Sunderland fans are swiftly turning against new manager Michael Beale, following a record of two wins in seven games.
Beale, 43, only took over Sunderland last month. And he has only been in charge of the club for seven games, but there are already widespread calls for his removal.
The Black Cats fell 1-0 at home to Hull City in their last match, and despite the scoreline, it was a turgid, boring performance from a Sunderland club that was playing thrilling football just a few weeks before Beale took over.
Despite mounting calls for Beale’s dismissal, journalist James Copley believes Sunderland’s owners will give the embattled former QPR and Rangers manager some more time.
James Copley plays down early exit for Michael Beale
Copley, writing for the Sunderland Echo, assessed the possibilities that Beale would be fired sooner rather than later.
“When appointed, Beale was handed a two-and-half-year deal at the Academy of Light which means to sack him would cost the club money and would be a glaring admission of a mistake should they decide to act, so his sacking in the short-term does not appear likely, despite fans’ demands,” Copley wrote in a statement.
Sunderland are now in 10th place in the Championship table, with three points separating them from Coventry City in sixth.
Sunderland have lost league games to Coventry, Ipswich Town, and Hull City, but have won the reverse fixture against Hull and then defeated Preston at home.
Then there was obviously the poor showing in the 3-0 FA Cup defat vs Newcastle United earlier in the month.
Beale already facing make or break spell at Sunderland
Bringing Beale on board was undoubtedly a risk, especially considering he wasn’t the club’s initial preference, leading them to hastily opt for an alternative. However, it appears that Beale wasn’t even a calculated risk based on available information so far.
There is no evidence at this point to support the notion that Beale is the right person for the job. While a less-than-stellar record could be forgiven if he demonstrated a fresh and captivating playing style, the primary criticism leveled against Beale is his notably uninspiring approach to the game.
Sunderland supporters are yearning for the thrilling football they enjoyed under Tony Mowbray in the past, but presently, the team seems subdued. The lackluster performance against Hull encapsulated this sentiment, placing Beale in a challenging position.
Considering the proximity of the transfer window’s closure, dismissing Beale may not be a sensible move, as Copley suggests, and it wouldn’t align with sound financial reasoning either.
The upcoming matches include both challenging opponents and those considered more manageable, such as Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle, and Huddersfield Town. The next few weeks are crucial for Beale, and failing to secure positive results in these winnable fixtures will only intensify the pressure on him.
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