https://www.a-love-supreme.com/single-post/roberts-enjoying-working-with-mowbray Patrick Roberts has spoken about Tony Mowbray's management style, and how the gaffer put an arm round Roberts when he first took over... FAITH "I've seen how Tony manages his teams and when he came in he had a chat with me - I wasn't really in the squad, I didn't really play many times before he came in, and he sat down and said 'I don't know how you're not playing'. From then, he said he couldn't change it immediately but he said that as time went on I would get my opportunity and I had to take it. I've always had faith in him since he came in to guide me and help my career and he has done that." BREATH OF FRESH AIR "He's a great man manager to have off the pitch as well as on the pitch, his door is always open and you can talk to him about anything. It's something I need from a manager and I can feed off. It's been a pleasure and a joy since he came in, it's been great. He's been a breath of fresh air, I think, for me personally and the rest of the lads have enjoyed it too, and we can go out onto the pitch with no fear and just express ourselves." GREAT TO WORK WITH "The gaffer is a man with many words and he has praise for everyone I think! He's just one of those managers he gets the best out of players, knows how to motivate them and get them going. I've enjoyed working with him and he's been great with me and great for me, and is a great man to have in charge." RELAXED APPROACH "I think you need to be like that now. The club has signed so many young players, I am one of the oldest - at 26, that's crazy to say! It's in the back of your mind that he is working with young players and knows how to get the best out of young players. It's a different mentality and you need someone to get the best out of them. That's what he has done, it's what he has done at other clubs and now he is doing it here as well." https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...ibuted-to-norwich-and-burnley-results-4090879 Patrick Roberts explains important Sunderland message which contributed to Norwich and Burnley results Patrick Roberts says Sunderland’s wide players have been more aware of their defensive responsibilities in recent weeks when facing sides above them in the table. Tony Mowbray’s side became the first team to keep a clean sheet at Burnley this season during a goalless draw at Turf Moor last time out, while they also won 1-0 at Norwich last month. Sunderland have been far more organised and disciplined following a chastening 5-1 home defeat by Stoke, with the whole team playing their part to improve defensively, knowing when to press from the front and when to drop back. "It's something that, as a winger, you don't want to be doing too much but you have to do it for the team,” Roberts told the Echo when asked about his defensive responsibilities following Sunderland’s open training session. “Whether it's me, Jack [Clarke] or whoever is out there, we do that and we work hard as long as we are on the pitch - that's what the manager tells us every week. “He says we have to work hard and earn the right to play and then after that you can be more relaxed, composed, and try to do something on the ball. “If you do the hard work, you get the rewards and the 0-0 at Burnley was deserved on Friday.” Roberts joined Sunderland in January 2022 when the club were still in League One, with the winger short of game time following a frustrating loan spell at French club Troyes. Just over a year later the 26-year-old is a regular starter for the Black Cats in the Championship and enjoying his football again, after signing a two-year deal at the Stadium of Light last summer. "I take experience from the disappointment of going places and not playing,” Roberts explained when discussing his previous loan spells while contracted to Manchester City. “I put it to the back of your mind and crack on. “It's been more than a year since I came to this club and I'm still glad to be here, to be involved, and to take it on the pitch at the Stadium of Light and be at this club. “Initially, I just came on a six-month contract. The club had been in League One for four years and it was quite tough and they wanted to get out. “You look at League One now and it is a tough old league. We finished fifth in the league and managed to get promoted but then we've come into this league with pretty much the same squad plus a few additions. “We did well to get out of League One but now we are competing in a higher league and we are more relaxed and there's less pressure, we're just enjoying it every week. “The club helped me and I wanted to help the club, we were aligned in our ambitions really. I was glad to get promoted and then sign a new contract, and I've never looked back since."
Another player with nothing but good to say about TM. Roberts certainly puts a shift in these days, as they all do and I've said before they're just a bunch of kids going out to enjoy a kick about without the pressure that Roberts alluded to. Would be nice that the last two games or so meant we had a real shout at top six then that pressure would be back on, the lads have proved all season they're up for it and let's see how it goes.
