The thing that could be in our favour is that if he was to get us promoted, he is likely to be assured that he will have a lot more money to spend on team strengthening that he got at Norwich. That could swing it. Taking a side from League 1 to the Premier League would also look good on his C.V.
It's not the fact that we've lost games that's worrying, it's the manner that we're losing them. If we're creating loads of chances, working our socks off and being narrowly beaten (like the Burton match) then that would at least be palatable, but there's a lethargy to our play now and we are conceding goals for fun whilst not converting the few chances we are creating. To date, Johnson has not come up with a remedy and it's now a case of do we wait in the hope that he will or do we give someone else a go. I'm sure there will be 'conversations' between Speakman and KLD and between Speakman and Johnson but with the January window rapidly approaching, we need to see a big improvement in our play or Speakman making a decision for the good of the club in the next few weeks.
Something happened before/after the Portsmouth game and whatever this was, it needs to be resolved, A few people in this video are relating it to the change of coaching staff. The majority of fans interviewed want a change but 3 weeks ago we were playing the best football I've seen us play in years. The players certainly put in the effort against QPR but the last 3 games have shown that LJ's team selection is not the best and the players are not working as hard as we know they can do. I'm all for making changes when needed, as that's my day job but we need to understand the root cause of the problem and deal with that. The data suggests that Lee Johnson is the best manager we have had in recent history.
IF Jevons is the root of the problem (and I'm not suggesting that I know he is), then Johnson has to act. If the problem is beyond redemption then Jevons will have to go. The 90 minutes on the park is a fraction of the working week, but if players are not enjoying the working week because they have a problem with the first team coach, then that is bound to transfer itself on to the pitch.
I keep seeing stuff thrown around about Jevons, he joined in September and during his time here we walloped Cheltenham and Crewe as well as the QPR result, I’m not too sure he has been that influential in our recent downfall, however something has gone massively wrong
I don't buy this Jevons stuff at all. I've never, in 30 years of watching football, heard a new coach being blamed for a downturn in form. This is what social media does. Finding patterns where there aren't any. The manager carries the can and others dissappear without anyone noticing, the way it has always been. I'm sure hiring a **** coach could have an impact. However, if he is as bad or disruptive as is being suggested you'd need to seriously question the people who hired him. On the other hand, perhaps its got absolutely nowt to do with the new coach!
The buck never reaches the top in football. That would be the man that hired the head coach. Or the man that hired the man that hired the man etc. If KLD is unhappy he needs to talk to Speakman about his performance. If Speakman is unhappy with the first team he talks to Johnson about his performance. If Johnson goes then Speakman must be questioned, the same as the recruitment team must be. There must be a shared responsibility model now we have moved away from a manager model. I doubt there will be of course, Johnson will carry the can. It might sound like I am defending Johnson. I am not, directly at least, but we have moved on from a manager who does it all and that means blame cant all be in one place.
Not saying it’s not an opinion I gave huge credence to, but was in North Manchester at a non league club today and spoke to an ex employee at Oldham Athletic. When he knew I was a Sunderland fan he said basically he thought Lee Johnson was horrible. Said he wasn’t liked by the team, overly critical of / bad with players, flash over money, bad mannered to other club employees, said he was intrusive over players lifestyle. Said he talks the talk to the media but can’t back it up. Obviously I take some of it with a pinch of salt- ex employee and all that, probably some bitching which isn’t always true - but equally there may be some truth in it, maybe the players don’t want to play for him.
