Indeed. And at this stage, I think trying to guess which is simply futile. I'm not sure that 'credit' is the right word, but in one form or another you've got to hand it to the Sunderland chairman. There were many safer options out there, including sticking with MON. This is quite possibly the biggest gamble a PL chairman has ever made before, and he's doing it with PL survival on the line. I've not even got a gut feeling as to how this will turn. Honestly think it could go either way. But I will say it again, I do think that Sunderland squad need a kick up the backside and to be shaken into life. And Di Canio certainly comes across as someone who could do that. I don't think these last seven games are going to be boring though. On and off the field.
Paul Lambert and Roberto Martinez will be delighted, I fail to see how Di Canio is going to keep them up.
Sunderland have been roundly criticised by their fans as lacking passion, grit and fight, and not being too pensive and not going for it. You'd think Di Canio could sort that. Although I wonder about how his managerial methods may work with Premier League players. He may need a strong board who are willing to stand alongside their man on notable occasions in the next year or so.
Jumping the gun a little bit, in my opinion. They can't be any more screwed than they were with O'Neill.
I note that Di Canio's title is Head Coach, where as MON's was manager. I can't see Di Canio being someone happy to work alongside a Director of Football though, even if he does that European experience where the Head Coach-DOF relation is common, and hence I assume there's nothing to read into that job title.
Swindon did have a budget bigger than the majority of League One, and almost end up plunging into administration as a result.... ...sorry if I hold back on heralding him as a good appointment on the face of a L2 promotion.
Like I say, I don't think anyone can make a judgement on exactly how this is going to turn out - good or bad. I've got no idea at all how these next seven games are no going to go, and I fail to see how anyone else can. Right now, it's neither a bad appointment nor a good appointment in my book. But I look forward to finding out the answer.
Absolutely; if you're going to make a move like this, you might as well really roll the dice. With O'Neill, I think that they had a decent chance of staying up simply by grinding 3-4 points and hoping that one of Villa/Wigan flop...this is a statement that their board does not believe that would be enough, and that they're willing to risk complete collapse for a shot at finishing closer to 40 points.
That's the point i've been trying to make, He won League 2 with a budget that eclipsed not only every other team in League 2, but also most League 1 teams. He has also proven that he is as equally insane as a manager as he was when he was a player, still completely unproven in my opinion. Massive gamble from Sunderland with only 7 games left.
Sunderland need a manager who'll instill fear in the players in order for them to start showing passion and grit - di canio ticks that box. Their finishing hasn't been up to scratch either, and di canio could also help with that! However, with no Steven fletcher, I can't see them staying up, unless di canio ensures they let Danny Graham play off the shoulder, picking up through balls, and instills a mentality for their midfield to get forward to support Graham. He was so isolated yesterday, and running around in vein.
We're pleased with the appointment. No worse off than with Marty, we needed passion. We got a ****ing nutter. We're excited.
