I think everyone here wanted Dick back. A proper manager, won things at the highest level in different countries. We were overcome with what we thought a proper manager was. After years of Paolo's & Gus's, a guy who had won over many leagues was something we had been screaming out for. Him persisting with a system that just didn't work with the players we had, we weren't expected to foresee that. Same could be said for MoN. A true Lad's Fan. A manager in the same mould as Dick. ****ing excellent start to his tenure, the second coming of Jesus was here, on Wearside and he wore a tracksuit. But it went downhill ****ing badly. Ellis tried, ill give him that. His persistence with a DoF model went on for too long though, and he appointed the wrong man in Di Fanti. But he's seen the light of day, and cut his losses. Thank ****,
On the contrary, Advocaat wasn't a top manager, he never has been and he's never managed 'at the highest level' the UEFA Cup victory is really the only notable exception to a poor CV given his years in management. His appointment seemed a bit desperate to me, there were very little options available at the time IIRC, but admittedly he was a success for you guys. Offering him another year was a mistake, nobody really sells a club to a player, as a manager with 12 months on his contract. That was a good opportunity to get somebody in who had long term vision, ironically Sunderland and Allardyce distance themselves from each other. Short persisted with Advocaat by all accounts, when there was no vision or strategy attached to that decision, it was rushed and sentimental and poorly planned. He was never going to build a squad, but he got off lightly because folk blamed lack of funding... not a problem for his replacement it would seem.
Actually, I don't think the director of football model was allowed to work properly. Admittedly di Fanti was a waste of space but Congerton was doing a good job (see Defoe/Altidore swap). The only really poor signings during Congerton's time were Bridcutt and Buckley and they were Poyet's choices.
Get about 9 players out, reduce that wage bill right down and get 4 quality players in, in the summer and Sam will do that. Win the f a cup and finish 8th will do me.
You've got to dream Montmeister. 9 out 4 in, with an already thin squad sounds like bad maths mind, I reckon your squad will have close to 10 new additions this summer, with around 6 going out permanently.
I didn't, personally. I'm eternally grateful for him keeping us up last season, but him only coming back for a year is just another year of fire fighting. All the players signed by Dick/Congerton almost become redundant after he left as the new manager (Allardyce) will want their own stamp on the team/club. Just look at Lens and Toivonen - both completely frozen out for one reason or another after Dick's left. As for the DOF model, Lee Congerton was bordering on genius. He swapped Defoe for Altidore (for nothing), sold Wickham for £8m and brought in two internationals in Lombaerts and Fer who only didn't sign due to failing their medicals, which has nothing to do with him.
I think you're being a bit cynical there Relic - if tongue in cheek still verging on the negative - or you're just suffering from plain relief - onwards now and await the Sam & Ellis show -
Personnel opinion is that the DOF model works well for the teams challenging at the very top of table, but for a team not challenging for honours / qualifcations its going to come unstuck. A key fundamental for these other clubs is player motivation and focus and being 100% bought into the manager is paramount and this, in my mind, begins in the recruitment process.
Thats it bordering on genius - not genius or quality which equates with success thus a total failure - think he got a bit lucky with Defoe and DozyJozy But we are all so relieved to move onwards
Didn't say it was the right solution, just in my opinion its bettered suited to the real elite clubs when I player is really signing to be at the club. In most other instances in order to get a top player into the club I think the manager needs to part of the recruitment process. Ultimately, I want the players bought into manager and manager bought into them.
But we only had one manager who was willing to work properly with Congerton and he, ultimately, wasn't up for the fight. Congerton made some excellent signings. Even Lens and Toivonen were good signings at the time because they were brought in to work with Advocaat. Lens showed in Dick's last game that he's an excellent player. To say the D of F model was a failure is ridiculous because the right conditions for it to work weren't in place for long enough. Furthermore, what concrete evidence is there that Allardyce will do any better in his second season at the club than any of the previous 3 managers? He made three good signings in Jan. So what? How do we know he didn't just get 'lucky' like Congerton allegedly did with Defoe/Altidore?
Good posts on here to-day, its a very interesting debate to which I can only say well done too all the contributers. In Ellis and Sam we look to be in safe hands, Ellis has had a number of set-backs but when he bought into SNQ,s vision he made it clear he knew little about football, its testament to the man, and his commitment that he is still here, and we all should be grateful. The carpet ride is about to take off I feel, it in my bones, onwards and upwards.
Look no further than Mark McKay for at least one of your summer signings. Possibly Ayew from Swansea with the way that panned out in January, it looks like Allardyce knows him well... not sure if there's a list of players he represents as an agent but he's got a fair few good ones by the looks of his deals last summer.
