the1stknowle

This. It’s underwhelming. But it still - very slowly - feels like he is building something. I can’t see anything will drastically change by sacking him and bringing in someone else. in fairness, considering his record, fans are being remarkably patient so I think there is some recognition of the idea that this is the manager we all wanted so now we need to stick with him for a bit.

As others have said, Cundy was only real positive for me today. Good if he can get a run now to see if he can earn contract. Kalas out for a few games?

Yeah - only a tenner but Im not gonna let it lie on principle.

I know its not a popular opinion but I dont think TK is as good as others seem to think he is. Boro last minute goal on weekend down to him too. Don't get me wrong, he is by no means a bad defender. But seems to make a lot of positional errors. Sacrilege to say, but I wouldn't be too gutted if he moved on in summer or even if, once definitely safe, we maybe start giving other options a bit more of a go. Would really like to see more of Cundy. Maybe even Idehen. And have Atkinson and Towler to come back in at some point.

I paid for match, couldn't log in all game as was getting a technical fault message. Kept trying to login all through first half then gave up as assumed it wasn't going to get fixed and I'd lost half the match anyway. Support got back to me last night saying they wouldn't be offering refunds as there was just a 'momentary loss of service' that lasted 'just a few minutes'. I can just about live with the intermittent will it work or won't it. But them lying about whether it works or not is p1ss poor.

Yep - audio down on listen live. And I paid to watch live and that's not working for me either. Its fine when it works but the service breaks down so often it's a joke.

Or.. viewed another way, the same LJ Sunderland that were top of league going into that last loss. Pretty hard to make the case that 'rot had sent in' when you're top of the league.

There are two positions a light switch can be in. On or off. This information tells me nothing about when to sack a football manager

Yeah, I think it is. You can argue they shouldn't have sacked Jack Ross. Even if you think they did the right thing, at least he had one entire pre-season and season. LJ didn't even get that. They went into Saturday top of the league. They had lost one other league game since November. The previous month, he was Manager of Month, taking 14pts from 18 and extending an unbeaten league run to nine games. They have the division's top goalscorer who is a player LJ signed for peanuts. I disagree anything is relative to 'stature' of club. To team and squad strength, budget yeah. Maybe you could argue Sunderland have strongest first team squad but I think Wigan, Ipswich and Rotherham would probably have something to say about that. Sunderland's recent history suggests they are exactly in pyramid where they should be. So the measure he might have been doing badly in is 'relative to fan expectations'. But those expectations are insane. Relative to the other teams in league; relative to Sunderland's recent history, LJ was doing a good job. A sticky January of 2 losses, including one bad defeat, and he gets the boot. I still think its incredibly harsh.

Yeah - this is exactly how I feel. What has happened after he left has, by some, been accepted as fact as being down to LJ. Which I've never understood. For me he took us from perennial relegation to always in and around playoffs and changed the expectations we have in championship. And we got to the semi finals of a cup, where we didn't embarrass ourselves in any way. It's well past changing anyone's mind on LJ. Opinions are now set. But I will never understand the joy some people here seem to take in things going badly for him ( if by 'badly' I mean a pay off likely to be approaching seven figures. Ouch!) Over a year at Sunderland, the clear fact is he won more than one out of every two games they play. I know some Sunderland fans think that is 'the bare minimum Sunderland should be doing' ... but they are wrong. A 50% win ratio outside of the massive dominant sides in Europe is very very impressive. It should be evidence that he has something about him as a manager.

One year in a job, winning over half your games. That is a good job at Sunderland. And he just got manager of the month a few weeks ago. I agree that a big chunk of their fans seem entitled like few others outside traditional top 4.

Sorry - just seen others have already made this point and the poster apologised. Good man.

Side point - but there is an enormous difference between the prosecution's evidence not proving the case beyond a reasonable doubt and 'the girl was found to be lying'. And that difference matters a lot.

Sunderland 5 December 2020 30 January 2022 78 40 20 18 51.3 This isn't a record that should get any manager sacked from a League One club given they have been in league one for four years.

Exactly- Pearson laying the foundations at yet another club. (And, per Charlie Wyett, warnock will be the ranieri this time; coming in and finishing the job.)

There is no one who isn’t jaw wide open in disbelief about how regularly it happens. Of course it is maddening. But it’s outweighed by the progress - both as a team and with a number of individuals. We are shrinking the squad and concentrating on quality rather than numbers of options. We have a pattern of play for first time since LJs first two seasons. We have some real young talent looking like they can actually fulfil some potential rather than flatter to deceive. We are scoring goals. And most importantly, its becoming nice to watch - even in defeat - for the first time since cotts. When was the last time watching City was actually enjoyable from a football point of view?? Im positive about things. Very, very annoyed. But positive.

When I saw the thread title, I genuinely thought this would be the tone of the thread. Picking up one of our own when he’s down. Rookie mistake.

Surely everyone can see the progress compared to the last few years. As frustrating as the last minute goals are.

Exactly. For where we are at moment, performance so much more important than result. We aren’t going down. We aren’t going up. And we needed such a shakeup after last years ever worsening embarrassment. Getting bossed and stealing a win or absolutely dominating a massive chunk of game and losing to - what will be - a vital learning experience for one of our promising young players. I’d much prefer the latter. So so annoying and cruel but we were much better than we have been for ages. Results will come. Performance is everything right now. So I am already over how ridiculous the end was. And seeing cundy get a debut was great. PS i remember earlier this month there was a poster saying Semenyo was def not a championship player and maybe not a League One player. I’m assuming they would like to hold their hands up to that one now.

I would move instantly from team HappyClapClap-Lucky-to-Have-Steve to full on Lansdown-Out-lost-his-marbles-worst-thing-that-ever-happened-to-this-club. Luckily, I reckon my home in Team HappyClapClap is pretty safe. Eff Charlie Wyett.

Yeah - exactly this. The idea that the change in our pattern of play has just coincidentally happened at same time as Max came in seems unlikely at best. I also think, just from a goalkeeping point of view, the Max pile on over last 12 hours has been extreme. It's hardly like we were solid as a rock with Bents in goal and none of these 'errors' being attributed to Max are clear and obvious.

Yeah. Its another defeat but clear progress and after years of not knowing who best 11 is and changing formation every other game, we have a pretty clear core group, set formation and an emerging style of play. The defending is infuriating. But I actually quite enjoyed that.

Williams has looked great since coming on. Has made a huge difference. Nakhi not so much.

Hes good. Hope this is true.

Im not sure it's bollocks. Someone like Michael Smith would improve us all over the pitch I think But agree with the general point that the priority currently is to find solidity at other end of field. Youd have to think, given its pretty much nothing to lose as regards our defence, that Cundy will get a chance at some point. Really interested to see if he can step up. No idea - but he's risen to every level he's been pitched in at thus far so curious to see is he can take next step. Big ask given such a long injury. But commanding aerial centre back is what we need so the chance should be there for him to take.