I hope people dont think I was saying their opinions arent valid. I really wasnt. Just trying to offer a thought on why Mowbrays tactics might be worth respecting a bit more, or being a bit more patient with them. I love all opinions on here, dont agree with some, but reckon everyone has something valuable and valid to say.
Sorry ? I said before I believe he goes in Jan. If he doesn't, he will go at the end of the year anyway. Not sure why you seem to be stalking me on here.
is there a reason why you think it’s Jan or end of season, rather than “any time between now and end of season”? For me if I was Speakman I’d have identified my top one or two candidates and if either of them became available I’d be pulling the trigger, no matter when that is. And I’d keep Tony until then. For me Tony has done the job he was asked to do, establish us in the championship. And there’s no rush to get rid but there’s also no requirement to drag it on.
You said he’s gone in January, not stalking you, just don’t like people talking utter s hite and passing it off as they have tea with KLD every night, it might make you think before you post your crap from now on. Stalking
If Mowbray is definitely gone no matter the outcome of this season then the argument that he goes now to allow someone else to get started makes more sense. I simply dont believe that is set in stone and I doubt even Speakman does to be honest. My assumption would be if we make the play offs again, or even go up, he stays and is rewarded with a new contract. I know the last 3 games are some way off promotiom form, but then games like Southampton and Leicester show the performance levels we are capable of, and those are definitely top 6 levels for me. To answer your point though mate. Lets say he is leaving in the summer. Why should the club keep him for the rest of the season? I would suggest a couple of things. 1. He is overseeing the development of some talented young players. This is by coaching, which he leads, but also by personal relationships and mentoring of young men and no doubt their families. I think there has been enough player media interviews to know they are happy working with him. Take Chris Rigg as an example. He can sign pro terms next summer and at that point can leave us and will undoubtedly have offers. I would bet Mowbray is part of a team talking to him and his parents about his longer term future here. Mowbray is giving him game time and developing him at a rate of knots. My concern would be getting rid of Mowbray would destabilise that process and Rigg goes elsewhere next summer. Same applies to young lads across the board, Watson would be another. 2. I believe the club want a specific style of play. That is an evolution not a revolution. Mowbray is the next guy to move us towards it. I can see the club thinking there is more to get from Mowbray in that. As I said I think this form is as much about players struggling to adapt to the newer tactics of this season or other coaches creating systems to stop our more well known tactics. These young lads seem to be both struggling to learn new things and also losing faith in themselves if after 20 mins things havent gone great. I think it is part of the journey we need to go on with a very young side to become even better in the future. Mowbray is best placed to finish this phase of our evolution I think, having worked to date on it. 3. Our reputation as a club. If we got rid now, after last seasons achievement, we would be questioned and rightly so. Coaches want to know they are going to be given time when they start a job, probably even more so with a squad as young as ours. We have had 20 managers in 23 years - it is a really poor look in my opinion. Now would leave us looking trigger happy in my opinion. 4. As I said earlier we know Mowbray can produce wonderful football. We have seen it last season and this. I have faith it can come again, he wont have forgotten how to achieve that. If I am right and it is partly down to a confidence issue with young lads when the game isnt coming easy, then that can literally change with 1 game and we suddenly are back in a 3 game winning run, or a 6 game unbeaten run, back in the top 6 and we are flying again. With such a tipping point feeling so close to me, potentially anyway, then why not stick. Just my thoughts. Others will disagree and no probs with that. As always the club will do whatever it thinks is right and I might be disappointed in it but will back it nonetheless - it is what we all do.
Fwiw I think it will be the end of the season. I think we will end up finishing around 8th - 14th in that mid table scramble, and then he’ll go with thanks for establishing us in the league and helping to develop the youngsters. I don’t think the people we’d want to appoint would be available now, and I don’t think there’s any urgency to make the change.
It’s a good point. My only answer would be don’t take risks. Not saying don’t if the right person and confidence is there. A potter or Hassenhutl with English experience yes, a foreign gamble no. A new manager and style could also be recruited around in summer ie players that fit
Sacking Mowbray, to plan for next season, means writing off this season. With Hull City in a play-off position, only 3 points ahead, are we really ready to give up. Whatever results we're currently having I don't think there was any lack of fight in the players. Sacking Mowbray may look proactive but if the next manager fails we're just going backwards imo. We have the same squad that beat Southampton 5-0 and, in some ways, it's improved since then. I sat there, yesterday, trying to step back and analyse why we were failing to click ... I'm sure many did the same. After about 70 minutes I actually shouted out loud 'ffs, can't we have a loose ball drop to us'. I know it sounds like bias but it just didn't seem like we were getting the bounce of the ball. Yes I'm biased but really don't believe this team can't click and get into the play-offs again ... ... so I'm not giving up just yet.
Great post again felltop. We’ve got to be patient and accept we’re gonna have a poor run (hopefully just the one) with the young squad we have, and a slightly unbalanced squad at that. Of the new front 4, Rusyn is the only new striker who is ready to start. Mayenda v raw, Hemir needs a loan and Burstow should go back to Chelsea in Jan. No point him being here and feels we’re wasting a spot. Let’s see if our squad gets a boost in Jan, and Tone stays on.
It does feel that way, it was the same against Huddersfield. When you’re playing with confidence the ball seems to drop kindly into your stride. When you’re not/having a bit of a **** one/trying too hard even, it’s nowhere to be seen. Just need things to start clicking back into place, which they will.
I have to say though, I’m not against signing good young developing players but these runs are when you call on experience. We’re really missing Evans and Stewart at this point and of course Amad’s quality. If recruitment was right in the summer we wouldn’t be missing them this much. That’s the reality.
He’s like the anti Amad! Amad came here and wanted to show just how good he is. whilst he’ll make the occasional run which likely won’t be found, it’s occasional! He’s not fighting or working to make himself undroppable. He’s a Chelsea player which, from what I’ve seen, will never make it at Chelsea, or even championship level.
We may as well send him back, it's not going to happen for him at Sunderland. The other lads all look like once they get a goal they'll be off but I don't feel that with him.
Good point. 13 goals I think (no idea on assists). Pretty solid in any league. The quality of league might have not been anywhere near the championship (I don’t know) as assists and goals obviously come easier in lower quality leagues. but I’ve watched him so far and he doesn’t “look “ ready to me at this level. Finishing wise, he should’ve had a hat trick v Plymouth (I think it was) and couldn’t “kick” the ball properly. Maybe trying too hard I think. All of our striker are when they play. Or maybe the team just got so used to playing without a striker, they forgot how to play with one!!
I was exactly the same against Huddersfield. One tackle on the edge of our box falls beautifully for their lad, 20+ times the same thing happened for us, but tt always fell to a Huddersfield player. We weren’t very good that day, but we also had zero luck
Burstow should be shown videos of Dean Windass ... ... a player of limited talent who made defenders lives a misery in every game. He'd always come off off wringing wet and nursing all manner of bruises. In fact skip the videos, just let him go home for Christmas and stay.
He had 2 shots against Plymouth, one was a good chance and one was blocked, they were the only times he touched the ball in their box. The service our strikers receive is pathetic and no striker in world football is scoring goals for us so I really don't understand this narrative that this mythical experienced striker would be scoring goals for us. I haven't watched yesterday back yet but I rewatched the Huddersfield game and Mayenda made some fantastic runs and was free in the box multiple times and we ignored him. How would that be any different with an 'experienced' striker?
