Dick Advocaat: I’m not being arrogant, but I know I'm good, and it's normal Sunderland fans want me

Dick Advocaat: I’m not being arrogant, but I know I'm good, and it's normal Sunderland fans want me to stay
Victory in last weekend's derby against Newcastle has not only improved Sunderland's league position, it has also strengthened Dick Advocaat's position

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How you doin'? Dick Advocaat does not lack in confidence Photo: ACTION IMAGES

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By Luke Edwards

10:30PM BST 10 Apr 2015

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2 Comments


Dick Advocaat is not surprised support for him to be made Sunderland’s permanent head coach is growing because he knows how good he is.

Advocaat is one of the most experienced managers in European football, but although he had four successful years in Scotland with Rangers, he has never been put in charge of a Premier League team before.

Having turned down an approach from Fulham and others English clubs in the past, the 67-year-old is thoroughly enjoying himself as he tries to save Sunderland from relegation.

Victory in last weekend’s derby against Newcastle has not only improved Sunderland’s league position, it has also strengthened Advocaat’s position.

Although the Dutchman has not publicly admitted he would like to remain in charge beyond the end of the season, if he manages to keep the Black Cats up, his track record demands he is a serious contender.

“I’m not being arrogant, but that is a normal situation for me,” said Advocaat, whose side entertain in-form Crystal Palace on Saturday. “At the clubs I have worked at and the prizes I have won, it is normal for the fans to think that way [that I should stay].

“It’s good to be back in club management. I enjoy working with people. I’m enjoying every minute of this, but do not tell my wife that yet. We will wait and see what happens with my situation, at the moment, it’s not important.

“The four years at Rangers were the best of my life, the way I could live my life. I have worked all over the world, but that admiration from the fans and the people at the club, I liked that and it’s the same here.

“I could have come to England after Rangers, but the national team of Holland came. After that I went from club to club and country to country, and I never had the chance. I also had a chance to come here with Fulham, but it did not interest me.”

Sunderland have won five derby games in a row against Newcastle and have failed to build momentum from them in the league. Advocaat intends to make sure things are different this time, particularly as a win over Palace will put them just three points behind the Magpies.

“The players realise this is only the start,” said Advocaat. “If I saw any of them thinking they had achieved something more than that, I would take them out of the team. That is the feeling we must have because we still need more points.”

 

nothing wrong with what he's saying at all but I wish we could stay quiet about things and get on with getting enough points to stay up, then things like this can get said

 

won things with the gers ...big deal........ not , other teams yes, glasgow ..no

 

Daft bugger hasn't kept us up yet.

We'll want him to stay if he does so.

I like the arrogance/confidence but it's not warranted yet from my perspective.

 

We've done this before, re giving people jobs after beating Newcastle, tho BM with PDC and Gus. I admit Richie is a big step up in class from them two but long term..... The bloke is 67 now. I would prefer us to go for somebody younger with Richie having an advisory role or scouting for us in Holland. That way he's wifes happy and we may just get some decent Dutch players

 

Keeping you up isn't good enough to warrant him the job you don't want somebody just 'capable'.

The objective I to play good, winning football. If he serves up scrappy winning football for a few games it's only a matter of time before the rot sets in.

Just my opinion if course.

 

Silence is golden

 

It would be hilarious if you went down now. I don't want you relegated but words like these have a habit of biting you on the backside!

 

Get something today and we'll talk about it Dick

 

Fat Orange Order ****. He should go shove his clogs and hit windmills up his jacksie

 

Just tickled me. I'll wait till the end of the season to decide If I want him. Deciding after two games is lunacy imo.

 

I know it's the Scottish thing but Rangers fans are adamant that Dick gave them their best ever years at Rangers.

 

How we supposed to recognise that when we're ****? That's the big problem isn't it? I've always maintained we'd stay up even when Gus was in charge so long as we play to our strengths. Dick is doing that but our strengths are extremely limited meaning the 'good football' part just isn't going to be there. Effective yes, but good? No. No manager can make this squad do that

 

If we stay up, then I would like to see him given a 1 year contract and get someone like Paul Clement in as his assistant - ready to take over when Dick retires

 

I was thinking this providing Dick does well. Problem is don't think Clement would leave Ancelotti unless it was for a head coach/manager role.

 

in that year he might sign players that the next manager/coach does not want and the cycle will start again,its always going to be always a merry go round with managers depending on the results achieved ,its a no win situation in reality for teams like us ,stay up is be all and always will be other than that miracles dont happen .

 

So what does this result do? Barring a miracle of course!

 

There's a lot to be said for not speaking too soon.

 

Dick Advocaat is a proven quality manager, we are supporting a team of pissheads, it's going to take millions more than Ellis Short is prepared to put into our club just to be a mid table club never mind to dodge annual relegation fights!

 

Perhaps he is, however he should note that apart from when you play Newcastle, you look like relegation (or near relegation) fodder. Today proved that. If I were him, I'd be extremely guarded and very thankful that Hull are in the league as they are the ones likely to take the last slot.