Head coach Phil Parkinson and executive director Charlie Methven spoke with Sunderland supporters about their concerns. Sunderland fan @Kingy78_ live-tweeted the event. Methven himself addressed recruitment issues, transfer budgets and player contracts.
However, one statement that Methven made concerned fans greatly. According to @Kingy78_, Methven suggested that the current players were incapable of playing in front of large crowds. Or at least that they weren’t used to it. The statement was likely made in an attempt to defend the players, however, fans were not accepting it as in a reasonable excuse.
Some suggested that the conditions are the same for both sets of players. Another indicated that if the club were to make their way back to the Championship, the crowds will only continue to grow. They find these excuses embarrassing.
But the teams we come up against when we’re at home are also playing in front of 30000 and shouldn’t be able to handle it either
— Chan (@2Jackscott) November 21, 2019
If they cant handle playing in front of big crowds get shot. If we get promotion the crowds will probably get bigger
— D A L E (@northernsoulftm) November 21, 2019
— Anthony Rand (@mackemanth) November 21, 2019
Another supporter suggested that their home form wasn’t awful, so Methven’s comments don’t excuse poor away performances. Another even pointed out that since the Stadium of Light hasn’t it been at full capacity in a while, the players have yet to play in front of a stadium filled with 30,000 people.
And we don’t play away games infront of 30,000
— Paul ‘boo’ Scott (@theboovont) November 21, 2019
They have not played in front of 30k for a while now. What’s the excuse when they play in front of a couple of thousand away from home
— DC (@No1_DjC) November 21, 2019
Our home form is good. What’s the excuse for our woeful away record?
— Liam Waite (@imliamwaite) November 21, 2019
What do you think?
While Methven was likely trying to take some pressure off of the players, fans aren’t buying any of it. It’s just another excuse but they don’t care to hear.