Stephen Elliott: The post-match comment that stood out as Lee Johnson looks to make his mark

I listened to his post-match presser and he came across cool and calm. “The team needs help, something different, a bit of pace and a bit of power”, was the standout comment for me.

After one game he has recognised what has been Sunderland’s achilles heel over the past three or four seasons. It was a welcome change from the previous interviews where managers and players spoke of positives that were simply not there on the day.

The new manager will believe he can improve this squad of players and his track record would suggest he can. He will need to do this promptly as, frankly, the team have to start winning games.

January will be an important time for the club, as how the transfer window plays out could determine where this club finds itself next season.

I’m not sure how much room for manoeuvring there is when it comes to new signings, with the wage cap in place, but if it is possible to spare a bit of money to bring in some new faces then this must happen. It is vital the owners support Kristjaan Speakman and Johnson by bringing in players who provide the attributes of pace and power, as has been discussed many times. There is already some quality in this squad of course, but like the manager alluded to, it requires some help.

This is a key point in the club’s history and if these reinforcements don’t materialise, it could be another campaign in League One, which for this club is totally unacceptable.

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