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Alex Neil -Sunderland legend in the making.


Ch1982 said:
Neil is better tactically than Reid ever was tbf.
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Reid took us up with an average bunch of players who just about stayed up when he arrived. He very nearly kept them in the top flight in 96/97. He rebuilt a squad, played entertaining football, took us up with 105 points and finished 7th twice in the top flight beating nigh on every top opponent we faced at some point.

I think it’s a bit early doors to say that Neil is tactically better than Reid ever was here. These things get said contemporarily when things are going well and the achievements and attributes of others are quickly downplayed. I’ve seen similar things being said about Ross Stewart as well.
riffraff said:
Maaaan the shit flung his and the boards way around the time of his appointment by some of the less knowledgeable posters was toe curling. Hopefully they’ll STFU next time we need a new manager/head coach.
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I think the vast majority were quite content it was Neil who got the gig. It was the timing and nature of his appointment that was problematic.
 
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Mackem Al said:
I lived in Hamilton when he was making his name up there. He took a club that had never achieved anything to top half of the SPL. He's an outstanding manager.
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Yeah but how outstanding was he at Norwich or Preston ? He’s doing great long may it continue but his spells at those two clubs suggest it might not. Let’s not get carried away.
 
Considering every player on the pitch including the substitutes except Simms (not here) and O'Nien (injured) were in the Lee Johnson squad* that was pumped 6-0 by Bolton in January shows us just how far he has brought us in that time.

*Patterson and Hume were unused substitutes

We looked like we wouldn't make the league one playoffs and we are in the championship playoff positions right now (early days but its still on merit)
 
T_Bone said:
Yeah but how outstanding was he at Norwich or Preston ? He’s doing great long may it continue but his spells at those two clubs suggest it might not. Let’s not get carried away.
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He was fine in the Championship with Norwich. Not his fault that Delia was only prepared to spend three packets of wine gums and a half-sucked sherbet dab in the PL and take the parachute a year down the line.
 
T_Bone said:
Yeah but how outstanding was he at Norwich or Preston ? He’s doing great long may it continue but his spells at those two clubs suggest it might not. Let’s not get carried away.
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Aye, he only got Norwich promoted
Haggis Heed said:
Bit before my time, I can see he took us from 3rd div to 1st but what was happening before his sacking?
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Struggling in the second tier when everyone thought we'd be pushing for promotion.
 
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Grumpy Old Man said:
He was fine in the Championship with Norwich. Not his fault that Delia was only prepared to spend three packets of wine gums and a half-sucked sherbet dab in the PL and take the parachute a year down the line.
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Grumpy Old Man said:
He was fine in the Championship with Norwich. Not his fault that Delia was only prepared to spend three packets of wine gums and a half-sucked sherbet dab in the PL and take the parachute a year down the line.
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Ok Preston ?
 
He’s doing brilliantly and long May it continue but, we know, a few dodgy results and *some* will be shouting Neil out.

I hope the majority outshout them, and give him the chance he deserves when there are inevitable bumps along the way.
 
Biggest compliment I can pay is that whenever we look at the team sheet now it’s just “yea okay” and no massive debate questioning his every decision. Can see the difference in the match thread too. He’s earned the trust of the fans and we’re happy to just go with whatever he says as he’s usually successful.
 
As You Were said:
Did an unbelievable job last season . Love the way he’ll change the team etc to give us the best chance of beating the opposition. Does his homework/attention to detail. Straight talking. Love him. If we don’t do well it will be down to him not being backed enough. The owners should back him to the max and he will take us back the the premier league. Young manager etc.
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Wasn’t sure he was the right appointment, however he has done brilliantly, class act
 
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