'Michael Beale was Sunderland's Liz Truss - he was doomed from day one'
Michael Beale was Sunderland’s Liz Truss appointment.
Just 63 days in office, and the head coach crashed the faith of the Mackem fans, sent interest rates plunging and tempers flaring. From defeats on the pitch to hapless interviews off it, Beale was doomed from day one.
He lasted just 12 games (and 19 days longer than our former PM!), winning just four and losing six. Two weeks ago Beale had just started his press conference at Sunderland’s training ground when he was plunged into darkness.
A power cut caused lights out at the Academy of Light. It was such an unusual event that it felt like sabotage. Whatever the cause, it was only a matter of time before the switch was flicked on his reign for good.
It was on power cut day, once we’d moved into an atrium, freed from the formality of a press conference in front of cameras, that Beale laid into the Mackem fans.
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He felt he was being rejected because of his London accent, or where he was from. It was incendiary stuff, as he fought back against terrace dissatisfaction that existed from his first day, sparked by Rangers fans who warned folk on Wearside what they were getting.
It was a gamble that only provoked. Sunderland have welcomed many a cockney including legends Kevin Ball and Kevin Phillips. Sunderland chief Kyril Louis Dreyfus and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman have derailed their own season. Popular Tony Mowbray was sacked, fed up with meddling in his team selection.
Beale was far from being their top target. But Sunderland didn’t have the budget, or lure, to land top continental targets including Will Still.
Beale lasted just 63 days in the Sunderland hot-seat (Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC)Instead Beale came in on December 18, with Speakman sold on him having worked at academy level bringing through young talent, of which Sunderland has some decent prospects.
Beale spoke of making the club better in both boxes, whatever that means. Instead the free flowing, pretty passing football, and neat combinations of the Mowbray era, which helped the club to the play-offs last year, were lost. It became functional.
I watched the away defeat to Huddersfield last week, and could see no tactical pattern emerging. No redeeming features. It had the look of players running around randomly. Totally disjointed in an era when pressing relies on interlinked team movement.
Jobe Bellingham cut a frustrated figure and the only outlet was Jack Clarke. Then they lost to Mowbray’s Birmingham on Saturday, and slipped further away from the play off zone.
Beale was caught on camera snubbing the handshake of young defender Trae Hume after he was subbed. It looked petty and ignorant. No one much believed the apology he rushed out on Sunday saying he was unaware he’d missed Hume’s offer of a hand.
They are a mid-table squad at the moment, desperately short of a striker. The club now has a reputation for being a managerial graveyard. They are searching for their fifth boss in just over two years.
Or their 15th manager in almost 11 years! Good luck whoever takes it on. You’ll be lucky to still be in the job at Christmas. Coach Michael Dodds has already acted as a caretaker and would be competent and liked enough to take the reins.
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