Why Sunderland have to replace David Moyes right now

It’s fair to say that David Moyes isn’t getting it right at the Stadium of Light. His Sunderland side are marooned at the bottom of the Premier League, haven’t scored in six games, and his transfer policy has failed.

With relegation looming and no sign of the Black Cats progressing, now has to be the time to replace the Scot.

While football’s ‘sacking culture’ has its drawbacks, the Wearside outfit have consistently survived in the top-flight by swapping managers in the latter stages of the season.

In 2012-13, it was the arrival of Paolo Di Canio at the end of March which helped save Sunderland from the dreaded drop, while Dick Advocaat’s arrival in March 2015 also revived the fortunes of a side who had seemed set for relegation.

And while the arrival of Sam Allardyce last season took place as early as October, the turnaround worked wonders. A side who had failed to win in the opening eight games went on to secure nine wins and 39 points, to survive again in the top-flight.

With Sunderland currently eight points from safety with eight games remaining, they might be beyond saving even if the right replacement comes in. But at least the new man would get a head start in preparing for the summer transfer window.

After all, Moyes doesn’t deserve another one. His tactic of signing players he’s worked with before – Joleon Lescott, Steven Pienaar, Donald Love, and so on – has been a failure.

However much the Scot likes the former pair, both are past their best. And there are question marks over whether the likes of Love are good enough at this level.

That, combined with the disappointing effect of fairly big-money signings like Didier N’Dong and Papy Djilobodji, means he’s not the man for Chairman Ellis Short to trust with his transfer war chest.

And unlike other relegation-threatened outfits like Crystal Palace and Swansea City, there’s not even the promise of entertainment to keep fans coming through the turnstiles.

Sunderland’s six-game goal drought has seen them fail to register against some of the league’s leakier defences, and it’s part of a wider trend. They’ve only scored four goals in their last nine home games.

So it’s no wonder attendances are dwindling – with a sub-40,000 crowd witnessing their 4-0 drubbing at the hands of visitors Southampton.

With Moyes having also embarrassed himself with recent comments towards BBC reporter Vicki Sparks, the 53-year-old isn’t doing his club any favours right now.

It’s time for a change, or else things will only get worse on Wearside.

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