Sunderland were linked with a horde of managers this summer, and one they almost paid out for is now in turmoil.
Sunderland appointed Regis Le Bris during the summer, ending a four-month wait for a permanent manager after Michael Beale’s sacking in February.
Since, the club’s decision to hire the unproven and unknown Le Bris has paid dividends, with the Black Cats flying high in the Championship.
Sunderland sit in 1st place of the Championship table and have a game in hand after 2nd place Leeds United, now level on points on 22, beat Watford 2-1 on Tuesday.
On Wednesday night, Sunderland travel to Luton Town in what is bound to be another stern test of their mettle this season.
But even if the Black Cats miss out on automatic promotion this season, or promotion altogether, there certainly seems to be a sense that Le Bris can eventually bring back the good times at the Stadium of Light.
Marti Cifuentes in dire straits at QPR after Sunderland summer links
One manager who was heavily linked with Sunderland during the summer was QPR boss Marti Cifuentes.
At one point, it was claimed that Cifuentes was the leading candidate at Sunderland after he steered QPR to safety last season.
The Spaniard earned plaudits for his attractive style of play that saved the R’s from relegation to League One.
He had a buy-out clause at QPR which stood at six-figures, with the Sunderland owners looking as though they certainly weighed up it during the summer, as their manager searched rumbled on.
Of course, they didn’t. Cifuentes stayed in West London where he signed a new deal. But after 11 games of the new season, his side sit in 23rd place of the Championship table.
QPR stats under Marti Cifuentes this season
Cifuentes’ side earned a much-needed point against Coventry City on Tuesday night, lifting them off the bottom of the table at the expense of Portsmouth.
That draw also ended a run of four-straight defeats for QPR who’ve won just one Championship game all season.
Whilst they’ve scored 11 goals in 11 league games, Cifuentes’ QPR have the joint-second worst defence in the league right now, with 19 goals conceded already.
They rank among the bottom 10 of the Championship for xG and xGA, but interestingly rank 4th for average shots-per-game.
The R’s also rank in 14th for average possession-per-game and 2nd for aerials won-per-game, so it may just be a case of waiting for the penny to drop this season.
Either way, Sunderland are flying under Le Bris, which is all that matters on Wearside.