Gus Poyet has today asked the club to release a letter to supporters. Read the head coach’s own words as he directly addresses the fans: For the first time in my life I think is time for me to write this letter to you, the fans. When I had the opportunity to become the head coach of Sunderland AFC, I just closed my eyes and remember me sitting at the away dressing room at the Stadium of Light at half time, 4-0 down, Sunderland 4 Chelsea 0, incredible atmosphere, one of the best I ever felt, so the decision was easy, yes I would love the possibility of coaching Sunderland with those fans. Luckily I got the job. I was brought into the club to stay in the Premier League first and most, then get stability and then progress with an identity in our game. The first goal was the most difficult task of my life but we not only stayed up in a miraculous way, we went to Wembley for the first time in years, plus successful games against our biggest rivals and enjoyed some incredible victories away from home. What we achieved last year was achieved by all of us together: club (chairman, directors, staff and players) and fans, nobody and I mean nobody from outside helped us a bit, it was only us together. Then my second aim was to achieve stability, progression and then slowly start bringing a special way of playing football to make you very proud of our team. This takes time, but even if the aim is clear during the process, we need to keep competing and winning games somehow. During my career as a player, coach or manager, I have always had a fantastic relationship with the fans, from my time in Uruguay going through every team in Europe, always the relationship was strong, one of mutual respect and understanding, I showed from inside or from outside the pitch, my commitment, passion and dedication in achieving what every club deserved. Of course I went through good and bad times, successful and not so good ones, winning or losing finals, but I left every single club having a recognition from the fans for my honesty, passion and professional work. So let's make sure that we don’t let anyone to break our relationship, I promise you that I care and want to win as much as you do and no one thinks more time every day about the team than I do, so I invite all of you to stay positive, to be strong, closer to each other and keep believing in what we started together last year, working harder to make it better this season. To finish I would like to clarify once more: the main responsible of the results of our team is me, I always said it and I will always accept my responsibility. I am really looking forward to see the Stadium of Light packed on Saturday, pushing the team to what could be a very important victory. Thank you and regards to all Gus Poyet There you go then. Straight from the horses mouth (apparently). What I want is a positive performance on Saturday and some ******* effort.
Gus accepting he has to accept responsibility and actually accepting responsibility are very different things. I still haven't seen him put his hands up for his mistakes. This letter tells me nothing I'm afraid.
could definitely rally a few fans up for WBA that, if it actually from him at least its genuine and he realises the necessity to appease some fans However when you consider where we are this year as opposed to last year it really does put it into perspective that we are improving (even if we do look atrocious on the pitch) then again it could be the PR team with Margaret Byrne releasing that article in the guardian about De Fanti being a cnut
I'm disgusted that Gus would use the language portrayed in that last line I like this. I like what he is saying and the fact that he is putting over his own views to the fans rather than those that the media portray. - and I agree with DRUM - positive performance and effort on Saturday
Well I think it's ****. Where's the bit about failing tactics and his big mouth in the media? Where does he accept responsibility for his failings? He says he will but doesn't anywhere. It's ****e. Builds no bridges with me. He should keep his head down, the damage is done all he can do to repair it is getting it right on the pitch. If he can't man up then he should just shut his big ****ing mouth and do his talking on match days.
At least the club/coach are making some effort to heal the rift that was created over the last few days, we all should welcome this, I know some wont, but surely we all need to stick together, fans ,players and management to get some points on the board, we won't if we don't.
Aye, I agree Funky, unless this letter as a whole is his way of putting his hands up. I accept that this letter is a rally cry to those he thinks are on the brink of turning against him. A win against WBA is paramount !
You bloody killjoy. ha ha. I was getting all 'Braveheart' and in the moment and fist pumping etc etc. Prediction? 0-1. ha ha
Harsh words Bri, understandable yes, but only by sticking together can I see us getting out of this, we are in danger of imploding, only our rivals will benefit from this, and none of us want that.
