Reaction from Sunderland on Michael Beale’s sacking

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Former Sunderland player Danny Collins shares on thoughts on Sunderland’s decision to sack Michael Beale.

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Yesterday sundland sacked their head coach for the second time this season Michael Beal only took over from Tony MRE in December but after four wins in 12 matches in all competitions his time at the stadium of light has now come to an end we get reaction now from two-time

Sunland Player of the Year current under 16 coach as well as Match Day co- commentator Danny Collins Danny good morning to you first of all how surprised were you to see Beal go so soon after his appointment yeah I think um obviously when he came

In in December there it was a tough time over the Christmas period um the fact that he doesn’t get too much time to work with the players out on the training ground uh it was game after game it’s a busy period wasn’t quite going to plan and then it’s settled in

Over the last few weeks asn’t it where he’s had time to to work with the players on the grass get his points across but results have been mixed um I think when he was appointed it was a difficult spell for him after coming off the back of Tony who’s done well the

Last couple of seasons for us uh the football we were playing it was excellent um and yeah ultimately it comes down to results and he’s had a difficult spell and uh that’s cross him his job at the end of the day Danny you say he had a tough time when he came in

And he was an unpopular Choice with the fans straight away how difficult did that make his job as well not having the support of the fans yeah I think he was always up against it I think at the end of the day for me it comes down to results doesn’t

It to to get the fans on side to win them over in a way really um and it wasn’t to be I think he picked up what four four wins in those 13 games or so so it’s been difficult obviously we had the the Darby against the local Rivals

Newcastle got beat 3-0 at home in that one um and then he he said himself I think it was a difficult spell because it was game after game you know over Christmas where he wasn’t having time to get his points across to the players well he’s had that over the last three

Four weeks really where we haven’t had too many midweek games but this week we’ve had a three- game week we got off to a good start against Plymouth probably the second 45 minutes was the best we’ve played under him um and then we had two away fixtures against sides

Struggling down the other end of the table in Huddersfield we went down there wasn’t a great performance got beat one- nil and then Saturday away at Birmingham obviously under under Tony mry former manager and we came up short at Birmingham as well so it’s been a diff a

Difficult week a disappointing week we obviously had the incident on the touch line as well with with Trey hum when he came off and you know did he blank him that he did he not only he knows I guess but all these little things come into

Play I guess and uh as I say ultimately uh he’s he’s he’s out of the door and lost his job and when when people say well why was he appointed in the first place some people might criticize the board for making that decision but do the board at least deserves some praise

For accepting they’ve made a mistake and acting so quickly because they could have waited till the end of the SE season they could have even given him the very start of next season and potentially writing next season off too yeah possibly but it’s a difficult one because you look at the situation

We’ve got what 13 games left we’re still in a good position you know four points off the playoffs I know one or two teams have got a game in hand but we’re still W in amongst it and I think if you look at I think the top four where they are

Now the three sides that came down last season they’re fighting it out for the top two places ipswitch credit to them they they’ve stayed in there they’ve they’ve got back on it after a difficult spell but from West Brom down to maybe middlesbor I think down in 14th toall to

Play for for eight nine teams there for those last two places for the playoffs so I wouldn’t give up on the season we’re still in a good position yes formers and results have obviously dipped um but we’re still writing amongst it now obviously Mike dods is is

Going to take over now between now and the end of the season he knows the players really well he’s been around the club since 2021 um I think he does a lot his hands on on the training pitch anyway so yeah he’s he’s he’s straight back in there he

Had a little spell obviously before Michael Bale was appointed he picked up a couple of good results against West Brom and leads uh and well we’ve still got a lot of top teams to play you know got to go to leads as well Leicester have got to come here Southampton we’ve

Got to go to so we’ve got some tough fixtures but when Sunland they’re at it and you know some talent in the squad they’re more than capable of getting results against these sides you mentioned interim head coach Mike dods Danny what is his priority what does he

Urgently need to do between now and the summer uh well just see get us back on track get us back to winning ways and get on a little bit of a run I think what most of those sides I’ve just mentioned there where there’s several sides competing for for the automatic

Place sorry for the for the playoff places um just get on a run a bit of consistency choke up a few wins maybe a couple of draws here and there but you know cut out the defeats we’ve had far too many defeats so far but we’re still

In a good position as I’ve mentioned there uh and just you know it’s an old saying is it get back to basics on the training ground get back to what we were doing well I think playing with a little bit more Tempo passing forward a little

Bit quicker we we we have a lot of possession at times but sometimes it’s just having possession not getting anywhere with it and creating more opportunities you know Bodies In The Box can we get the center forward scoring you know rusin’s got two goals Mason

Berto’s got one and for a team who are looking to to get into the playoffs into promotion it’s not enough for for Center forward so they need to start scoring between now and the end of the season and can Mike dods get his ideas and is

Implement his ideas into the boys on the training pitch and and can we see it on a Saturday afternoon in Lee Johnson son appointed uh manager uh head coach sorry had played attacking football then in Alex Neil it was a a playoff specialist who did a a brilliant job in his short

Time in charge Tony Mo M was seen as a a safe Pair of Hands uh then Michael Beal has just gone now what type of head coach just Su need to appoint for next season whether That’s Mike dods or someone else yeah that’s a good question I think

Obviously the one or two names were were getting thrown about before Michael Beal came in in December whether they they go back to that list and have a availability and take one one or two of those options in and uh and try and get someone in but from my point of view I

Think yeah if Mike dods does well between now and the end of the season will he fancy putting his name in the Hat or do they go and get someone in get them pended in ready to go in in uh in June when preseason comes around so he’s

Got a full preseason to work with the players get one or two of his own players in as well because you know let’s face it we’ve got some good talent at the club so you’d expect the likes of Jack Clark Dan Neil Dan Bal one or two

Others maybe other clubs will be having a look at them so if if they do go do the funds then come in to go into the squad to rebuild and look at pushing on again next season if we fall short this season um and I think it’s difficult

Because you mentioned Tony mry there and you know obviously some of the football we played under Tony over the last two years has been fantastic you know going back to my playing days we have a more standard 442 back in the day but got the job done whereas over the last couple of

Seasons some of the football that’s been played in the the goals that they scored under Tony were fantastic and that’s the type of football that you know the Sunland fans 40,000 Plus at the stadium like want to come and see every every Saturday afternoon yeah Danny well you said we’ve

Still got a chance of the playoffs and I was very very happy to hear that will keep everything crossed great to see you Danny thanks for coming on all right cheers Tom cheers Alex