[RMCF]

.... would have been sacked at Sunderland many weeks ago.

I think he is only surviving because of who he is.

He has spent (wasted?) an awful lot of money and is rumoured to be about to buy 2 'big' players. Smart money is on likes of Stephen Hunt and Robbie Savage being possibilities. Not sure if this will be good enough to save them.

[Marc]

to be honest, they're not a premier league team right now, it wouldn't matter if Fergie took the reigns they'd still be crap so what's the point in sacking Keane? Maybe the Sunderland board have decided to do what clubs tend not to do these days, and stick with him, and he'll build a squad good enough to survive the premier league in a couple of seasons time.

[thfccambs]

Originally Posted by RMCF

.... would have been sacked at Sunderland many weeks ago.

I think he is only surviving because of who he is.

He has spent (wasted?) an awful lot of money and is rumoured to be about to buy 2 'big' players. Smart money is on likes of Stephen Hunt and Robbie Savage being possibilities. Not sure if this will be good enough to save them.

You seem to of forgot where Sunderland were when Mr Keane took over and what he's done for the club, but them again that doesn't seem to matter much at most clubs anymore.


Think if he can get Hunt in that will be a great signing as i think he's an excellent player, as for Savage, well he's Savage.

[Simon_143]

As said before when he took over they were almost bottom of the Championship, he got them into the Premiership, in his very first season, a fantastic job.

Its a huge challenge for any club coming up to the Premiership to avoid relegation in the first year and if he manages to keep them up I think he would of done another fantastic job. Its good to see a club stick with thier Manager for a while rather than to dump them at the first sign of trouble.

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by Simon_143

As said before when he took over they were almost bottom of the Championship, he got them into the Premiership, in his very first season, a fantastic job.

Its a huge challenge for any club coming up to the Premiership to avoid relegation in the first year and if he manages to keep them up I think he would of done another fantastic job. Its good to see a club stick with thier Manager for a while rather than to dump them at the first sign of trouble.

Agreed.

[rio1981]

What amazed me was at the start of the season, every single pundit had Sunderland to stay up because of the "Keano Factor". Why? A presumption that his strong character on the pitch will be enough in the dressing room and on the touchline?

They're down towards the bottom of the league and could well fall down to the Championship again at the first hurdle, just because they've got Roy Keane as manager means nothing in my mind...

[DJT75]

Going on last season evidence why wouldn't they - add to that Sunderland spending some half decent cash, then surely on paper they'd have the ability to stay up. They are 1 of 8 teams that could go down IMO, but I wouldn't judge his season until it's over. Everyone wrote off Wigan only a few weeks ago, saying Bruce would be building for next season's promotion campaign, it only takes a coupe of results to make all the difference.

[RMCF]

Originally Posted by rio1981

What amazed me was at the start of the season, every single pundit had Sunderland to stay up because of the "Keano Factor". Why? A presumption that his strong character on the pitch will be enough in the dressing room and on the touchline?

They're down towards the bottom of the league and could well fall down to the Championship again at the first hurdle, just because they've got Roy Keane as manager means nothing in my mind...

My feeling is that he did a great job by getting them up, but he spent big when they made the EPL, and it looks like bad spending now.

He is also about to spend another huge amount of money in a desperate attempt to keep them in the money next season.

All I'm saying is that if they go down then any other manager, irrespective of how he did LAST season, would be sacked.

In football you are only as good as your last season.

Look at Rafa - why aren't people saying "he must stay because he got us to 2 CL finals in 3 years, winning 1" - why, because thats history and the team is rubbish NOW, and making NO progress.

[plonky]

Originally Posted by RMCF

Look at Rafa - why aren't people saying "he must stay because he got us to 2 CL finals in 3 years, winning 1" - why, because thats history and the team is rubbish NOW, and making NO progress.

Most LFCs fans* want him as manager so that's not a great example

*Muppets with 606 number on speed dial do not count

[RMCF]

Originally Posted by plonky

Most LFCs fans* want him as manager so that's not a great example

*Muppets with 606 number on speed dial do not count

Fair enough, bad example but I notice that you didn't argue with my comment that the team is rubbish and you are making no progress

[plonky]

Originally Posted by RMCF

Fair enough, bad example but I notice that you didn't argue with my comment that the team is rubbish and you are making no progress

Pointless denying that the team is playing rubbish at the moment. With a couple of exceptions the team hasn't played consistently well for a while.

