Absolutely. Also, lots of credit to Mowbray and the coaching staff as the great job they do works together with the recruitment so that they enhance each other.
I sat back and thought about this whole situation, on the train back from the Birmingham game. Imagine if Mowbray didn't have Speakman and the recruitment team. He'd have to do everything he does now plus identifying, scouting and signing players. In my opinion he'd take the easy options and sign players he already knows from previous clubs or recommendations from mates in the game. That would result in the usual English plodders who could play a very English game and make us similar to other clubs in the division. I doubt he'd have found Mayenda, Aouchiche or Bennette. Mowbray seems genuinely thrilled to have these exciting players to coach and develop.
I sometimes think Mowbray is too easily dismissed, or glossed over, as a football coach. I have seen some of his sessions and they are as good as you will see anywhere. His reputation amongst his peers is very high indeed. Perhaps his understated manner is what people see. Imagine if somebody like Allardyce was producing the play Mowbray is - he would make sure he was in the spotlight. Imagine if it was a 40 year old young coach from Germany - he would be called a disciple of Pep or Bielsa or some such thing. Instead he is just Mowbray, but someone who has seen it all, done it all, and still has the passion to achieve and develop players. Mowbray is genuinely more interested in helping players be the best they can be, rather than his next job in my opinion. He seems entirely selfless. It is nearly 20 years ago he went up to Hibs and became one of their favourite managers of modern times, in his first job as head coach. He was only there 2 years but had them much higher up the league than they were used to. He also played a style of football we would recognise him playing now. Hibs fans will tell you bow good his football was to watch. Anyone interested go and have a read of how young his squad were and some of the names who went on to bigger and better things. 20 years he has been following the same mantra of trying to improve young players and playing in a style that is a joy to watch. Some of these superstar young coaches we read about were teenagers when he was doing this. He left Hibs to go to West Brom and took them to the premier league. Brought Blackburn from league 1 back to challenging for championship promotion. All the while helping some really good players improve and be the best they can be. Perhaps only Celtic is a blot on his 20 year career, and he wont be the last to be on the wrong side of an old firm job. Rowett said on sky on Saturday Mowbray told him last year this was a great job for him. He can focus on coaching and others take away some of the other stuff. In my opinion, right now, Sunderland and Mowbray are absolutely made for each other.
A battle to "keep hold" of a kid who is contracted for 3 more years? Premier League club wanting an england youth international. shocker
They might as well have the headline "Premier League will probably have to pay through the nose for England Youth International"
Off topic a bit but what does SOB (or SOBS) stand for when talking about SAFC matters. Something to do with A Love Supreme? I’ve seen it mentioned on here a few times.
Christ he looks older than me and I'm twice his age. Never seen a more haggard person just out of their teens.
Not just sob or sobs I just don’t like it when people talk in abreviations and expect you to understand Just say what you mean and then I may understand I’ve googled it and it says survivors of bereavement by suicide
I'd tend to agree. If people have the time to post on forums they can surely spare three seconds to be clear ... surely that's the whole point of communication. If it's a daft football thread, or whatever, then fair enough ... it doesn't really matter.
