Legend explains that Beale is not the reason Sunderland is “not going to challenge” for promotion.

Sunderland icon Kevin Phillips has given an explanation for why he believes the team can still contend for Premier League promotion.

Last season, Sunderland was on the verge of earning a second consecutive promotion.

Under Tony Mowbray, they advanced to the play-offs but were defeated by eventual winners Luton Town in the semifinals.

Under owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, it would have crowned an amazing ascent, but the Black Cats suddenly appear to have regressed—and in a very short period of time, at that.

The brief stay of Michael Beale appears to have severely harmed Sunderland’s progress.

Supporters’ dissatisfaction with the current administration and Sunderland’s recent results has developed quickly, and it now seems unlikely that the team will place in the top six.

However, Phillips thinks that Sunderland’s current problems are a byproduct of the team’s “vision.”

Sunderland’s vision isn’t good enough for a promotion, says Kevin Phillips
Sunderland’s strategy is fairly clear: acquire younger players and develop them into marketable commodities.

Jack Clarke is a prime example of this in action, but a lot of players, like Adil Aouchiche, Luis Hemir, Eliezer Mayenda, and Nazariy Rusyn, came last summer and failed to leave an impression.

The primary cause of Sunderland’s slow collapse this season, according to Phillips, is the Black Cats’ near-complete refusal to accept players beyond a particular age.

He said, in an interview with We Are Sunderland:

“For me, you’re not going to push them if that’s the model they want to follow, signing those kinds of players—no players older than 24. Even if you can have one odd season where you miss the playoffs, experience in the Premier League is a must if you’re serious about making it there.

Alex Pritchard validates Phillips’ assertion.

Alex Pritchard encapsulates Phillips’ arguments to a tee.

Despite Pritchard’s experience and his current run of form in the team, Sunderland seems to have been aggressively attempting to sell him over the past year, and now it’s expected that he will go before February 1st.

Furthermore, Pritchard’s possible departure would only exacerbate the situation.

Although the Sunderland management should be commended for having a plan and working hard to put it into action, they appear to be making far too many bad choices, the most of which are in the transfer market.

Pritchard has shown the team that they need his level of experience; it balances the team and enhances the play of the younger players around him.

If Sunderland sells Pritchard and brings in an unidentified player from Europe in his place, Beale will undoubtedly become irate because he needs all the talent he can get at this point.

This weekend, the Black Cats will play Stoke City in the Championship.