Sunderland finally have a successor of Lee Johnson, after the arrival of Alex Neil. We spoke to Lancs Live's George Hodgson, who is an expert on all things Preston North End...
What overall impact did Neil have on the club?
Alex Neil was a breath of fresh air when he walked through the Deepdale doors in 2017. With North End in an unsure place following Simon Grayson's switch to the Stadium of Light (which went well, as we all know thanks to Netflix!), Neil came in and sent expectation levels soaring to a height they hadn't reached for almost a decade.
What kind of football can Sunderland fans expect from an Alex Neil team?
His football was aggressive, attacking and fearless, with Neil taking players to another level and utilising a 4-2-3-1 system that complimented everyone in the side, and seems to suit the players that Sunderland now have at their disposal. He was crucial in the development of Ben Davies, Ben Pearson, Alan Browne, Callum Robinson, Jordan Hugill, Daniel Johnson and more. Neil really managed to relate to the young, hungry players along with the honest, hard-working Lancashire fanbase which again draws comparisons to the loyal supporters on Wearside.
Sunderland’s main hopes for promotion now look like the play-offs. How will the new gaffer help us win promotion?
Neil came so close to guiding PNE to the play-offs in his first and last, full season, but North End missed out narrowly - with the 2019/20 campaign derailed following the Covid break. He is an intense winner, who is extremely driven and has a second-to-none work ethic. Preparation for games will be meticulous and after a year out of the game, I expect the flame - that had gone out by the end of his time at Deepdale - to be burning like never before.
Will he be able to cope with the pressure of managing Sunderland in League One?
He's waited to get back in and will give Sunderland a lift; the task is not dissimilar from the one he passed at Norwich City, when he took them up via the play-offs after arresting some poor form. Neil has a terrific record in derby matches and on big occasions- the size of club will not faze him one bit, he will embrace all of that. He says it how it is, can hold a room, speaks with authority and demands respect. He was very well liked by the North End squad; a proper football man.
