Poyet knows the squad inside out now

SUNDERLAND head coach Gus Poyet says he has reached the stage where he completely understands the strengths and weaknesses of every player in his squad.

And he says that knowledge can only benefit Sunderland on their end-of-season run-in.

The Black Cats’ form and results have improved dramatically since the turn of the year and the last couple of weeks has seen an incredible transformation in what was looking to be one of the most depressing campaigns in recent history.

In the space of 10 days, Sunderland reached the Capital One Cup final, the last 16 of the FA Cup, beat Stoke City to climb out of the Premier League’s bottom three for the first time since August and then completed the double over rivals Newcastle United with a win which hoisted them into 14th place.

Poyet says that Sunderland are reaping the benefits of having worked so hard to discover what works best for everyone in the squad.

“What is great now is that I know the players,” he told the Echo. “When I first came here, I didn’t know them.

“I didn’t want to say too much in the beginning, because it would have sounded like an excuse.

“People would have thought that I expected everyone to be patient for four or five months until I settled in.

“That wasn’t the case, but that’s what people might have thought.

“Anyway, now I know the players.

“And depending on the game and the situation, I know when and where I can use Seb Larsson, for example, and when and where I can use Craig Gardner.

“It is clear for me now – it’s easy.

“Why? Because I have seen them in games.

“You can see them in training, too, but it is only really games that can tell you properly.

“In games, you use different players in different situations and you can see what works.

“I know exactly now.

“I know when to use one player or another.

“I know when to use Emanuele Giaccherini, or this player or that player in any given situation and that is very important for us.

“When you know what the players are going to give you, that’s the best feeling for a manager.

“In the beginning, I had to make changes and just hope I got it right – that wasn’t easy – but now that’s not the case and it can only help us as we look to keep out of the bottom three.”

Poyet says the knowledge of what his players could and couldn’t do, helped inform the steps he took in the January transfer window.

“It made it easier in the transfer market, because I knew what I needed,” he nodded..

“For example, with Marcos Alonso, I wasn’t just looking for a left-back. I was looking for a left-back with certain characteristics and qualities that could do certain things for the team.

“The more he plays with the team, the better he will get and the more the team will take advantage of what he brings to us.

“When he puts the ball into the box, he has great delivery with the power and the angle and everything.

“And, as time goes on, the other players will know when it is going to come.”

Sunderland’s improvement is underlined by the the way that goals have started flowing over the last few weeks.

For most of the season, the Black Cats were averaging less than a goal a game, but, in their last four league games, 10 goals have been scored.

Poyet believes that is all down to greater understandings.

“I think the team is coming together in how it gels,” he said. “And we will get better the more we play together.

“Players are starting to understand how they can get the best out of Alonso.

“When Johnno (Adam Johnson) players further upfield on the right, we know what other options we have, now that Phil Bardsley is pushing further upfield to support him.

“We know that we have other ways of playing off him.

“So there are plenty of things we are introducing and we know that we are getting there.

“That’s just one of the reasons why we’re a better unit and why we are looking at the games ahead with confidence rather than worry.”

 

he failed to mention he always asks me as well

 

I love Gus

I don't recall ever having a manager who is as technically and tactically astute as Poyet. He really has something special about him and should go all the way to the top.

 

If Carlsberg did paragraphs they would probably go something like this.....


"In the space of 10 days, Sunderland reached the Capital One Cup final, the last 16 of the FA Cup, beat Stoke City to climb out of the Premier League’s bottom three for the first time since August and then completed the double over rivals Newcastle United with a win which hoisted them into 14th place".

 

Pure class

 

He seems to know more about the players he has than any manager we've had has about their players (at least in my lifetime). He can get the best out of players that others have failed to do (Johnson for one) and appears to know what is needed to keep this momentum.

Long may it continue

 

Love reading stuff like this from Gus. The bits about knowing how and when to use Larsson, Gardner and Giaccherini made me laugh though... that's an eay one - never, never, and never!

 

Ha not too bad if you ask me!!!!!!!!!

 

One of the best things I like is that he just makes all the players feel important and happy even if they aren't in the first team, great man management.

 

I love the guy for what he's done already but I'm going to go against the grain on this one.

I'd prefer him to not come over as too confident (as he does in the first half of the statement) until we've got enough points to be safe.

I'm allergic to counting chickens too early and would have preferred a little more silence for now.

If it all goes tits up and we end up in the bottom 3, (and weve got a really tough February after tomorrow) he could look a bit of a plonker. And I dont particularly want to see the guy tarnished just yet.

 

Are you joking me?

Gus is one of the most modest managers I've seen in the Premier league. After stuffing the scum 0-3 there was no sliding along knees, just arms folded nod of approval. I'm certain he knows we are still in the struggle and I'm even more certain he has the know-how to get out of it.

I don't understand mate, all he says is that he now knows and understands the players after several months and now knows how to get the best out of them... Nothing wrong with that and I don't pick it up as over confident.

 

I don't agree on this one. I've seen enough to suggest he could still have a big role to play at the club. If Borini doesn't come back to us, it may well be Giacc starting on the left next season.

 

Giacc is a mystery. It's clear when he plays of two things, One, he's got the goods and Two, he is struggling with the pace of the game. Thought he'd have had more time off the bench. He's not playing 1st team games and he's not playing reserve games. Wonder what's going on?

 

Fair play to the lad for not kicking up a fuss about it. He's bound to be cheesed off though. He came to us for 1st team Football to get in the World cup squad.

 

Yep, he was getting more first team football at Juve

 

He a modal pro ain't he? It's the attitude I wanted to see from Alfie.

 

I'm just on the side quietly seen, quietly done.

It wasn't a particularly modest statement. I realise things can be lost in translation, but I'd prefer silence and humility over grandstanding. To say you know everything about everybody is just a little too much.

He's put himself up there to be shot down. That's all I'm saying.

Like I said, I'm a massive fan. He hasn't put a foot wrong yet....