I’m rewatching STID and on the episode where Chris Coleman was appointed along with Kit Symons. I know he was the one in charge when we were relegated but I honestly think that had he been kept on he could’ve done a better job than others. He was hamstrung by Short who, at the most crucial time, decided that he didn’t want to play. Am I wrong?
He came across as a nice fella Coleman. He has no idea how to set up and motivate a team sadly, the squad he had was more than good enough to stay up, we can’t blame Short for that. Still better than Parky.
Thought it was a coup to get him when we did with where we were and what he had just achieved with wales. Came across well and had as tough a job as you could possibly of had but didn’t look like he had a single idea on how to save us. Mcgeady didn’t sound very impressed with him either. Had to go, we needed a full reset. Shame it was donald overseeing it.
I think he knew what needed to be done, but didn’t have the tools to do it with. I just look at the appointments made by Donald and Methven. As I understand it, Coleman was sacked by them not Short. On a broader level it’s night and day the difference between the Sunderland AFC of 2017 and Sunderland AFC of 2025 in terms of how the club is being run.
I think he had the players to finish 4th bottom of that league at the time, with the time he had. But let’s be honest it was a brutal environment. I actually didn’t mind the Ross appointment, thought it was different, someone without baggage and on an upward curve at the time. Understatement about the club now and then. Was conference level structure vs premier league structure. Even 1 year into KLDs tenure was miles and miles ahead of what the asset strippers were doing.
He made a mistake in lunging at our job. It was the original poisoned chalice. If he was going to make it, he'd have made it by now, but he'd have been better of waiting for a different job. He once said that he never once got to speak with Ellis Short!
One of the worst managerial appointments in SAFCs history. Talked a good game, but that was it. Should never have got the job IMO. Bart
He's a top bloke Unfortunate timing, I wish it had worked out for him here. I liked how he came across. This.
Honestly, I think it could have worked if he'd been backed, but he wasn't and I doubt anyone would have done much better given how things were then. We were beyond a disaster, losing £20 million a year, about £150 million in debt and only getting worse. An owner who'd given up and wanted out, rumours swirling round we were heading into administration, some players barely paying lip service to us while they tried to get away because they thought they were better than where we were, anyone worth anything sold, anyone on a big wage moved on, all to cut costs. Being left with players well past their best, like O'Shea, because we couldn't replace them and having to scratch around taking in cast offs and untried kids from other clubs to put a squad together. We spent something like £1.5 million on fees and loan fees that season, less than half we spent on Grigg the following January. Everything surrounding the club made it feel as though we were dying as a club. With all that going on, and more, it would be no surprise if it had a massive negative effect on the team. I remember reading an interview with Cattermole when he said that in the pre season of 2018-19 he really feared for us and that we could have gone straight through again because we barely had any players outside the youth teams, we were in such a mess. Honestly, it's hard to think just how bad things were then, on paper we shouldn't have been relegated, but the reality was clear after the opening few weeks it was going to be close. I still say that we'd have survived if we'd had a better keeper or we were able to keep Grabban (12 goals in 19 games before being recalled but never replaced because we had no money). But without both or either, it was always a struggle and the fine margins went against us.
I've appreciated reading everyone’s contributions but I reckon reliving these dark days will give me nightmares tonight
This thread just reminded me of James Vaughan the kind of bloke who summed up exactly where we were back then.
I get it appeared bit of a coup at the time following his success with Wales..... however, his managerial career wasnt the best prior to that & international management is very difficult, for a lesser nation once in a lifetime comes a superstar..... Coleman's success at Wales could very well have been masked by Gareth bale being at his peak..... without Bale would Coleman's Wakes tenure be so fondly remembered? Obviously nobody will ever know but he never exactly rose back up after leaving us
When he was appointed it was seen as a very good appointment but the squad was poor and we had no functioning goalkeeper. He didn’t make the best of a bad situation
Not the Messiah we hoped for if he didn't rise back up after his wake. Fwiw I thought he took on a really tough job and gave it his best with integrity. Came across as a sound bloke and we've had a lot worse in the managers position imo.
Coleman did pretty well initially at Fulham, but as the team began to age and decline with the better players sold off the started to struggle. But he'd kept them up safely before he was surprisingly sacked. The fact they continued to struggle after him probably shows that there were more deep set issues than just the manager. The following season they only stayed up on goal difference on the last day. Coleman was doing pretty well after that at Real Sociedad until he fell out with the President. His mistakes were taking over at Coventry as they were heading into steep decline due to financial problems that nearly finished them off then taking a job in Greece with AEL who also had huge financial problems before taking over at Wales. After leaving us he's mostly managed in Greece and China, and his profile has dropped, so I doubt now he's in anyone's consideration for a job here at any level. He also seems to have a knack for ending up at clubs with serious financial issues or major behind the scenes problems, so if he did get another job here it would probably be at another struggler where he's probably on a hiding to nothing.
Exactly, a league one/league two journeyman who thought he was better than he was because of hype early in his career as a kid at Everton. He ended up here because we were desperate but was so **** we got rid after only half a season and the club that took him from us did the same. He seemed to behave like an arsehole to us every time we encountered him afterwards.
Coleman always interested me as a coach. I personally thought he did a cracking job at Fulham, survival when he took over then top 10. Even when they sold their best players like Van De Sar they werent relegation fodder. I liked he tried his hand in Spain too. Wales was a funny one. Following Gary Speed must have been really challenging in many ways. He always carried himself with good grace in my opinion, and a lot of dignity. As others have said he should have swerved us at the time, the die was really set. Credit to him for giving it a go, he will have known how tough it would be. After us he has been nowhere. Surprises me a bit, because he probably would be doing a solid job for clubs looking to establish themselves in the champ, or push out of league 1. Shame he couldnt get things going here, but he isnt the first coached we have chewed up and spat out.
