Not quite mate..... Although he's done well for you so far, I have to admit. Personally I'm unsure if it's sustainable once injuries bite into your paper thin squad, but thats a discussion for another day
Nett Spend over £100m at Villa mate I won't be horrified but there will be a little worry that he spits his dummy out like he did at Villa - although he has always stated he is a Sunderland supporter - Let's just hope he does better than the last North Eastern fan who managed the club they support eh? Unjustly? Really?? All about opinions but I was one of Bruces biggest supporters until a few games ago when it appeared perfectly clear that he couldn't motivate our squad to raise their game and also didn't seem to have any tactical nous at all! 2 Home wins in 2011 says it all to me and 2 wins in 13 games this season also says it all - That includes games against Wigan (bottom of the league), Fulham (worst away record for years) among others and played defensively against Chelsea as he stated "they would pass it through us" otherwise - when they were there for the taking all in all (samewith Arsenal - Mertesacker needed getting at but he played a defensive team) - He had toi go IMO
I suspect you may be right, but you never know, Fat Mike may dip into his tightly padlocked pocket and get us one or even possibly two reasonably priced purchases from the bargain bin of French footie. Stranger things have happened, though not many.
I'm with the 99% of Mackems, Martin O'Neill = brilliant capture as manager... Gutted really... I just wanted Sunderland to get someone decent so we could have a decent rivalry this year, not an actually good manager....
They gave Black the job because he was second in command. Anyway maybe Kevin Ball didn't want the job. To me he seems perfectly happy doing what he is doing now. Bringing on the young lads in the youth teams.
The thing is that Black stinks of the old regime - the regime that so many fans seemed to apparently hate. O'Neill hasn't got a magic wand - there wasn't much else Bruce could have done with the squad we have. Granted, this it is Bruce's squad but how many of the players that he brought in were poor? versus how many players he brought in were good? I'd like to hear views on that.
My biggest gripe with Bruce was not his buying but his inability to manage them or motivate them. He was the manager on watch when bent and Gyan were bought and sold and he is responsible for not replacing them. I can't imagine Martin o neill going into a season with 2 novice strikers and a loanee, can you? We have a decent squad. We need a good man to motivate and organise them. Imo, We just got one and Iam gobsmacked to hear you say you are devastated with the choice. His cv is incredible and whilst I can accept if wasn't your first choice maybe, I just don't see why you are so devastated. I really am amazed.
Why would we want MON? Well, it would be good to have a man manager who can really motivate players. It would be good to have someone who was tactically aware and really understood the game and playing players in the right position. It would be good to have someone who knows what it is to win trophies. It would be good to have someone who has a great track record at previous clubs. It would be good to have a manager who can hold on to our best players and have a reputation that will attract better players. How many reasons do you want?
Tbf, I'm not a big o'neill fan. I have the same concerns as the OP - his teams tend to play boring football, he's been out of the game for a while and is getting on a bit, and I'm also worried he'll spit his dummy out as he has done i the past (though Ellis is an astute businessman, I think he will have known all about MON's past history, had a long chat with him about exactly what SAFC is all about, his aims, and the funds available, and if MON has still decided to come I can't see the last point being an issue unless Short goes back on his word). Having said that, I would never say I was "devastated". You can't argue with his CV, he has gotten results wherever he's been, and at the end of the day that's all that matters. I'm not ecstatic about the appointment but he COULD very well do with us what he did at villa (I wouldn't mind 3 successive top 6 finishes and a few decent cup runs along the way thank you very much!) and I'm happy to give him my complete backing unless he does mess things up. At the very least though, I expect him to steady the ship.
It was 36 months not 13 games, Bruce spent 90 million building a team which now hovers just above the relegation zone playing one dimensional football without a left side or a goal scorer. I know Roy Keane was not everyoneâs favourite, but please remember where we were (and headed for) when he first came, what he did in his first season and where he left us before you slate him.
I was all for giving Bruce a fair crack of the whip this season (till December)and I had some rare battles putting across my support - however he performed way below what could be reasonably expected regardless of how many players he brought in. MON would not have been my first choice - Hughes would have been - however as he is in the process of being appointed as Sunderland manager I will give MON my full support.. I offer Bruce my thanks for taking the club on(which he has) however the time was right for him to go, welcome MON and I wish him every success in the future.
Like the OP I have the same reservations about O'Neill but, am not too disappointed if we do get him. He is a very good manager his times at Leicester and Villa prove that for me, not counting his time at Celtic not in a two team league anyway. He has got to be given the rest of this season just to keep us up which is the main priority in my opinion, next season will be about rebuilding then the next will be about getting us a decent finish top ten not an impossible task. Anyway is there any news about whether he's signed yet or not?
Ok that has made me feel a little bit better - 2 others who also have reservations about O'Neill. The guy clearly has a massive chip on his shoulder (just watch any interview with him) I just hope that is what motivates him. I don't find him an engaging person to listen to - if he turns things around then good on him. I just want the best for our club. I'm sorry that I'm not overjoyed with the choice of manager. I really never thought we would become a managers merri-go-round club.
AT least we now have a manager who knows about formations man management and tactics. Unlike the last incumbent who was clearly out of his depth. Being self assured has now turned into a chip on his shoulder? How does that work?
We now have a manager to be proud of,and to be positive about.Let's get our not 606 board positive again..and it starts by getting behind both the team and manager NOW!!
Jesus MJ glad we don't have you as a manager or are you setting out to be controversial hoping for a big response, sorry mate, i publish what i feel is of interest not what will get me responses
