It's fair to say that Sunderland haven't had the best of decades so far. A trio of solid (if unspectacular) seasons have given way to a perennial struggle at the wrong end of the table, resulting in three consecutive narrow escapes from relegation to the Championship. Despite this, the Stadium of Light has seen a number of fantastic players pass through its doors. Although they must be considered diamonds in an undeniably poor collective, their individual merits should be celebrated. Without certain figures, Sunderland would definitely have been relegated by now. They would never have enjoyed their stunning 2013/14 League Cup run, nor the bragging rights of five consecutive Tyne/Wear derby victories. Wearside has hardly been the most stable of environments in which a footballer can thrive, with no less than five managers taking the helm in recent years. However, despite the contrasting styles and preferences of Bruce, O'Neill, Di Canio, Poyet and Advocaat, some players have managed to shine through. Some will be remembered as stars of a particular season, while others have established themselves as crowd favourites in a slightly more long-term sense. Fans will be desperately hoping that the 2015/16 marks a period of stability and growth for the team, a new environment in which existing players can shine through, and one which will attract further quality footballers to the side. Of course, given the club's recent history, it seems a rather unlikely possibility, but something simply has to change sooner rather than later. Here is Sunderland's finest XI of the decade so far. Some remain at the club, while most are sadly long gone.
