While Sunderland’s first team are beginning to make a slight resurgence in the league, winning two out of their last three league games, the Academy of Light has still continued to struggle. The U23 side were down 3-0 within the first eight minutes of their match against Aston Villa’s U23s. The side have also lost every game so far this season, except for a 1-1 draw with Stoke’s U23s in their opening league fixture (WhoScored.com).
When fan account Roker Report shared the updated Premier League 2 league table, on Twitter, some fans were naturally concerned. One fan remembered a time when the reserve team was as, or more, successful than the first-team. Of course, they want to see their side return to those days.
https://twitter.com/garyjerry/status/1214267700022829056
Do you expect the U23s to compete with Premier League academies?
Yes
No
Inevitable consequence of 3rd Division football I’m afraid.
— jon (@Jonphillips7777) January 6, 2020
So as a league one club are we supposed to have better academy players than all of those other clubs in that league? Coz im sorry but if any of our u23s were that good they would be in the first team
— D.W. (@davidsafcftm) January 6, 2020
It’s bad but every other team is from a league or two above us. If we have any young players capable of competing against those sides they will be in the first team squad.
— Graham Wright (@gnw626) January 6, 2020
Don’t know what people expect when the rest are premier or championships youth teams with more investment. Clubs go for patches of having a good set of players coming through.
— Marc Ranson (@marcwranson) January 6, 2020
Needs investment big time. Look at the clubs in that league, unfortunately we just can’t compete with that or come close.
— Jonny Holland (@DutchyJH) January 6, 2020
What do we think?
Fans can look at this two ways. Of course, Sunderland should be competing at every level of the organisation, but academy players can’t be held accountable for the first-team’s failures. The real blame should be pointed towards Stuart Donald in the boardroom.