Match Day Thread Sunderland AFC v Blackburn Rovers FC – Monday 1st April 2024 - KO 15:00

OTR saying Berb was on Radio Newcastle phone in last night saying he had dinner with John Eustace and Sammie Szmodics the day before the game. I heard it, caller was called Bob but didn't put 2 and 2 together. All makes sense now

 

If indeed that's what HE did. Does Speakman make autonomous decisions, or is he doing the job KLD has employed him to do?

Mowbray had to be sacked - that much was clear. The Beale appointment was a massive mistake and they sacked him, preferring to wait until the summer to see who is available (a far better time to appoint a HC).

Is that writing off the season? Were we likely to make the Play offs at the point Dodds was appointed?

The squad isn't good enough - that much is clear, but are we short-termist by losing our **** over a mid-table finish? Does the club ownership have no credit in the bank with the fanbase?

 

Been a ****e 3 windows of so to be honest pal. We have imploded since December. Speakman won't accept he is the issue. He is.

 

Sunderland: Mike Dodds on what happens next after Blackburn hammering



https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...-mike-dodds-happens-next-blackburn-hammering/

By Dominic Shaw

MIKE Dodds spent last night pondering how best to deal with his Sunderland players as he prepares for the inquest into yesterday's embarrassing defeat at the hands of Blackburn….

"You're playing for Sunderland Football Club, a lot of the words that I've used since I've taken over the team are you've got to be respectful," he said.

"You have to be respectful to the league, opposition and how amazing this football club is.

"I think sometimes when young players get given opportunities - and they perform - they get a bit carried away. Sometimes I use that word to level them a little bit. What today has shown for some of our more inexperienced players is that if you don't show a level of respect you get kicked between the legs and that's what's happened to myself and the individuals in the dressing room."

He added: "I'm really angry with them. I took the team earlier in the season and I've obviously taken them now for six or seven games and I wouldn't say I've had the level of frustration I have right now but I go back to my mantra as a coach, the team should be reflective of the coach. If that's reflective of me then I need to have a long, hard look at myself.

"I don't think it is. I know deep down it isn't but at the same time when you're stood at the side of the pitch and you've had steps in the right direction and then you have a performance on Friday where there are foundations to build on, then you get something unrecognisable, it's a real humbling experience.

"But it's not about me, it's about the football club and the players. The next 48 hours, I'll watch the game back, make the decision whether it's an individual conversation or whether it will have more weight as a collective conversation.

"Then we need to dust ourselves down and get ready for Saturday. We have to do a huge amount more than we did there."

 

40 games 19 defeats is minging however you dress it up mind

 

Speakman has great power, unfortunately he refuses to accept the responsibility that goes with it.

 

I also think apathy is a dangerous drug and are right amongst it at the moment. It's not ok to just write half a season off man. It's exactly what's been done by poor leadership and incompetence.

 

Never met a person who gets on with him.
Some say it doesn't matter if he is doing a great job. Well he isn't doing that either. Get him binned

 

Mate of mine knows Speakman professionally. He says that whilst he can be "a bit marmite" with the way he talks, he's absolutely dedicated to the model and the way we operate. That suggests to me that he's doing the job KLD has asked him to do.

Personally I have very few issues with Speakman, I just wish he'd shut the **** up and stop putting himself at the forefront of things.

Agree re last 3 transfer windows, also think we've had some rotten luck with injuries and loans - had Simms stayed and Stewart not done his achilles we'd likely be a PL team by now

He has just enough credit in the bank for me to accept this **** show of a season, but when we spend the Clarke money on 7 teenagers from Lyon's academy then I might lose my **** with the club

Massive massive summer ahead

 

They wrote off second half of last season too

 

And to add further context, plenty of clubs have gotten to the point we have and then fallen off. Buying a load of kids with potential is relatively easy if you have the money to do so, it's the knowledge, skill and talent required to take the next step - keeping the production line of sellable assets going without it affecting overall progress - that it's becoming more and more obvious that those in charge don't look like they're capable of.

Last summer was the time to adapt the model. That didn't happen and this is the result. Two coaches down, one to go at the end of the season, a disastrous decline in the quality of football, a team full of kids who are struggling with no experience to guide them, injuries left right and centre, and a lower mid table finish with the consequent reputational damage that will affect who we can recruit going forwards.

Progress?

 

Stop talking bollocks

 

Depends on what timescale you measure progress against. Seems like some on here measure it on a game to game basis

There's been talk of a 5 year plan (although never heard the club mention this OR the "model") and we are in our 3rd season. Promotion in the 1st season, nearly promoted in the 2nd. Some bad choices made this season, let's wait and see what the summer brings.

 

I just can not and will not forgive writing off a season. They know Dodds isn't the man but happy for him to take it for half a season. Is it 3 points out of a potential 30 of something. Its insane.

 

I suppose it's a matter of opinion about whether the club "wrote off the season"

I don't believe for a minute that when KS & KLD met to discuss sacking Beale they said "aye **** it, let's just coast home and go again next year"

 

Alarm bells have been ringing, maybe not loudly but still ringing, for at least two transfer windows. Arguably three.

Major changes required in the summer. Resolving the leadership and medical situations should come long before signing another winger. I hope the club are using the time wisely.

 

4 from a potential 21 since Dodds took over

 

You're going to be disappointed if you think there will be any changes to the model in the summer

 

I do. Otherwise they won't have left Dodds in charge.

 

Then I think we can safely assume that it's going to be more of the same next year.