Sunderland’s recent appointment of Michael Beale has been criticised by a Scottish football pundit.
Sunderland recently made the decision to part ways with Tony Mowbray following a mixed start to the season which had seen the Black Cats mostly loitering around the top six.
Mowbray’s last game in charge was a 1-1 draw away at Millwall which left Sunderland in 9th and just three points outside the top six.
Mike Dodds took temporary charge and picked up wins over West Brom and Leeds United before losing at Bristol City, then seeing Beale take the reins.
The appointment was met with surprise and criticism following Beale’s contested spell at Rangers, which has been described as ‘awful’ by Chris Sutton.
Beale then lost 3-0 against Coventry City at the Stadium of Light in his first game in charge; Sunderland remain in 9th and three points outside the top six.
Tam McManus blasts Sunderland’s appointment of Michael Beale
Former footballer and now Scottish football pundit Tam McManus has offered a rather scathing review of Sunderland’s appointment of Beale.
McManus posted on X:
Sunderland are away at Hull City this afternoon for what promises to be another tough game for Beale’s side; the Tigers currently sit in 6th but have been in mixed form of late, losing three of their last five.
How soon will Beale come under pressure at Sunderland?
Sunderland looked set to hire a foreign coach with no experience of the British game.
And should that have been the case then he’d arguably be given a bit more leeway after defeats as it’d be his first stint in English football.
But with Beale, and especially after his controversial QPR exit and his widely criticised spell at Ibrox, there’s a degree of expectation, and a huge degree of surprise as to how he’s landed the job in the first place.
Former Sunderland player Micky Gray has already questioned Beale’s loyalty as a coach whilst also saying that Beale is ‘very fortunate’ to have gotten the Sunderland job.
So given the circumstances, pressure could quickly mount on Beale, especially so if his side lose again today.
Although it’s a tough game, there could be a rapidly growing number of Sunderland fans, who didn’t want Beale in the first place, who now start to vent their frustration at the appointment.
Like McManus suggests, Mowbray was a well-liked name and a steady pair of hands, and this appointment of Beale certainly raises some eyebrows.
But he could completely change the outlook of his appointment with a win today.
Kick off is at 3m at Hull City’s MKM Stadium.