amazing how the press see it their own way - the way Talkshite reported it was the Robins turned us down not that Coventry turned us down!
Phil Parkinson has entered the betting today and now a shorter price than Stendel. Someone must have had a fiver on him!
Tbf Robins said, not that you'd expect him to say much different, that he'd told Coventry that he had no intention of leaving. They then sorted him a new contract.
I guess apart from the obvious question of who is best placed to get us out of league one, is who is best placed to develop our players and move forward if we get promotion
Well after reading that im really hopeful that we take him on as next manager. I also really hope Barton bumps into a Barnsley fan down a dark alley one night judging by how much they seem to love him.
Sorry but that's not how I see it: “On the back of the approach from Sunderland, the club reacted really quickly with a new contract offer and I am grateful to them for that,” Robins told the club's official website. “I had no intention of leaving – when I spoke to (chief executive) Dave (Boddy), I was unequivocal in my desire to stay. We agreed it all within 24 hours and I’m delighted to accept the new contract. “I’m fully invested in this process and this club. Everyone knows the feelings I have - I have got this club in my heart and want to continue the progress we have made.” I don't see anywhere in that quote where "he" has spoken to SAFC. Only theat SAFC have been in touch. The press have wound it into something it isn't. We asked Coventry for permission, they said no and told Robins, then offered him a new contract. We are legally not entitled to approach him without permission of the club
Donald said he wanted to interview the best available. Teams in a higher position are clearly going to have managers matching that ( admittedly loose ) criteria. Hence ainsworth and Robbins. He has to ask permission to talk. Coventry refused. So be it Tbh I think Robbins said it to make the fans feel like billy big boll0x. Ditto with ainsworth. Donald is going through the motions and is causing a feeding frenzy of media speculation
The more I read about this Stendel the more we need to get him. It's going to be an absolute pressure cooker of a job and the manager needs to be someone who gets us as a club and fans as much as anything
There's nothing that you can deny about what I posted and I never said that he'd spoken to us. He said he had no intention of leaving. It would have been completely different if he'd told them the he wanted to speak to us and was not interested in a new contract. He effectively turned us down by saying that he had no intention of leaving Coventry. If he'd said I want to speak to them but Coventry refused his then the headline would have been Robins wants Sunderland job but is refused permission to enter into talks.
He would have forced the issue if he wanted to come and wouldn't have been signing a new contract. Plenty have done the same before if they've wanted another job. He obviously, as he said, didn't want to move.
I'm onboard with the idea of Stendel and even more so because the alternative options are very underwhelming. The idea of focusing on managers who "know the league" is completely flawed in my opinion. "Knowing" this league does not mean you know how to manage a club like Sunderland. It's not arrogant to suggest that we are a unique club at this level. We need a manager who can handle the extra pressure and expectation that comes with that. In addition to handling the pressure of a team battling for promotion last season, Stendel did it playing great attacking football with a defined style of play which is very modern and suitable to the higher leagues as well. With due respect to Ainsworth, I've no idea how he can be the favourite for the role because it's a massive leap despite the current league positions.
