The race for the title as well as the top four berths is heating up but let us not undermine as to what the last three spots also cultivates. Humungous contentment for the survivalists and miserable sorrow for the underperformers: the relegation fistfight that occurs in the Premier League is simply fascinating, to say the least. There is an unmatchable adrenaline both at the top as well as the bottom and no wonder why this league is widely touted as the best one in the world.
Sunderland, the renowned relegation escapists, are once again in the vicinity of the clutches of relegation, though the tides of challenges are severely against them this time around. Placed rock bottom in the League, Sunderland are three points below the safe zone and with how the scenario is poised at the moment, one might not that the Black Cats aren’t going to get breathing space anytime soon. More than anything else, the January transfer window hasn’t refrained from being tough on them.
David Moyes has signed former AEK Athens defender Joleon Lescott, who was available for free. Although every aspect of their game is in tatters at the moment, their defence is the worst-hit and maligned feature of their setup. With Lamine Kone on international duty with Ivory Coast, his fellow first-choice centre-back, Papy Djilobodji, has been handed a three-game ban after Sunderland’s clash against West Bromwich Albion last weekend. John O’Shea was the only recognised centre-back prior to the signing of Lescott. Does this transfer not speak volumes about the present stature of the club?
Make no mistake of being satisfied with this new face at the Stadium of Light, for this transfer window held paramount importance for Sunderland. At a stage when they should have lured galvanising figures, they have opted a completely opposite path by luring Lescott into the ranks. At the onset, it must be pointed out that Lescott been a shambolic defender for last five years or so. It is no brainer to realise that the stock of the former English international has diluted considerably.
Frustrated signings like this out of desperate measures have hardly led any side to great pedestals and one might not expect Moyes’ side to climb out of the relegation zone, not with the likes of out-of-touch players like Lescott and the woeful situation of the club in terms of how they have managed their finances.
Lescott has been a serial outcast and Sunderland have signed a last resort option (that too with respect to worst case scenarios) which is a telling evidence that they have already given up. With clouds darkening over the Stadium of Light with every passing day, will Moyes bank ride solely on bluff and luck for the remainder of this season?
