Monday 22 August 2016 17:55, UK
David Moyes suggesting Sunderland could be in another relegation battle this season is a bad move, says Phil Babb.
Sunderland lost 2-1 to Middlesbrough in the Wear-Tees derby on Super Sunday, meaning the Black Cats have lost their opening two league matches. Their first game of the season ending in defeat against Manchester City by the same scoreline.
Moyes admitted after the defeat on Sunday that he feels his side will be in for another relegation battle this season.
Sunderland only narrowly avoided the drop in the 2015/16 campaign when they finished 17th, just two points above the red line.
Moyes said there would be no dramatic change from the club's position in recent years as Premier League relegation fighters.
And Babb, who made 48 appearances for Sunderland between 2002 and 2004, believes Moyes' comments were a mistake so early on into the season.
"I'm in the camp where I don't think he should have said that," he told Sky Sports Now. "A manager saying relegation so early on in the season is a bit of a faux pas."
However, despite feeling Moyes' comments were not going to be beneficial for Sunderland, the former Ireland international anticipates a difficult season ahead for his former club and points to a lack of Premier League experience as one of the reasons.
He said: "It comes down to experience. John O'Shea and Jermain Defoe are the only two starting players that have started over 100 Premier League games - and O'Shea got injured during that game.
"He's gone for youth and maybe that's the only thing he can get in the market. We don't know what funds are available to him but he's certainly got to bring half a dozen players in the short space of time [before the transfer window closes].
"Who really wants to go to Sunderland? Because I hate to say it but more relegation fodder is on its way."
