Why do people think we overachieved last season? Has nobody ever thought that maybe the championship just hasn’t been as good as it was Pre-Covid and that’s why Ipswich are doing so well this season? Look at Burnley and Sheff Utd they walked the league and they’re absolutely hopeless in the PL. We finished play offs with the lowest ever play off total and I’m sure we even had Gooch playing CB at one point.
I watched TM's last game and post match interview last night The truth is on the day Millwall were better organised than us. We played a completely new front four of mostly young players , with only Clarke a seasoned starter, It was a huge gamble, or a team selection made to prove a point. Either way it was a sad way for TM to end his career at Sunderland. And as pointed out above, the ball is now in Speakmans court and he has to get this next call right or all the good work of the last two seasons will be blown away. OaU
See my post on the last page. Expected goals scored and expected goals conceded. If you think those stats are any good is another argument, but based on how data is currently analysed we did over achieve (and under achieving this season so far)
I agree with both of you to be fair. A lot of media/pundits coming out in support of TM on social media. I listened to TalkSport breakfast yesterday and Jeff Stelling/Ally McCoist couldn’t believe it. We’re only 3 points off the play offs, fielding kids every week, where do we expect to be etc.. Then Simon Jordan came on his slot and basically said we indeed are only 3 points off the play offs but look at our trajectory we’re dropping away in significant decline and the results have been poor. Spoke about the wishes of the owner developing younger players, working within budgets etc and put both sides across but his last point was what struck me.. Went on to say football managers need to engage their minds rather than their mouthes.. highlighted TM dragging his issues out into the public domain, saying it’s the worst thing for an owner when the media are feasting on behind the scenes issues. Also went on to say “what’s he expecting to happen from that? Use your media allies to back your owner into a corner to get what you want? You go too far you get sacked”
Fair enough mate. Kind of goes with what I said about it being a poor championship though and that’s why we managed play offs with quite a underwhelming record compared to teams who managed play offs in some of the most recent championship seasons.
Sick of seeing the "only 3 points off the playoffs" comment as a reason for not changing manager, like Simon mentioned its the trajectory thats worrying and the fact that teams below us are beating us. We are only 9 points away from the bottom 3 which seems a lot but look at our next few games.
I think this is the first time, since supporting them from the late mid/late 80's, that I have been a little disappointed that a SAFC manager has been sacked. Well done Tone!
On the subject of timing, I don't expect us to pick up any points in our next 2 games based on our form. From that point of view its a perfect time to replace the manager, chances are he won't be appointed until after Leeds.
My view We were promoted under Neil. Board would have asked him to consolidate in the championship. He ****ed off to Stoke. Tony was brought in by the board to consolidate last season. Board planned to replace him in the summer (hence the very short term contract), he was a stop gap. Tony performed way better than the board expected, getting into the playoffs. This meant board couldn't justify replacing him. Extra year was added to his contract. (Did we also miss out on his replacement because of this ? Farioli or whoever it was mentioned in the media ?) Tony's survival as head coach this season was dependent on us being in the playoff places, heading towards the automatics. His performance and the teams had dropped last few games. Board sacked Tony because of this, and new manager will be in and settled before the Jan window (personally I hate it when managers are sacked during or just after the Jan window) Board are being proactive imo. Rather than reactive. Doesn't mean it was the right decision but at least I don't think it was a knee jerk reaction.
Ditto, Alan Durbans dismissal pissed me off, was only a nipper as well. Think the timing of Mowbrays departure came as a surprise to the vast majority.
Must admit I dont think Amad was having a dig at the club. More a genuine thanks for how Mowbray helped him improve was my reading. There arent many players who havent improved under him in my opinion but Amad looked lost when he first arrived and then just took off.
im not sure tbh I could see it coming performances dropped off a cliff and the team selections and the constant moaning of them only being kids wasn’t helping himself at all. He’s known for working with kids and he’s proud of that fact but then constantly saying he didn’t have experience is baffling and probs one of the main reason he was given the bullet. IMO he ran out of ideas and he was just looking for someone else to take the blame.
I know what you mean mate, but I think the next two games a massive for us. I really dont think we can write them off and I hope the top team arent. If there isnt a new man in by the weekend I would be surprised personally. The last thing we need is a repeat of the debacle that was the Neil appointment. They need to get this done and show leadership for me. KLD talks about a high performance culture across the club, that extends to getting your perfect candidate soom after sacking the old one. Whilst I think sacking Mowbray is the wrong call, I do think they will get the man they want in the next couple of days and he will be on the touchline at the weekend.
No but I wouldn't be surprised to see him release a statement through the LMA at some point this week
