Glenn Hoddle has been hugely impressed with what Gus Poyet has done with Sunderland and expects the club to 'surge' up the table, before going on to have a strong season next year. The former England manager analysed the relegation battle for Bleacher Report, and insists he can see no way that Sunderland will drop come May. Quite the opposite, in fact. He said: I can see them continue surging up the table. I have been very impressed the way Gus has coped with the intense pressures, yet steered Sunderland out of relegation zone, and I don't think that's it. There is more to come from them. Gus has coped with the pressures of a North East derby and rolled over Newcastle very impressively, and he has adapted his style of play, much the same way as he did at Brighton and very similar to the style at Everton and Swansea-building out of midfield, even away from home. There is much more to come from Gus when he has the chance to bed down his Latin influences and a number of South American and European players he has brought in, plus more he intends to bring in during the summer. I think we've only seen about 60 percent of what he intends to bring to Sunderland and I can see them doing very well next season. This is all quite an odd feeling, having people actually saying nice things about us in the media. We seem to have suddenly become one of those very 'trendy' clubs who are seen as progressive whilst also playing commendable football. It's bizarre, but it sure beats arguments over fascism and not being talked about at all because we were so boring. I kind of agree with Hoddle too, which is an even odder feeling. Get through this season, and it's tough to not get excited about what Poyet can achieve here.
He's just echoing what we all know, we can see the massive improvement under Gus and his only limitations will be budget. If Ellis can give him the backing to realise his potential, then who knows where Gus could take us? He certainly seems to have the tactical nous that has been severely lacking with previous managers, I just hope he gets the millions that they all had and squandered on ****e.
Hoddle knows his football, he might be a bit of a nutter about other things but on tactics there are not many better. I hope we can do an Everton and regularly finish in the top half on a reasonable budget.
I like Hoddle. He is technically and tactically very good. Our new style of football has Hoddles stamp all over it and one to keep in mind, for our next manager. Before anybody jumps on that, I can't see Gus going anywhere for a few years
One swallow does not make a summer ML was doing very well at the jacks, he is now gone. The fickle finger of form, leading to relegation or survival comes and goes.. However I agree atm, we are in a cup final, we have taken 6 points off the mags, we have climbed out the bottom 3 and have the number of points and games equal. Now we have to get 15/6 more points and will have performed a better trick than Houdini and be in the Premier League next season. As most of us are doing I am looking at our away fixtures compared to our home fixtures and I reckon we have a better chance of wins at home than away. Starting tomorrow with Hull, no resting on the derby laurels, Hull are desperate for the points also, we have to start with intent at 1500 Saturday
