THEY say an accident is a result of many factors all coming together, all combining to create a unique set of conditions, any one of which could have been prevented on their own- but combined, the effect is catastrophic. Let’s keep perspective, this was ‘just’ a football match. Within that context, this wasn’t about one bad game of [football.](https://www.claretandhugh.info/sunderland-3-0-west-ham-player-ratings-as-hammers-get-humbled/)
This was about unwise investment in an ageing squad of players. Many of whom are paid too much to ever want to leave, mostly ineffective and now worthy of only a lower division. They’ve been up for sale all summer and – no takers: Which appears to be a surprise _only to the owners._
It is not a new trend: Indeed it can be traced back over four managers plus. So it doesn’t all fall onto Graham Potter’s shoulders.
The kind of club that can pay £30 million for James Ward Prowse and £15 million for Danny Ings (to pick two examples) but then won’t pay perhaps £1 million a year to employ a professional director of football is definitely being run more like a small time 1980’s garden shed business that will never grow any bigger without professionals put in key positions, instead of a multi billion aspirational football club. With the 10th biggest attendance in the world.
Huge salaries for average players who then won’t leave and drain resources whist sitting on the bench but ‘massive’ under investment on training facilities. Unwise. To say the least.
The warning lights have been flashing for years.
Potter’s lack of ambition in playing style is probably through realisation of the limitations of all of his midfielders and most of his attackers. Did he do his homework before joining? Or was he promised the funds for root and branch reforms?
What is not excusable – and is down to Potter – is the promise to put youth at the heart of the team and then rocking up at the Stadium of Light without Scarles, Orford, Guilherme, Potts or any of the other promising crop anywhere near the bench.(Callum Marshall was suspended). And let’s be clear, it is Potter who chose to spend the limited funds on a left back and a goal keeper rather than busting a gut to bring in two new midfielders. So for that, the buck stops with him.