Chris Sutton has taken a jab at Michael Beale for talking ‘nonsense’, admitting that he isn’t really sure how he managed to get the Sunderland job.
The 43-year-old was appointed Sunderland’s new head coach on Monday, two weeks after Tony Mowbray was sacked.
After the Black Cats had been linked with a number of foreign managers including Will Still and Kim Hellberg, fans were left frustrated when Michael Beale was handed the reins.
Beale enjoyed a successful but brief spell at QPR before he packed his bags for Rangers last year. Despite an attractive win percentage, the Glaswegians were far from pleased with his tenure and his exit in October was met with excitement.
Beale has already frustrated fans further with comments in his interview with Sunderland that claimed he was being ‘pulled in different places’ – comments that Chris Sutton doesn’t seem very impressed with.
The former Celtic striker has slammed Beale for ‘pulling the wool over people’s eyes’.
Speaking on the It’s All Kicking Off! Podcast, Sutton said: “Yeah good luck, Mick.
“His greatest attribute in football appears to be pulling the wool over people’s eyes. I think he talked about being pulled in a different direction at Rangers – what direction was that?
“I think he called Ange Postecoglou ‘lucky’, I mean blimey, some of the jobs Mick gets, some of the jobs humble Mick gets, I think he’s slightly fortunate to get this job.
“You know, it’s a downgrade from Tony Mowbray, but let’s give him time. We have to give all managers time. But he does talk some nonsense.”
He then added: “Congratulations Mick, Merry Christmas.”
Can we move on from the Rangers chat?
Chris Sutton joins Ally McCoist in criticising Michael Beale within the first week of his arrival at Sunderland.
It’s understandable that there is some bitterness from all ends, but a large chunk of Beale’s appointment seems to have centred around his Rangers dismissal. Even his first press conference involved a lot of Rangers talk, with the coach discussing the players that he had brought in who went onto win Sunday’s Scottish League Cup.
While Sunderland fans have taken great interest in what Rangers fans have to say about Beale, we do have to move on from it at some point and focus on our own club.
We can be wary and concerned, but we’re going to make life a lot harder for ourselves if we don’t just let him get on with it and change our opinions himself.