Sunderland Fan View: Supporters are losing patience with owner Ellis Short

Sunderland’s promising start to the new season petered out before the international break and the Black Cats will be keen to return to winning ways against Sheffield United, at the Stadium of Light this weekend.

Thankfully the transfer window has now ‘slammed shut’ as is apparently obligatory – it can’t simply ‘close’ it seems. Therefore, all eyes will be on the new deadline day captures to see if they can help the squad rekindle some of those promising signs shown during the first few matches.

Just how many ‘eyes’ will be peering down upon the pitch remains to be seen. Early attendance figures at the Stadium of Light have been higher than I was expecting following relegation. But, when it comes to the direction of the club under the stewardship of owner Ellis Short, well, patience is wearing extremely thin.

I’m aware of several supporters who have already refused to spend any more money on tickets or club merchandise until Short sells up. Whether you agree with this approach or not, I suspect the lack of funds made available for manager Simon Grayson during the transfer window will not have helped convince anyone already disillusioned, of Short’s commitment going forward.

Therefore, it will be interesting to see the size of the crowd on Saturday as this will also be the first home league game of the season which has been at the traditional 3pm kick off time. Whether you are pleased with it or not, the squad has now been assembled – until January at least – and Saturday’s attendance could be indicative of just how supporters feel about the club now the dust has settled.

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Meanwhile, Grayson has an injury to his creative midfielder Aiden McGeady to contend with. The Republic of Ireland international returned home from the World Cup Qualifiers with a hamstring injury and Sunderland are now left to assess the extent of the damage. Let’s hope it’s nothing too serious as the Black Cats were in part hampered by an injury stricken season during the last campaign and can ill afford another.

McGeady is the one of the very few players in the Sunderland squad who looks like they could cut it in the Premier League and on his day he can cause any team problems. His delivery at set pieces and his ability to fire accurate early crosses into the box has been a revelation. He’ll be sorely missed if he’s out for a while.

Thankfully, Duncan Watmore and Paddy McNair will be returning from injury to bolster the squad with the former likely to feature prominently in the starting eleven once he gets back to full match fitness. Given the lack of another striker arriving before deadline day I’m expecting Watmore to be given a run of games up front rather than out wide which is where he has predominantly featured so far. Perhaps winger Callum McManaman’s arrival is evidence of just where Grayson sees the pacey attacker playing once he does indeed return.

Sheffield United will be a tough test though as they are riding high in the Championship as things stand having won three of the five games played. Let’s hope there’s a victory for the Wearsiders to celebrate by 5pm on Saturday and some positive signs to demonstrate that the club’s slide, which began some time back, is not continuing.