Sunderland AFC manager Phil Parkinson has been named as the Sky Bet League One manager of the month for January. The Black Cats boss scooped the monthly prize after an unbeaten start to 2020, with a 4-0 rout of then leaders Wycombe Wanderers the standout performance as Parkinson guided the Lads to 14 points from a possible 18. Lincoln City, MK Dons and Tranmere Rovers were also defeated, with SAFC’s backline conceding just two goals in January to ensure that they currently boast the best defence in League One. After receiving the award, Parkinson said: “We’ve had a good run of results and the performance level has been excellent. We’ve got ourselves in the mix and that was the intention, but now the hard work really does start. “The things that have really helped us are the work ethic on the training pitch, getting a real pattern of play to our game, and consistent team selection. It was a bit frustrating for the lads that haven’t been in the team, but they’ve been fantastic and I do think that that’s been a key factor. “When you go with the same team for quite a while, the others who are out of the team are so important, and they’ve driven the standards on in training.” The chair of Sky Bet’s MOTM judging panel, Danny Wilson, added: “It was a great January for Phil and his team, who never panicked in their approach to games and it really paid off.”
Pleased for him. A great Vs up to all the knee jerk Parky outers over the road. Having said that, he's got to continue with this upsurge.............
There were quite a few Parky outers here too, I was one of them. I think it was a reasonable stance at the time.
Hey @SpikeyBob saw you viewing the thread and I took a screenshot of your avatar because I love this photo. It's beautiful.
If its sustained, it's an impressive turnaround and we should consider him to be a very good manager. The initial nose-dive after he first took over was alarming and it looked like he didn't know what he was doing. The last thing you expect when changing manager is results to get worse and they did.
I'll be honest and say I didn't see this coming at all at the end of December. Starting well is great but turning it around so impressively after what was a pretty torrid first couple of months is much more assuring looking forward. Well done to the guy as, with good reason, support for him was evaporating at a steady rate prior to this.
I wasn't overwhelmed with his appointment but once in i felt the best thing to do is support him. I was losing faith in him tbh but could see a better attacking style of play than i expected and thought we were unlucky at times. He's impessing me now, stuck to his guns, goes about things unassumingly but professional. Showed balls to fook off the disease of a player that was a fans favourite and that seemed to be the key. I like him a lot.
Taken by my brother from Tynemouth Long Sands at sunrise. He's a pretty good photographer (for a mag). Was commissioned to do a book of landscape photographs of the North East.
