Redknapp: right about us being horrendous at Bournemouth, otherwise a bad joke

My view of the bookies making Harry Redknapp a 20-1 outsider for the SAFC job was that it might be their idea of a joke. Thank heavens he’s ruled himself out with an unprofessional series of sideswipes at Sunderland. Of course we were ‘horrendous’ at Bournemouth, of course we’ve made some ghastly moves in the transfer market and of course we’re in deep trouble.

But why on earth would any of that put off a self-respecting manager from considering taking over a great football club? Even a manager unaccustomed to a club that attracts crowds of the size of Sunderland’s, despite playing turgid and losing football, would have to see the potential. ‘Arry wondered about the bus timetable between the south coast and Wearside – let him stay there …

But let’s forget the somewhat irrelevant ‘Arry.

Will reports that Nigel Pearson has been approached for the Sunderland managerial job alter the voting in Salut! Sunderland‘s poll on who should succeed Dick Advocaat?

If Pearson is in the frame – Nick Barnes tweeted that he is but has not yet been approached – he may feel it useful to carry the supporters’ goodwill into the post. And there’s a snag.

Nigel Pearson clearly in the frame for the vacant #safc head coach post but as yet has not been approached @bbcnewcastle @marco_ten

— Nick Barnes (@Tweed_Barnesy) October 6, 2015

On the voting so far, Big Sam has a Fat 36 per cent of the 221 preferences posted when last Monsieur Salut had a look. That’s way ahead of the field: Michael Laudrup had 14 per cent, Frank De Boer nearly 12. Pearson is just ahead of Patrick Vieira, just behind Sean Dyche but none of those three has
more than 6.33 per cent).

That is hardly a vote of confidence. We’d all get behind him for at least the honeymoon period if he came, but I would be as underwhelmed by the choice as I was when Steve Bruce was made manager. Bruce took us to 10th top – and is rarely given decent credit for that – but ended his time on a sour note and has become unbearably sour since.

But let us see whether the speculation gets people thinking and, maybe, changing their minds. Cast your votes now.

Here is an extract from Monsieur Salut’s thoughts at ESPN (see full article at http://www.espnfc.com/club/sunderland/366/blog/post/2647744/dick-advocaat-exit-leaves-dyche-and-allardyce-as-options :

Dignified as it may have been, Sunday’s announcement of Dick Advocaat’s resignation leaves owner Ellis Short with a tough decision on succession. It is one he tends to get only half right each time he is forced to make it.

Martin O’Neill, Paolo Di Canio, Gus Poyet and Advocaat all showed remarkable inspirational powers to dig Sunderland out of trouble and secure top-flight status. Poyet even got the club to Wembley and before them all, Steve Bruce gave Short the top 10 finish he had set as his target.

But each in turn failed to build on early progress. They watched, apparently powerless, as the club made calamitous starts to seasons and sooner or later, were squeezed out to make way for new saviour.

And for the record, the “others” attracting readers’ votes are, in order, Brendan Rodgers with 10 votes, David Moyes with six and a host of others with one or two.

Monsieur Salut