Kristjaan Speakman has been defended after heavy criticism from Sunderland fans recently.
Kristjaan Speakman has come under fire for Sunderland’s rapid decline this season, with the club sat tenth in the Championship after a number of strange decisions.
Supporters accepted Tony Mowbray’s sacking in December as they were under the assumption that a better replacement would be brought in, but they were left frustrated when Michael Beale replaced him.
The former Rangers manager went onto win four of his 12 games in charge and left with the Black Cats sat five points adrift from the playoffs. Mike Dodds has since dragged them even further away, losing to both Swansea City and Norwich.
Speakman has also been criticised for allowing the more experienced players such as Danny Batth and Alex Pritchard to leave, while refusing to sign a proven striker.
Many fans have called for the sporting director to leave the club after a number of underwhelming transfer windows, but journalist Michael Graham has claimed that he isn’t the problem.
Graham wrote on X: “FWIW, I don’t think Kristjaan Speakman is the problem at #SAFC. Of course he’s not infallible, but I think he’s a big asset.
“As I’ve said before, I just think the club are on a very different timescale to supporters. Don’t know what the solution is there really.”
Does Kristjaan Speakman deserve the criticism?
Kristjaan Speakman joined Sunderland in December 2020 and has been present for the appointments of Lee Johnson, Alex Neil, Tony Mowbray and Michael Beale.
He has also overseen the arrivals of Ross Stewart, Trai Hume Patrick Roberts, Dennis Cirkin, Jack Clarke, Amad Diallo, Dan Ballard and Aji Alese.
However, there is no denying that he seems to have completely lost the plot since we were promoted to the Championship.
Over the last year, Speakman has brought in the likes of Isaac Lihadji, Eliezer Mayenda, Nectarios Triantis and Mason Burstow. He has had three different windows to bring in a proven goalscorer, yet the only one with any Championship experience was Joe Gelhardt last January.
Speakman has done some brilliant work at the club, but there is no denying the fact that what he has done since is really costing us. Taking us five steps backwards has nothing to do with a ‘very different timescale to supporters’.