Agreed. He actually states that he needs stability and safety before bringing in his culture. He's skipped a step and gone straight to his "philosophy" before stabilising us. The fact he's even released that means he knows he's living on borrowed time and has a desperate battle on his hands.
It is definately the Gus last stand. How many other managers down at the bottom have released a letter to the fans? Last chance saloon Saturday.
Not sure about that Disco. Fans complaining about a manager rarely gets the manager sacked. Win on Saturday and all will be healed temporarily. Back it up with a decent performance at United then a win Against Hull and we're laughing. He'll be borrowing a lot more time if that happens. Not sure what to expect on Saturday - Ideye looks a good player - better than Berahino IMO. Put's himself about a lot more from the little I have seen of him. And we all know what Sess is capable of!! (And, before anyone says it - there's a lot of big IF's in there I know)!
I don't need a lecture on sticking together mate, I do my job as a fan, I don't boo individual players, I don't attack the club while they're playing, I've not been booing at the full time whistle. I sing and support until my voice goes. It's Gus who needs to learn how to stick together, when he singled out the fans. Did, he hold his hands up to that as a mark of unity? No, he blamed the media. I don't need any direction on sticking together. It goes without saying, come stand next to me at a match and you'll see fella, I'm 100%. I look at the substance to determine sincerity, that's was ****, it tells us nowt. I don't give a **** about his fan relationships but it certainly conflicts with what I've read from Brighton fans. I read him crediting himself with that 30 odd game so called 'miracle' but I'm not reading anything on his behavior in the media. I'm behind my club as always, but Poyet's completely lack of transparency just doesn't give me the feeling of learnt lessons, sorry, it's called damage limitation and a pretty poor job unsurprisingly coming from our car crash of a PR department.
Mate, he's a young developing manager. He'll make mistakes and that's fine, but attacking the fans for his mistakes is where he's crossed the line and he's offered nothing to repair the damage. He's taken responsibility for nothing in my eyes. His comments following the QPR game took the biscuit fror me. Ignored his car crash of a first half and attacked the football his team played and the fans for the second half display where we actually did well. What did he say about all that in his letter? Oh yeah, **** all. I'll do my job as a fan as always, and if he can just shut his ****ing mouth and do his job then we'll be fine, I'll then be reserving my judgement for his job as a manager and not him as a person as it should be.
Sorry but that letter does nothing for me tbh apart from Gus realising he`s on thin ice. The changes need to be on the pitch. Attitude, effort, commitment from the players. but if Gus packs the team with the same players with the same defensive mentality we can expect nothing else. Gus has had enough time and windows and imo has not made best use of either. I think he`s got until the end of the season unless there`s a disaster but it`s turning into a close run thing.
I don't like him as a person fella, that letter comes across arrogant to me. I'll be all Braveheart against WBA as always fella, 30k of our fans may struggle to get out of bed for Sunderland let alone getting up of their arse and join in a song or encourage but I'm up for it as always.
Just had a look at the quote on certain sites - the line that says "The main responsible" in the OP is quoted as "The man responsible" so he is accepting responsibility for the performances at least. NOt sure about anything else!
Reads to me like he's ****ed up, realised he's ****ed up and trying to blame the media for the **** up. I think all you SAFC fans on this board know the only way that he can fix it.
It's not just the fans complaining that makes me think it mate. Our results, Our ineffective and unambitious style of play, The players looking demotivated, The fact that Gus has blamed the board this year, The fact Gus has blamed his DOF this year, The fact Gus has blamed the fans this year, The media no longer like him as he's also blamed them, His media handling in general from talking about signings to talking about miracles is appalling, If you believe the stuff they said about Brighton he isn't learning as a manager... Gus might not go this week, next week or even at the end of the season but I'm certain he won't be our manager on a long term basis after he's shown himself to be such a twat this year. This letter to the fans smacks of desperation for me. I think he's a tosser. I obviously hope he keeps us up but I don't see him as permanent fixture at the club.
