Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has insisted he is a head coach and not a manager in an apparent criticism of the club's transfer dealings. The Uruguayan has vented his frustration about a lack of quality at the club, who lie 15th in the Premier League table. "I am a head coach," Poyet told reporters. "I am not going to be a head coach when it suits and a manager when it doesn't. That side is down to recruitment." The Black Cats ensured Barclays Premier League survival with a late surge last season and looked to strengthen in the summer as they made seven signings, including Jack Rodwell, Jordi Gomez and Ricky Alvarez. But this term they are without a win in six games and have just one victory since an 8-0 drubbing at Southampton in October. With the January transfer window approaching, Poyet has made it clear he wishes to strengthen his ranks, although he has suggested that he will have little to do with the process, with sporting director Lee Congerton leading a continental scouting system on Wearside. "I want more quality. Do I think I'll get it? I don't know," said Poyet. "You know what is missing. It is clear what we need to do. That is down to recruitment. "So, if you ever get the chance to speak to anyone on the recruitment side and ask them about it, you are lucky. If you don't, don't ask me." Poyet's predecessor, Paolo Di Canio, claimed he had not signed any of the 14 players the club acquired in the summer of 2013 when he was in charge. However, those claims were denied by former director of football Roberto De Fanti. "Paolo had the final decision on every player," he told BBC Sport. "He always blames everybody else but himself."
This is why ATM I dislike the DOF role, their obviously bumping heads and GP is disatisfied with the current outlay... If you were managing a brewery which is a dream job but you had someone having the final say on the brews would you be a little pissed?
Gus has the final say though mate. In your analogy Gus is managing the brewery, Lee is master brewer bringing in possible ingredients and combinations for Gus to sign off on. Maybe Lee isn't bringing in as much as he should but how many players have we signed the last few years? Gus could have vetoed any of them and requested a higher quality player. As far as I'm concerned Gus shouldn't be giving interviews. He's dreadful with the press. It's embarrassing.
But how do you know that mate? GP has been whinging like a ****stained toddler since LC came in.. My thoughts are the opposites of yours obviously, he's far from content with the current transfer policy & rightly voicing his opinion through the press ( as every manager has the right to do) I'll ask you this, do you believe we've gone up a gear since having 2 DOF's the last two seasons?
There's not really many positive ways of reading that interview is there? The January transfer window rarely yields much talent for top clubs, it's a window to address squad issues with injuries and so on, he appears to want a handful of quality players, they're not often available mid-season, maybe your DoF is doing his best in this situation, and just getting doors slammed in his face. Didn't he make internal affairs public at Brighton as well? Chatting about the owners ambition and so on.
Yeah, from what I remember he got sacked for opening his mouth to the players before speaking to the board. Told them he was considering quitting to fulfil his ambitions and Brighton gave him the boot. When Gus came in I knew little about him as a manager but liked the look of him as a bloke. Now I think there's a decent manager in there but I dislike him as a bloke. Too much talk for me, I think he suffers from the stereotypical South American hotheaded thoughtlessness, I don't think he's considered in what he says and I think when he is considered it's absurd and doesn't land.
All positives for me fella, I'd rather a manager stand up & demand he wants better, don't like pussyfooting around yes man if you know what I mean Tez. Interesting times ahead and I'm proud of what GP is doing. P.s you sure know abit about GP, so tell me mate, how many goals did he score against utd?
I like the bloke, rate him highly as a manager, but as with Di Canio, I always maintain there's a time and a place for what you give the media. Why should those pigeons get anything more than the bare minimum, all they'll do is twist the story and drag your club through the mud, just bad tekkers from him is all. I'm sure you're gonna tell me mate. I do know that he scored against Newcastle twice, in the semi final of the FA Cup for Chelsea, stopping Newcastle reaching the final, where they'd have met Villa. Under Bobby Robson I'd have made Newcastle favourites for that one and they'd have probably beaten Villa and had a cup to brag about.
It's a forum of opinions mate, nobody is right or wrong. You have a different model of leadership as your ideal to mine, hard and soft models I believe the scholars call them. Way too boring to discuss in depth
Yeah mate no one is right or wrong but theirs quite a few on here that blow the rest away in terms of knowledge, tactics, managers etc.. I actually enjoy the forum for this because when your new to football it certainly helps!
I think it's cos I've had an interest in Sunderland mate, I liked the connection our clubs had, with Keane, Bruce, the players loaned/sold etc. I don't know a lot about Pochettino for example. There's a few on here who know their stuff mind, proper football minds.
Here here mate bring on the 28th February! I've got a carton on that with my good mate over here who's a UTD fan! He's loving it ATM, always smiling at work because your fellas are killing it!!!
I hope it's not an expensive 'carton' for your sake Haha, always good having you lot over for a spot of tea and a kick around at Old Trafford, usually a tight affair but Wes Brown always comes up trumps for us
Of course not. He's already admitted responsibility for those signings months ago. Gus is straight up.
But he's constantly trying to wash his hands of it like he has no say. He needs some media training desperately imo.
