I really thought we'd seen the last of 5 defenders, no wingers and 1 striker against teams like Burton at home...... Stewart Donald has refused to rule out a sensational return to Sunderland for former manager Chris Coleman.Follow our live Sunderland AFC blog here: Coleman was sacked by Ellis Short on the morning that Stewart Donald was announced as the prospective owner-in-waiting. Three weeks later Donald won the backing of the EFL and his takeover was approved, with the new owner unveiled to the media at the Stadium of Light on Monday afternoon. Donald hopes to be able to appoint a new manager within the next seven days and he has left the door open for a return for Coleman. It would be a remarkable move. Jack Ross, Alex Rae, Chris Wilder and Michael Appleton have all been heavily linked with the role. Coleman had spoken at length of his desire to help steer Sunderland back to the Championship and was even willing to take a pay cut to do it but he was sacked after failing to keep Sunderland up, the decision taken by Short. Follow our live Sunderland AFC blog here: Donald said: "It wasn’t us [who sacked Coleman], and I wouldn’t rule out potentially talking to Chris,” said Donald. "We’ve got one week, we believe, to get ourselves organised. From a fans’ perspective, Chris is obviously the visual one. “What Ellis Short has done through this whole process is that he has tidied up the business as best he can to reduce the liabilities moving forward. He has decided that Chris is one of those, and that is up to him. "That’s absolutely nothing to do with us, and we wouldn’t necessarily exclude Chris from the process of arranging a new manager. It was completely and utterly down to Ellis. "Potentially, we would look to speak to Chris. "There’s a view of whether or not League One is Chris’ domain, but when we’ve looked at the list of people who have applied, and you say you want to speak to three or four people, I think Chris would potentially be in those three or four." Follow our live Sunderland AFC blog here: Donald added: "There hasn’t been any contact [with potential candidates], but we haven’t been able to do anything up to now. "You get a vibe and a feel from the footballing industry [about who might be interested], and there are obviously lots of people who have applied and we’ve looked at those. "We’ve got a list of people that have applied that we would be interested in, and we’ve also got another idea about who might be interested in the Sunderland job. "Then we have our own people who we think could do a job for Sunderland. But I wouldn’t exclude Chris Coleman from that."
Just posted this on the new era thread I wouldn't be dead set against it, most of our problems this season were due to bains crappy transfers imo. Sure Coleman wasn't perfect, but he should be allowed to put his case forward imo
I liked Coleman, I backed him and fancied him at the time. Facts are he had enough games to turn it around, more than enough games. He made shocking team selections and even more baffling substitutions. He also aged about 39 years. Whilst I’d not spit my dummy out if it happened I don’t think you should ever go back to failure, even if it’s cheap.
He wouldn't be my first choice for the same reasons as Nads, wouldn't be upset about it either. There were some good signs under him but the personnel and the losing mentality of the squad let him down more than he let the team down, IMO.
Looked like he was turning it at back end of season to be fair, just took too long. Still his insistence on playing Fletcher is my biggest face palm, and the 5 at the back. Asoro would have outscored Fletcher. In fact he did in real terms.
Well FFS!!! What a clanger of ALL clangers that would be. If so Div2 here we come!!! FFS man if this happens there’s gotta be a buoycoutt!!!!!!!!!!! Bart
I choose to believe what a couple of lads on here suggested that it was in Fletcher's contract that we had to play him if fit, or Coleman really is a ****ing idiot continuing to start him. And yes mistakes were made, many of them inexplicable. To be fair it's more like Donald's saying that he won't rule him out rather than he's a top option, I don't think he'll be manager next season.
I do t believe for a split second that it was written into his deal. It was a loan, and we needed it to graft. Even by our standards it would be/was suicide to play a forward who wasn’t scoring before he arrived.
Like Nads said, things were just beginning to turn in our favour, but it was too late to save us from the drop. I strongly believe that there was a play when fit clause in the Fletcher loan because Stockdale played him too, which given the choice I'm sure he would have started one of our own in the 3-0 win over Wolves. I would like Chris Coleman to be given the job, because he knows where he went wrong and was starting to get things right. Add to that, that he knows the club, the players, likes to play the youngsters and knows where we need to strengthen.
This all depends on options. Maybe there are better people available, maybe not. I do think he's right to be considered though.
Oh my god we can't be getting an owner with common sense....just about to f*cking faint to be honest. No harm in speaking to the lad and rightly so. He put a lot on the table for himself personally to come to Sunderland which I admired. Yes, he got f*cked by Short so he's in the same boat as the rest of us. I'm quite sure he would be highly motivated to give it a real good go this season after he has taken so much sh*t. F*cking Houdini couldn't have kept us up last season with what he was given. Give the lad some support in the transfer market and I'm sure we will see another side to him.Three, four, five, six at the back last season imo wouldn't have made a difference with the players we had. It was like keeping the Titanic up with elastoplasts.......we need to hit the ground running and he knows the club so go for it. Mind you I wouldn't be surprised if he told the club to go and f*ck themselves...
Just listened to podcast (roker report). Essentially, they have 2 or 3 priority targets. Coleman is between 4 and 6, but they are not ruling him out They want someone who will demand the highest standards from all aspects of the footballing side. They will not allow the vclub to be taken advantage of by manager, players or agents. They also want Kevin ball to have a more prominent role. They didn't say what, but probably part of the coaching staff again by the sounds of it
I'm less concerned about The Manager than the Squad that gets assembled. Assuming the 'Old Guard' depart, we need A good keeper with a reliable replacement, at least three Centre Backs, (injuries and suspensions), and at leas two strikers who will get into double figures. Depending which of the younger players choose to stay, we may have the strikers already. We MAY have a back up Keeper in Stryjek. And these would just be my first priority. Remember it took Leeds three Seasons to escape this league. We are going to have to fight our way back.
Every team coming to the SoL is going to treat it like a cup-tie. It's gonna be tough. No doubt about that. We need experienced Championship level signings and a big statement of intent to bounce straight back. I'll be happy with a close shave and promotion the next season tbh.
I think they answered the question badly to the journo's, but reigned back on it when they spoke to Roker Report (or whoever it was) on the pod cast. They seemed to be making the point that Coleman's previous contract with the substantial pay off if it ran in to season 2 was Short's arrangement with Coleman that Short terminated. This makes them at liberty to talk to Coleman if they want - he is a free agent. For what its worth I hope they don't appoint him as I'm not a fan of going back over. However, I think they would benefit from talking to him about the dressing room culture that they are desperate to change
