Sunderland's caretaker manager Kevin Ball will be given more duties even if he does not become head coach on a permanent basis. Kevin Ball will be handed greater responsibilities at Sunderland even if he is not appointed head coach on a permanent basis, The Journal understands. The former Black Cats captain has been placed in temporary charge of first-team affairs in the wake of Paolo Di Canioâs dismissal 11 days ago. Gus Poyet remains the bookmakersâ favourite to succeed the Italian. Yet following the perceived failings of Steve Bruce, Martin OâNeill and Di Canio, Ellis Short is patiently determined to ensure his next managerial appointment is the right one. To that end, Ball has been given until at least this Saturdayâs Premier League home clash with Manchester United to prove his suitability for the job. Overseeing an expected victory over Peterborough United in the Capital One Cup and defeat in the league to Liverpool, the caretaker boss has impressed his chairman and chief executive Margaret Byrne and has always been a popular and respected figure in the corridors of the Stadium and Academy of Light. Impress further over the coming days, and sources suggest he may be handed the reins until the end of the season. However, The Journal understands that should Short opt for Poyet, or an alternative candidate with Tony Pulis the latest to be linked, he will also reward Ball â who as senior development coach, looks after the clubâs under-21s â with more senior responsibilities still. Either way, Ball is relishing the latest opportunity afforded him, having previously assumed caretaking duties following the sacking of Mick McCarthy in March 2006. He is determined to use what time he is granted with the seniors stars to ensure that they are open to a variety of systems. While Di Canio preferred a rigid 4-4-2 formation, Ball deployed Emanuele Giaccherini in a deep-lying, central attacking role behind Jozy Altidore against Peterborough, then switched the Italian international to a wide-left starting position amid a five-man midfield for the visit of Liverpool. He favours a 4-3-3 set-up with his under-21 side, and has said: âAs each game goes on, the system might change. âYou would have a philosophy over the way you want to do things in time and you might have a set system, but one which can react for certain opposition. âIn time, I would love to be able to do that, but at the moment I have only had a few days with them and it is important theyâre in a system they understand and are comfortable with and where they know how to play the game.â While Ball concentrates on the senior squad and Short weighs up his options, reports in Ghana claim four youth team players from Asante Kotoko â with whom Sunderland share a partnership agreement â have been invited to Wearside for trials. Striker Prince Amankwah and midfield trio Saddick Mohammed, Lukman Kasim and Abdul Mujeeb are expected to arrive by the end of Octoberfor a fortnight, accompanied by three members of the Ghanaian championsâ board set for talks over furthering the two clubsâ links. Meanwhile, former Sunderland target Ahmed Musa (pictured below) is attracting interest from Fenerbahce, according to sources in Russia. The Black Cats were linked earlier this year with the 20-year-old Nigerian striker, who has 17 goals in 50 appearances for CSKA Moscow. Under contract until 2016, he could be available for £10 million.
Am I the only one who thinks he should return to his development role where he can nurture the wave of youngsters that will be brought in by Angeloni? His old job role is quick going to become one of the most important coaching roles at the club under the new system. his coaching techniques and superb people skills will be vital in getting these kids to settle and perform.
Am I on my own in thinking the club from top to bottom should be using the same systems, seems ridiculous ball does it one way with the kids and pdc does it different, so ball saying players not use to systems wtf
Over here in the North west the local BBC news ran a feature after last weekends game on how Liverpool run the same coaching system through their academy to the first team and they include the Ladies as well which they claim went a long way to them lifting the Ladies title, cant believe after all these years of having academies at the big clubs that we dont all train under the same system, I find that staggering.
too right. it's fookin ridiculous the club doesn't do this.......but with 3 managers in 4 yours it ain't too surprising. hoefully the next coach sticks and we get an integrated system.
No mate, I do as well. As much as I loved him as a player and for what he has achieved so far with the kids, I don't think he is the man for us right now and i'd hate to see him fail.
When you say development role as in what , who has come through apart from jack and gordon who has developed , i would be interested who else of any note
so whats the point where do all these players end up , there must be a end product if not why pump money into it
Isnt that the whole idea though? The future! Its just so happens we've got loads of cack on £35k pw in the first team
You mean Jorden? Wags too. We've got prospects too like Pickford. We've never really invested in youth program though have we? Yes the facilities are there but where has the recruitment program been? Never been one. How do we know? Simple, every player we've brought through in recent times has been from the region. So given the population of the area and the fact there are two clubs in the area fighting for local talent and considering Newcastle have their 'special' relationship with Wallsend Boys Club, I think he's done quite well don't you? Under the new set up we're going to get a lot more talent from all over the world. His temperament is perfect and his development teams do well. Partnered with a technical coach and a clear system to abide by then he's perfect back in his long term job role imo.
Before Wags gets dissed, we sold him for 2m rising to 3m. Half a dozen waghorns per development generation is 12m a season. Youth products don't have to break a first team to bring a healthy income into a club if the recruitment is in place.
why farm a crop and sell it when yourself is hungry , never mind the money aspect . If the money generated is spent towards better players fair enough ,but it seems to me the money from jordons sale has not been reinvested in the team at all .