The end of the season will deem whether progress has been made.

[RMCF]

Originally Posted by plonky

Pointless denying that the team is playing rubbish at the moment. With a couple of exceptions the team hasn't played consistently well for a while.

The end of the season will deem whether progress has been made.

I don't agree about this. At the end of the season, the 'pool will more than likely be in 3rd or 4th position due to the nature of the league with very little competition (perhaps Man City can sustain their challenge).

But if you finish in 3rd playing like you are now would you consider this progress? I watch you now and am shocked at how bad the team is. I think there are only 3 players that are doing anything this season - Stevie G, Alonso and Torres. The rest could leave and not be missed. Your entire defence needs a good shakeup and bar Torres I think you have no forwards.

Perhaps this is a debate better saved for the Liverpool thread, cos we are letting old Roy off the hook.

[city fan]

I'm certainly no Roy Keane fan. But Sunderland should stick by him and I think Niall Quinn will, even if they go down, which they will. Their defence is rank.

Stephen Hunt won't go there, he's too good a player. Sven look here, get him at City!

So there're doomed, but let Keane build something, come back up and give him a chance. (But I hope he fails miserably )

[plonky]

Originally Posted by RMCF

I don't agree about this. At the end of the season, the 'pool will more than likely be in 3rd or 4th position due to the nature of the league with very little competition (perhaps Man City can sustain their challenge).

But if you finish in 3rd playing like you are now would you consider this progress?

Last season we were 21 points behind the winners though we did throw away at least 2 matches when resting players. If we end up miles behind whoever wins the league this year then I wouldn't consider this progress. If we are less than 10 points away and somehow have a trophy too then I would class that as progress.

if I watch you now and am shocked at how bad the team is.
I think there are only 3 players that are doing anything this season - Stevie G, Alonso and Torres. The rest could leave and not be missed.

Mascherano, Arbeloa and Carragher are worthy of being included in this list. Alonso has been out injured for a lot of the season so not sure why you mention him.
For me, lack of width has been a major problem this season. It may be a coincidence, but our best performances seem to be when Kewell is in the side, though he was rubbish against United and Wigan. I don't see him here next season.

Your entire defence needs a good shakeup

Last season, we conceded the second-fewest goals (27). The first-choice centre halves were Carragher and Agger. Agger has been out for months.

and bar Torres I think you have no forwards.

Indeed. No argument from me there. Crouch has been disappointing when he has been given a start, Voronin has sometimes done 'ok' but is not a good striker in his own right, Kuyt works hard but is no threat because he rarely gets in the box.

Perhaps this is a debate better saved for the Liverpool thread, cos we are letting old Roy off the hook.

Sack Roy!

[mrtbag]

Originally Posted by RMCF

Your entire defence needs a good shakeup ..

Liverpool have only conceded 13 league goals this season, which by my calculations, makes them the 2nd best defence behind Man Utd!!

[thfccambs]

Originally Posted by city fan

Stephen Hunt won't go there, he's too good a player. Sven look here, get him at City!

So there're doomed, but let Keane build something, come back up and give him a chance. (But I hope he fails miserably )

I've been well impressed with him in the last 2 weeks, looks an excellent player and a snip at £4m now days.

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by RMCF

All I'm saying is that if they go down then any other manager, irrespective of how he did LAST season, would be sacked.

Only by chairman that don't know any better. Did Watford sack Bothroyd? Didn't Birmingham sack Bruce? No, because they know they won't have a better chance of getting up again.

If Sunderland go down, the best chance they have of coming up again is with Keane as manager - he's already proved it & now has a stronger squad (eventhough they're finding it tough in the top flight)

Yes he's spent a bit including a very expensive keeper but nothing ridiculous.

I can't stand the bloke but to think he should be sacked based on tha fact he's exactly where you'd expect him to be in the league is madness.

[womble9]

Looks like Savage ain't off there http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...rs/7166114.stm