Fan letters: “Don’t make the same mistake with Jermain!”

Dear Roker Report:

When the managerial vacancy arose, my immediate thought was the appointment of Jermain Defoe. He is a wonderful human being and deserves a chance. Even when he played, he gave advice to those around him. Besides, he wants the job. He would bite her hand off. Even if he wants to bring his own equipment, they will probably be better than the current staff.

As a Sunderland supporter since 1954, this reminds me of the missed opportunity in the Sixties when we could and should have appointed Brian Clough. Don’t make the same mistake with Jermain.

Brian Anderson

Note from Ed (Chris): For all anyone knows, he could very well be in the running, since no one really has any idea which direction we’re headed next. Only time will tell if Defoe becomes the next Clough, but knowing our luck, it won’t be with Sunderland if he does.

Dear Roker Report:

Give Kev Phillips a chance. Initially offer him a short-term contract with important add-ons. As previously stated, he is no more of a risk-taker than Will Still and understands the club deeply. I can’t help but think of another Sunderland centre-forward who also managed Hartlepool. At the time, he said he would walk barefoot over broken glass to take the job at Sunderland – the late, great Brian Clough. The rest, of course, is history!

Come on, Dreyfus, pull yourself together and show some balls! Have Phillips bring in an experienced assistant if necessary.

gray cliff

Dear Roker Report:

Please nominate Kevin Phillips. As Gary Lineker once observed of his clever goal for England: “He’s not a cloner.” He’s serious, the fans like him, he’s a quiet enthusiast and the fans admire him. The players would respect that. He’s the only candidate worth supporting now.

Bill Greenwell

Note from Ed (Chris): Stranger things have happened, but being our best goalscorer of the last quarter of a century at the club is no guarantee that he will be successful as a manager.

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Dear Roker Report:

I am a lifelong supporter and we need an experienced championship manager who can advise and acquire the necessary players, not just focus on younger talent. No club has ever been promoted with only boys; you need a combination of both.

Brian Finn

Note from Ed (Chris): I can’t disagree in terms of having a mix. I love focusing on the younger players, but thinking about Reidy’s team during the 105-point season, some games were probably won in the tunnel when the opposition was looking at players like Bally, Quinn, Rae, etc.

Dear Roker Report:

I was speaking to a Watford fan yesterday and mentioned the frustration many of our fans feel at the fact that our owners have not appointed a manager. I found his point of view quite interesting.

He explained that under their similar ‘model’, the head coach role is almost a junior position that can be chopped and changed without too much disruption. Watford’s most successful times have been when they went through head coaches at a rate of two or three a season. Of course, they have Udinese’s network to recruit players, but the thing is that the coach’s role is relatively minor.

He said we are suffering stress unnecessarily as the role now is mainly one of team motivation and delivery of tactics. Others have responsibility for development, welfare, contracts, etc.

I accept that we are not Watford and there is no excuse for the failure and lack of communication we are experiencing. Just an interesting point of view.

Martin Jones

Note from Ed (Chris): While everyone is still on vacation, I’m pretty calm about the moment and the lack of appointments to date. It just means that, unfortunately, it adds a little more pressure to get a popular appointment from the start.

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Dear Roker Report:

I have already given my suggestion for the coach (Fábregas), but thinking about it, I remember a previous season in which we were in exactly the same position. Very close to the start of a season with Big Niall taking the reins. After much speculation and debate, he came up with an ace up his sleeve. Nobody foresaw KEANO, but what a blow. I feel that to reverse this debacle, KLD needs to replicate that kind of sensational appointment.

So what’s available? Nothing on that level (excluding KEANO himself). So, who would be the dream appointment? Let’s face it, all of the aforementioned candidates weren’t exciting or even well known… or am I wrong? So we can also aspire to someone who inspires us… KEANO: there is only one KEANO! It will never happen… so Stephen Gerrard will. An appointment at the box office will help.

Stephen Jameson

Note from Ed (Chris): As I said in a recent session, I think it takes someone of a certain character to be successful at Sunderland. Just looking at players like Denis Smith, Peter Reid, Roy Keane and Sam Allardyce, they have a certain toughness. Let’s see if the next pick has what it takes.

Dear Roker Report:

Like everyone else, I’m sick of clicking on Sunderland news with nothing new.

I have a feeling Sartori’s friend Gus Poyet will be back soon.

Antonio Cheal

Note from Ed (Chris): See my comments above that I’m not worried about the delay so far, but if it starts to creep into pre-season training and affects players’ thoughts about staying then my opinion will probably change.

Dear Roker Report:

I would like to record my disappointment in the way we have been treated. First, giving up with about 10 games left in the season and forgetting that we had paid £30 to see the rubbish served up by Mr Dodds (a nice guy, but out of his league).

It’s no wonder a new manager doesn’t like having you as an assistant. My advice to the club’s senior management is to analyze what happened to Fred Sheppard and Mike Ashley at Newcastle. They were expelled by passionate fans due to problems with the club’s operation. Pay the money and get a decent manager. He is the main man. If they appoint a yes man, the system will fail.

Roger Stokell

Note from Ed (Chris): I’m not sure you can call Alex Neil and Tony Mowbray yes men but they got the Beale quote wrong, we could all use a quote that picks up the crowd and takes the club by the throat like some of the characters . I have mentioned it before.

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