Thank the lord Short never listens to me. What is going at at our club is beyond remarkable and we dont even have our so called best players playing. I have no idea what MON says or does, none at all but to take failing players with no confidence, outcasts and people like Mclean with no experience and get them playing how they do, remarkable. To do it in a few short weeks and to have us all, nearly a week into the transfer window, hardly talking about transfers, unbelievable. The one thing I will say is some laugh at my positive thinking preaching but this is it in action, look at injuries. The old way, the Bruce way, was we have a lot, we are decimated, we just have to find a way to cope...negative The MON way, this is an oppertunity, positive. Every word the man utters is positive, he even makes the "R" word into a positive. Lets not forget his staff, they dont look like men you would want to **** about with. Is 63 to old to turn gay and stick photos above my bed?
Like you Syd, I backed Bruce to the end. However, I would have picked MON before Hughes any day of the week, and it's looking more and more like fate has at long last dealt us a good hand...
Isnt it just a great time to be a Sunderland fan. I cant remember the last time I was looking forward to going into work to gloat about us 'Winning Again'. We have to give Brucie some credit though. Especially with some of the signings he made. Mclean for one, who the hell is he, i thought when he signed, he now looks like the best signing of the season in the premier league.
Confession from myself as well - was a BIB/BOB fence sitter for too long (others were right and for not saying so sooner I apologise!) and also thought Hughes would have been a better bet that MON - good job no-one gave me the job of picking the manager! I can`t believe the turnaround MON has brought to the club - that said, top 10 yes and on a roll - still only 2 points above 15th (sorry but being a sunderland fan tends to make me look at a half empty glass!) and we need to invest this window to secure the situation. Mind you I was wrong on BIB/BOB and Sparky hughes so what do I know!! Happy Days
it is now perhaps only 17 points to safety! In the last 6 games we have taken 13 out of a possible 18. Last night when they hit the woodwork twice early on it did not look good, but we rode our luck and scored some great goals. I was indifferent to Hughes or MoN and expected a new manager bounce whoever came, however with the results obtained and his enthusiasm and 'fit' with the club MoN has undoubtedly been the better choice. Our next league game is Chelsea away lets assume nil points (as they cannot continue to be crap) followed by Swansea and Norwich as home lets assume 4 out of 6 points. We then have Stoke (A) 1, Arsenal (H) 1, West Brom (A) 1, Newcastle (A) ?, etc. Gradually we are climbing out of trouble and whereas towards the end of SB tenure I could see relegation as a distinct possibility I think if we can keep this run going, get in at least one good striker, mid-table by the end of the season is looking probable. Generally it is said, we do not expect to win the league so it is the two games against the skunks and the two cups that defines our season. So atm I am a little torn about the team for Peterborough, we obviously are running short of players and my guess is a few of them need time to recover from injuries and fatigue. But I am happy to leave it to MoN perhaps Noble, Laing and co will get a run out and the CBs, Sess and Bendtner will be on the bench. Peterborough are a good side and it will not be easy. I will leave it up to MoN and his judgement.
I was always a MON man for both football and personal reasons (fellow countryman) but I did rate Hughes. TBH like any Sunderland fan we just wanted the best for the club. We all know what MON can do and don't get me wrong I hope this run goes on and on but I want to see what he is like when we have a couple of bad results to see what he does.
And me - have been well and truly won over by the Northern Irish Mackem!! As Syd says, when we had injuries with Bruce it was an excuse for not winning - now we have injuries with O'Neill it's an opportunity for the fringe players to show what they are capable of - Killgallon was awesome against City and, by all accounts, had a decent game last night as well - As another post says The Future's Bright - The Future's Red White!
I knew the bloke was awesome 10 years ago I'd have taken him from Leicester in a heartbeat and I've know about his SAFC connections for nearly 20 years, so my affection has grown over the years. However, even I couldn't have envisaged the transformation of a set of players that looked every inch a relegation team 5 weeks ago when we were beaten ironically by Wigan at home. I had belief he could stop the rot and get us organized and that in this window he would bring in 2 or 3 players that would keep us up but what I didn't see, when we had Spurs, Everton and Man City to play amongst Blackburn, QPR and Wigan, that we would get 4 wins, a draw and only 1 defeat (away to Spurs where we actually deserved a point imo) inside a month. Whatever he has he should bottle it and sell because he would be a billionaire from it. However, the job is far from done and this run cant last forever. We do still need recruits as the team are knackered and we have some injuries to contend with but I dont care wo he brings in from wherever, I trust this bloke to galvanise a team worthy of wearing the colours for EVERY game and thats all we ask. We may get beat but as long as we have given our all thats fine and MoN gives his all. Also, has anyone noticed that we now start games at 3pm not 20 past (or 20 mins after kick off). How many times have we said we started sluggishly and never got going in games until too late? Well, this manager doesnt accpet that and we are buzzing from the fiorst second to the last and again after half time there is no 10 minute period to warm up. This is a man we have been waiting for, for over 40 years and i think he will transform us by the time he leaves. I was 100% sure Bruce had to go and 100% sure MoN was the only answer but you know what lads, its just not that important who we wanted to keep or get in. We've got MoN and he has saved us from relegation imo and we are well capable of building on this great start for the rest of this season and into next season.
My son was all for Hughsie, he wasn't enamoured of MON coming in mainly because he had very little idea of the guys quality! I pointed out to him his excellent prior record with under performing teams. The other night said it all for me, when the fourth goal went in. After jumping about like a mad man for the next couple of minutes, he surreptitiously wiped a tear from his eye. Then asked me how MON had got such a change in so few games. Of course I had all the answers and told him I would tell him after I came back from the loo. (As I was bursting and hadn't wanted to go during the game. ) Thankfully he forgot what he asked me.
A big hands up for me, I wanted Hughes over O'Neill. Simply because I thought in the recent history he'd done a really good job with little money. Even more recently than that though O'Neill has done wonders with nothing but a bit of motivation and man management.
A was a BiB for too long and also wanted Hughes. wtf do i know. Wouldn't swap MON for SAF or Wenger right now.
I wanted MoN desperately but even I couldnt imagine he' have this kind of effect. Watch us get knocled out of the cup and lose the next 8 matches now. Lol That would be so typical SAFC wouldnt it.
I was a Hughes man also, but nonetheless pleased MON got the job and delighted with the start he has made. That he retains the enthusiasm for the game is unquestionable and how it has rubbed off on the players is amazing, he oozes charisma and what a contrast to Bruce(and I was a Bruce supporter). He is well equipped to takes us on to the next level and I sincerely hope he does.
