Just under two months ago, I packed my bags and headed up here to Sunderland University, leaving my family, my friends, but most importantly, my team behind. Coming off the back of two wins in a week, I left with high hopes. Of course I was gutted that I wouldn't be present to watch us climb the table with more impressive victories and performances to match. Oh how wrong I was.
I read the posts on the message board and the utterances of despair and frustration and in a way I'm somewhat glad I'm not there to witness it. Obviously, tensions are running high. After all as we all know, it's took a mighty long time for us to get where we are and four years of hard work and progress are currently seemingly falling apart.
But can Eyre turn it around?
Personally, the results are simply not up to scratch, and I would be looking for the best way in which to replace him however. However for a number of reasons, it seems unlikely the Mancunian man in charge will be leaving any time soon. So for now, we have to get behind him. As Razzle's revelations revealed to us, Eyre clearly has a problem with a few aspects of his squad, but if he is passionate enough to speak his mind in that way, he certainly has the desire to get us out of this. And we have good players. From what I've seen Grimes is an excellent striker in the 'Alfie' mould, and the players we still have with us from last season, such as Jonah, JK and Widdowson and Adams are all more than capable League One players.
And one thing that might, just might make a difference, could be the return of Simon Hackney. I remember Hackney from his Carlisle days. He's a pacey winger with a threatening cross and he could provide the perfect balance that has been so elusive and has been alluded to on the messageboard. Tutte is not a winger but Hackney is, and having two fit wingers gives us a variety of options. 4-4-2 becomes a much more effective formation for a start, with the array of strikers we currently have on the clubs books having the chance to form some sort of partnership. The 4-2-3-1 formation away from home could give us more options in midfield, and could be an efficient way of combining Jones, Tutte and Kennedy in the midfield. In addition to this, having two fit wingers in the starting eleven may take some of the creative pressure off Adams, leaving him to play his natural game, which can prove to be match-winning.
Now defensively there has been issues since the start of the season. Twaddle seems to be the most pointless signing we've ever made (other than perhaps, Charlie Comyn-Platt), Trotman isn't good enough and Holness is apparently lost without Dawson - which was to be expected. Holden and Jordan are promising additions, and seeing as the only game they've started so far was away against a side chasing automatic promotion, we can't be too quick to condemn them.
So next up, Preston North End at home in the JPT and Bradford City away in the FA Cup this week. These are two fixtures that will allow the players and staff to prove themselves worthy of saving this club from the slump it's found itself in. If they don't, this blog might not be taking this 'always look on the bright side' view next week.
I'm trying to be positive here and cheer everyone up, so sorry that it's proved to be quite a serious start to what hopefully will become a weekly addition to the site and if/when the time is right, hopefully a little more light-hearted. But come on, let's have a few more weeks getting behind him and seeing if he's made of management material.
Mr. Eyre, it's make or break time sir.