they’ve already said what they know. If things had changed they would have been on here already I would imagine
I can never sit back with confidence with this club. Even when we have a good manager and the team are doing well there is always that uneasiness, waiting for the next bombshell. Suddenly the manager will leave for undisclosed reasons, or our prized striker is off somewhere else, or the owners selling/buying the club. Very frustrating at times, but never dull. It’s like a dog with a lopsided ear; that’s why we love it.
Well,I'd certainly agree about Flanagan.....he went before we had agreed a replacement,I know. However,the others were on their way anyway and we won't miss them. Not sure it was done to reduce wages mind,although getting rid of AoB would have freed off a good amount.I look on that as taking the opportunity to do the right thing for everyone.
Imho I think KLD and Speakman felt they had to act after the 6 - 0 and had a list of preferred replacements. Keane wasn't on that list and then made his interest in the position public. This sparked a change in thinking, particularly from KLD. He then became preferred choice but felt he had to fulfil his ITV commitments which has delayed the finer details being ironed out. Hopefully this is finalised today in time for tomorrow's game.
If Dodds and Co have no plan or clue what they're doing for tomorrow's game, then we need to simply the 3 players that came on as subs on Saturday and Roberst and go and "enjoy themselves". Keane will come, he hasn't said know, I just believe he is someone that likes stuff done right. Ian Wright even said about contracts need to be right. If that's not Keane telling people he is coming then I don't don't what it. ITKs get their information and pass it on in good spirits. FTM
They cocked up covering the Flano move, shouldn't have been allowed to move until a replacement was agree. Actually needed 2 CB s. being as Wright is also a sick note. Got another Hume right back, never been seen since, and not experienced. And no left back cover. Also needed a keeper. None of this was done.
Well, that was an almighty kick in the bollocks on Saturday. We could do with a lift but the appointment has to be done right.
I'm not having a dig, I'm just questioning why, when we have had shortages all season at the back we get rid of Alves, Hume, Flanagan and Younger then only bring in 2 replacements When Cirkin gets injured again we are back to Gooch or O'Nien at left back.
Apparently Dodds and Proctor are definitely in charge tomorrow night (according to someone over the road who's had it confirmed). That's no surprise as the last training session would have been this morning before they travel down this afternoon. What surprises me though is why they haven't brought Phil Jevons in to help, isn't he a first-team coach brought in for Johnson and as far as I know hasn't left the club (they only announced Johnson and McAllister were leaving). Surely he can at least help after Saturday's debacle?
Of course we knew that about Wright yet the club still persists with 4 centre backs, one of whom has never played Cirkin has only had the one injury that I can recall but his confidence looks shot
The selling of the defenders was an example of where we seem to be doing things by theory and text book rather than practical “what needs to be done”. It makes complete sense to sell those defenders and get a fee for them rather than lose for free in summer. And thats clearly what Speakman was trying to avoid - as its all part of the mantra about being smarter with development and players. So I get that. What it seemed to miss however was then thinking about the squad itself and whether we have the right bodies. Before all the attention was on having bodies, and we needed more focus on development. Feels a bit like we have gone too far the other way. I still like Speakman and its clear the new approach has done far more good than bad, but its exposed us for rest of season and its been exacerbated by the significant drop in form.
Thought it was an open secret we were in for 5 CBs on deadline day and, being Sunderland, failed to get one of them 'over the line'.
That may be the case. But Speakman also said that we had a long list of managers we could go to as succession planning once LJ sacked, and that we also didn’t start the search until Tuesday. So I do think there’s a case sometimes of Speakman saying things that are the right things to say / do versus what’s actually happening.
