In a typically divisive week, Sunderland social media turned on itself as opinions about whether or not Lee Johnson should or shouldn’t be retained as head coach bubbled to the surface. There are strong views in both camps and it transpires that social media allows for little nuance and even less healthy discussion. You’re either camp Lee or you’re not, and whichever camp you’re in, the other side are ready to pounce on you. I’m not in camp Lee, just for the avoidance of doubt, but I can see some merits in the argument to retain his services. Sunderland fans are frustrated, probably more frustrated than they have ever been. We’re stuck in this cesspit of a league and just when it looks like someone has opened a trapdoor to allow us to escape, it all goes, well, tits up.
There is an argument to say that changing a manager midway through the season has never proven anything more than an acceptance of the status quo; an admittance of failure if you like. I can see this. I have always argued that managers need to be given time to develop their blueprint and change the way the team plays in the long term. They need to spend time with the youngsters and develop them as prospects. They need to work with the scouting team and bring in players who fit with their thinking of how the team can develop over years. They are in charge of safeguarding the progression for the club. Here’s a thing though, Lee Johnson is not a manager, he’s a head coach and there is a difference.
With Kristjaan Speakman as sporting director, much of the management function of Lee Johnson’s role would appear to have been taken away from him. Lee Johnson’s role is to organise the training of the first team, bolster the players and pick the team. The scouting, the development of young players, whether players come and go...well if the accepted model of a sporting director is practiced at Sunderland, that falls to Speakman. A conversation about whether Johnson should stay or not cannot take place in the absence of a conversation about whether or not Speakman has carried out his job effectively. I would argue he has, with the odd exception. The players we signed in the summer are better than the players we had last summer. A fully fit Evans is more controlled and intelligent on the ball than Max Power for instance. Cirkin appears a step up from Hume who is now second choice. Pritchard is better than Dobson, actually that probably applies to most midfielders but anyway, you get the point. The only area where I think Speakman has come a little short is in understanding League One. The physical side of League One. He has January to address this. The principle of sharp passing, attacking football is something I think we can all get behind, but not at the expense of getting out of this league. Speakman has delivered what was asked of him and for that, I think he can sit comfortably on his efforts.
Having had that discussion we move to Johnson. Up until Charlton set the standard for how to beat Sunderland and the confidence dropped off the young players faster than the Sports Direct signs up the road, that’s when the coach comes in. That’s when the coach puts his arm around them and builds their confidence back up. That’s when the coach speaks to the coaching team and says, “How do we fix this?” before coming up with a way to fix it. What the coach doesn’t do is then embark on a 6 game losing streak across all competitions with determination that his way works and there doesn’t need to be any alternative because it will all come right. I have seen nothing to suggest that Sunderland are figuring it out and in the game against Mansfield (20th in League 2) we were somewhat fortunate to escape at 1-0. Defensively we look inept despite improvements in the playing squad. If we improve players (Thanks Kristjaan) but we then go on to achieve our worst ever result (5-1 in the third tier) then I’m afraid all roads lead to Rome, or in this case Lee Johnson.
I have some sympathy with the idea too that he might turn this around. He might, absolutely, but after what seems like an eternity in this League I do not want to take that gamble. I do not want to be kicking off in August in League One again after Lee Johnson has been sacked because Max Power’s 35 yarder went in this time except he was playing for Wigan in the play off semi final. For every reason for retaining Lee Johnson as head coach there is at least an equivocal counter argument for getting rid of him. The reason there is a split verdict amongst the fans at the moment is because whether he can turn this around or not is an unknown. Decisions should not be made on unknowns like that, they should be made on solid facts. Arguing that he might turn it around is akin to someone drawing on the mortgage so that he can bet on the final horse of the day. My advice would be to try something other than betting on horses. In fairness to those who support him staying I can see why; we have produced some sterling performances under his spell as head coach, but we have also produced some absolutely dire performances and we don’t even have to dwell on the heavy defeats this season for all that. Lincoln away in the play offs was dreadful. That is where we lost it. Sunderland have always been capable of producing performances which are polar opposites, but this season it feels like we’re throwing the dice when we walk into the stadium at times and the balance has just tipped towards the old familiar thoughts before kick off “We’ll lose today”, pre match pessimism is starting to sink in again.
As always. FTM
