seen enough at Manchester City and against Middlesbrough some positive things”.
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Former Sunderland defender Gary Bennett, speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle: “Sunderland went into pieces in the first half and if that’s a sample of what we are going to put up with, we are going to struggle. We were patched up for a long period of the game”.
