Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/197223
23 Sport maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2013 OPINION The sinking ship ner than anything, and that is exactly what the club needs at present. I find it shocking that they made his appointment six months too late. Language seems to be Poyet's immediate concern and he feels that his squad must learn English, and fast. The Uruguayan's command of the language is excellent, having been a pundit on Match of the Day, where he was publicly sacked by his former club Brighton. Time is, he believes, his second issue. He knows he must turn things around but in his defence, there are 30 games to go, and Sunderland can gain strength. In this situation, your next game is the most important and the derby couldn't have come soon enough. The team need to shake off the 4-0 drubbing of the weekend and what better way to do that than by stacking some points against local rivals. With Poyet in charge, Sunderland have a calming presence, which is the total opposite of what Di Canio offered as even in his playing days you never knew when he would set off on one. In a calming manner Poyet analysed the weak points of his side, adding that the second half performances were simply not the same standard as the first, and that is costing them points. One thing that won't happen to good old Gus is that pressure will not get to him. He wasn't that type of player at Chelsea, and he is just not that type of manager. Cynically speaking, Poyet Mark Strijbosch WITH one point on the board after eight games, Sunderland are in trouble as that ship is sinking fast without a trace. A total of 14 new signings made over the summer months, a change in management after just six games... the sands are moving and sucking them in and even though it is still early days they have emerged as favourites for the trap door come May. The polite Gustavo Poyet has taken over and was given a sobering debut defeat at Swansea who put four past them in a one-sided affair. Things will not get easier for the Uruguayan whose next task is to motivate his team for the derby next weekend at the Stadium of Light. Normally I would say that players do not need much motivation for a derby game however of his predecessor's 14 signings, only one is English. If Paolo Di Canio got anything right it was his memorable derby day victory over Newcastle where his team ran riot in St James, hitting three past their rivals. He was the type of manager who had enough flair for short term motivation, and that is something which I feel Poyet lacks. Gus Poyet to my eyes is more a thinker and a plan- has no pressure. He has been given a task, a task which is only possible due to the stupid situation the club is in after their appointment of the wrong manager last season. Looking to hit short term goals with no eye for the future lead at the club to being in this position, and that is not Poyet's fault, and if he fails in his target of survival, quite frankly it won't be his fault either. He has called for a mental strength, one which he believes his current crop are not showing and again, here I believe that a derby date is perfect at this stage. It is a good welcome to the Premier League for Gus, but also a chance for the players to prove everyone wrong. The odds are stacked against them, however in this game anything can happen as form gets thrown out of the window. A win there would set the ball rolling, while a defeat will simply add a rung to the long ladder. A draw would leave them with a sense of hope, but certainly the players need to approach this game with a cup final mentality. Though it is hard for them to see so far ahead, as soon as Christmas arrives, the league table sets and recovering after Christmas is almost impossible. Sunderland have a decent crop of players, a deep squad and a manager with a cool head on his shoulders. This is not mission impossible, however I believe now it is up to the players to take to the pitch this Sunday and show the league that they mean business and they deserve to be playing with the best in the world on a weekly basis. They don't need a miracle to do that, just a plan. And that is what, I believe, Gus Poyet will deliver. Pursuits Across 3. Take away (8) 9. Shaft shot from a bow (5) 10. Nocturnal bird (3) 11. Automobile (3) 12. Result (11) 14. Indian form of address (5) 16. Engrave with acid (4) 17. Tempest (5) 19. Baby's sock (6) 20. Pinch (3) 22. Adjusting a musical instrument (6) 23. Give up (5) 25. Negative command (4) 26. Post (5) 28. Mother of a reigning sovereign (5,6) 30. Ox-like African antelope (3) 31. Golfers mound (3) 32. Wagons (5) 33. Grow longer (8) Sudoku Sudoku rules are extremely easy: Fill all empty squares so that the numbers 1 to 9 appear once in each row, column and 9x9 box. Answers to the MaltaToday crossword will be published next Wednesday Last week's solution Chess Today's Weather 8 8 WEATHER: Rather cloudy with the possibility of some light rain VISIBILITY: Good WIND: 7 Southwest force 2 to 3 at first, becoming Northwest force 4 to 5 increasing to force 6 to 7 Slight to moderate becoming rough 6 7 5 6 4 3 5 2 1 4 A 3 2 1 A B C D E F G H White to play and mate in four moves B C D E e8=N+Kh7 (or Kg8) d8=R+ or =Q+ Nf7 Rxf7+ Kh8 Nf6++ F G H CLOUDY 26ºC / 21ºC UV INDEX: 5 SEA: SWELL: Low Southeast Down 1. Baby powder (4) 2. Malformed animal (7) 4. Unfasten (8) 5. Long narrow excavation (6) 6. Secondary piece of equipment (9) 7. Flashlight (5) 8. Ascend (5) 13. To block (8) 15. Represent in an ideal form (8) 18. Dummy (9) 21. Small pocketknife (3-5) 24. In the place of (7) 25. Does not (6) 26. Malice (5) 27. Celestial being (5) 29. Hazard (4)