Di Canio ready for clear-out
Sunderland are ready to reconstruct their side in the wake of securing their Premier League status by the skin of their teeth this week.
Paolo Di Canio has warned any of his current players who fail to pick up what he wants from them in training will be on the way out, with the promise of at least half a dozen new faces coming to the club during the summer window.
Despite spending millions of owner Ellis Short's money, managers such as Roy Keane, Steve Bruce and Martin O'Neill have all failed to fully awaken the sleeping giant of north-east football and Di Canio believes he is the man to finally buck the trend.
There are far too many players at the club who have ability but fail to produce their best form on a consistent basis, while Di Canio has rightly pointed to the lack of leadership and physicality within the squad he inherited on 31st March. The Italian managed to give the players enough of a lift to get famous victories away at Newcastle and home to Everton, but it was back to the drudgery of his predecessor's reign soon afterwards with an embarrassing thrashing at the hands of Aston Villa.
Wigan were the only side still capable of catching Sunderland at the start of the week, but they had to beat Champions League chasers Arsenal in the Gunners' backyard on Tuesday to have any hope. It became too much to ask as the surprise FA Cup winners lost 4-1 to seal their relegation fate. It was lucky for the Black Cats that Roberto Martinez's men ran out of steam in the second half at the Emirates and now lessons must be learned at the Stadium of Light to avoid another relegation dogfight next season.
Those players that have the stomach for the fight and ability to handle great expectations from the fans need to be identified and kept at the club, while those that don't must be weeded out. Several positions in the squad have little or no competition for places and therefore new signings are required to create such battles for spots in the starting line-up.
An attacking style of play needs to be introduced as quickly as possibly to sweep away memories of the boredom that had set in amongst supporters due to the poor fayre on view in recent campaigns. Not since the heady days of Reid, Quinn and Phillips has a constant stream of exciting football been served up and that splendid period ended abruptly over a decade ago.
It's about time that people are able to look forward to watching their team each week again and the passionate Paolo Di Canio promises much with the comments he's been making since his arrival. Sunderland fans will be desperately hoping that the self-confident head coach can bring back the magic that's been missing from the Stadium of Light for so long.
Twitter: @davewh1980
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