Phil Smith's alternative Sunderland team of the decade: From Zenden's volley to Ji's magic moment
Sunderland supporters earlier this week voted for their team of the decade.
By Phil Smith
Published 25th Dec 2019, 11:45 BST
It has been a testing ten years, Sunderland struggling to stay afloat in the Premier League before plummeting to the joint lowest-position in its entire history.
There has been anguish, anger and disastrous signings aplenty.
There were brief, dizzying highs too, of course, and the likes of Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent and Jordan Henderson were rightly recognised for the heights they reached on Wearside.
To battle against the gloom and frustration with the club's current malaise, I went back through the decade to pull together an alternative team.
The criteria was simple.
The players must either have made a solid contribution worth recalling even if they fell just shy of the main XI's standards and longevity, or, they must have made a single outstanding contribution that lifted us all.
Here they are....
There were brief, dizzying highs too, of course, and the likes of Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent and Jordan Henderson were rightly recognised for the heights they reached on Wearside.
9. SUFC 1-1 SAFC 19-01-2019. Picture by FRANK REID
It remains one of the great failures of this decade that Maja was not tied down to fire Sunderland back to the Championship at the first time of asking. His departure soured his extraordinary explosion onto the scene, and that ruthless finishing has been sorely missed ever since. Photo: Frank Reid
One of the most bizarre games of the decade saw Sunderland lose 2-0 to Blackpool at the Stadium of Light. They were superb, registering over 30 shots in a vibrant attacking display. The front three of Welbeck, Gyan and Bent were exciting to watch but sadly, rarely seen again. Welbeck had a fine season, a wonderfully agile and versatile forward who graced the Stadium of Light turf before kicking on at Manchester United. Photo: Matthew Lewis
“Martin O’Neill is saying get forward we can nick it here! Ji, Sessegnon, Jiiiii, he’s round the keeper he’s done it! Absolutely incredible! It ain’t over til it’s over! There’s never been a fixture to tell you that like this one!” Photo: FRANK REID PHOTOGRAPHER 2011