I looked with interest on some of the comments on the match day post last Saturday. It seems there is now a little undercurrent about our current manager. His record since taking over from AN hasn't been great, on the other hand, he has been without one of the best strikers in this league and a very good defender. I actually worry this week after the mid week games and if things don't go well this Friday against Birmingham..then the little undercurrent becomes a little more vocal, which in my humble opinion would be so unfair on Mowbray. This guy has to be supported and given time. We are new to this league with a bunch of highly talented youngsters, but we have a glaring lack of steel in this squad...something i'm sure he will address in January, coupled with the return of Stewart and Ballard will see us alright this season. I just hope a bunch of so called fans don't make his job harder than it already is.
I didn't hear one grumble about the manager at the match on Sat. That is a better barometer than social media/internet forums He's done a fair job with limited resources. Crazy to judge a manager after 12 or 13 games anyway, especially when he hasn't recruited any of these players
I agree 100% with you....but on some forums, the chat has started to turn...Some of our supporters beggar belief at times with unrealistic exceptions and totally forget where we have just come from....Just gauging opinion on here
Some supporters would have sacked Mowbray at HT v Rotherham. There are always the reactionary whoppers out there. I think 99% of people are happy enough, but will judge him between now at 1st Feb to give a broader view on his performance
He's replaced a very popular manager, inherited a mish mash of untried players, a.harsh injury list and is trying to find the right system with no pre-season. Sometimes it clicks and 'he's brave ... ... sometimes it doesn't and' he's naive'. Ad infinitum.
I wish the club and Alex Neil had thrashed out his future the week after the play off final - even if that meant he walked away and allowed someone else (Mowbray?) to take preseason etc. It's always harsh to judge a new manager when he comes in mid season, especially when it's not because the team was underperforming (a new scenario for most Sunderland fans) Alex Neil had 6 games at this level - won 2, drew 2, lost 2 (inc the cup game that he threw) Tony Mowbray has had 13 games at this level (most without a striker) - won 4, drawn 4, lost 5 Not a great deal of difference
Agree with the comments so far. He is working with a very young,talented but inexperienced crop,without 3 or 4 key players through injury. Some of the football we've played has been the most exciting most of us have seen for a good while,even though we're so inconsistent. Expectations amongst most of us for this season was to see a continuing improvement and building for the future,so mid table is not unreasonable. Although I thought TM made mistakes on Saturday,he deserves the time as @TopCat_ says,through to,about,mid Feb.We'll see where we are then.
Cardiff was gash. But it’s the first time in a while that I’ve thought our performance was complete ****. We lost a fair few this season but I always saw the effort and commitment from the team. Injuries have piled up, players are playing in odd positions and probably a little bit too much for some lads too. Lets get back to it after the World Cup and go again. Realistically we knew that mid table this season would be a good base to build on after the last 5 years of league one. Mowbray and the lads have my support
Also, you have to factor in that this division is mental - look at the results from the weekend - Coventry go and win at Watford, QPR lose at home to WBA and Blackburn struggle passed Huddersfield You will always get daft results - anyone can beat anyone in this league
Agree. We were awful from the 1st whistle on Sat. the team selection was wrong - I was delighted with it, which goes to show what I know - and the manager possibly made his 1st big mistake by not changing it. We needed Evans on that pitch from about 20 mins in. I understand that subbing a player that early can cause problems in the dressing room, but it's about what the team needs, not what the individual needs. I think Dan Neil is getting a lot of stick, but there were 7 or 8 players well below par on Saturday. Our entire back 4 were off their game, the wingers contributed nothing - I had to check the team sheets to see if Jack Clarke was actually playing - and Simms didn't win a header or hold the ball up for the first 65 mins But. **** happens. Teams lose games. It's not the end of the world, it's just annoying
I always like to come on this forum for a more level head view, which seems to be in line with the majority of fans, including a few people I have talked to. Even when leaving the ground after the game, I wasn't too disappointed and still full of hope.
I was pissed off as hell on Sat. I wouldn't even applaud the players (childish I know) but I was over it by the time I got to my car. I hate losing games, especially at home but Cardiff were easily the better team - whether that was down to our performance and/or team selection, or they were just better I don't know - felt like a team of big lads against a team of midgets at times
Cardiff's manager is an embarrassing bell end like. That fist punching celebration gave me Lee Johnson vibes and made me die inside
Take a look at the table Sunderland 13th Rotherham 17th Wigan 23rd non of the promoted sides doing too well, we have the valid excuse of having important players out injured for many weeks.
If you read the post, then I am NOT being critical of Mowbray...not at all. I am simply noting that on here and other SAFC forums, there is been a trickle of negative talk....My question, if we get beat of Brum on Friday and others in the bottom half get good results our league position starts to look dodgy. If that happens then that Trickle of negativity becomes a lot louder and I personally think that would be unfair......but I can see it happening
I have felt like that many times before but this time I still had the feeling they tried there best but sometimes it's just not enough and I agree it did seem like it was men against the boys.
Dan Neil is often the first to be criticised, where others are given more patience. I thought he had probably his worst game for us on Saturday though, he seemed a long way off his level. I didnt think many others were much better either mind. Like you say the wide lads were never in it, and didnt seem able to get into it and the back 4 looked like they hadnt played together. I think the team started badly and couldnt get going. Whether the above is Mowbray's fault I dont think so really. When players collectively have a bad day it is hard to change much. He should have made 3 subs at half time probably, maybe we would have saved a point. Overall I like him though, and think he is doing a good job. We cant keep chopping and changing coaches. I think he is being as fair as he can be with the new young lads, and trying to make sure the likes of Evans get downtime. It is a tricky balance and 1 or 2 look like they need a break. Thankfully it is coming up. One thing I did notice was in his interview about Pritchard I sensed a bit of an undercurrent. Maybe I am putting 2 and 2 together but he seemed to be suggesting Pritchard had been making suggestions about things, then he is surprisingly benched. I wonder if there might be a creaky relationship there?
I'd say 13th is absolutely "doing well" for a team that finished 5th in L1 last season Am surprised by Wigan's position as they seem to be winning every time I check the results
Pritchard NEVER looks happy. I think he has a touch of the McGeadys about him - maybe thinks he's a better player than the others around him? There's definitely some arrogance there and the looks he gives when he is subbed.......having said that, I've no real issue with that. If I was a player I'd want to spend every minute on the pitch FWIW I would have made 5 subs at half time and told them to ****ing get on with it
There was an undercurrent about O Neill before he signed and he got us promotion I'm in positive mode!!
