The hiring philosophy has been a big topic of conversation for Sunderland’s interim head coach during the team’s recent run of bad results.
In spite of Sunderland’s dismal recent performance, Mike Dodds believes the club’s plan has merit and that some of its new players will require time to develop to the fullest extent possible.
The team’s recent six-game losing streak has been greatly impacted by injuries to several of Dodds’ more seasoned players, and many players who were added in the last few transfer windows are finding it difficult to earn a spot in the starting lineup on a consistent basis.
The interim head coach of Sunderland acknowledged that no club can ever expect to get recruitment perfect, but he did understand why the club’s “model” proved to be such a talking point. Dodds said it also created a lot of significant success stories and that Sunderland’s increasing amount of homegrown talent was something to be proud of.
Dodds claimed that Dan Neil was frequently mentioned by opposing managers and coaches as a player with a l
ot of promise and reliable performances. “The model is always going to divide opinion and it will continue to divide opinion,” Dodds stated.“With recruitment, you sometimes get it right and sometimes you don’t, and every football team in the nation experiences the same thing. Occasionally, a player relocates and things don’t quite work out. He then moves to another club and excels there, leaving you to wonder what went wrong. Players occasionally just fit well, and other times it falls short.
“I keep thinking about Jack Clarke. He was a Spurs U21 football player who had a few unsuccessful loans under his belt; he wasn’t a horrible player; it just didn’t work out. He wasn’t the player we know now, but he came to us in League One and helped us get out of the league. People will discuss the model.Yet we might sit here and identify those who haven’t exactly worked.
“Dan Neil—nine times out of ten, the opponent manager talks about him after the game, saying things like, ‘What a player he is, one of your own,’ and how many clubs would love to have one of those. How much would Anthony Patterson, Jobe Belllingham, be worth at eighteen if he were to leave the club tomorrow? A scholar in his second year who has made numerous appearances at championships. That’s its advantage, albeit there will always be those that don’t quite work out. It will be a topic of conversation in both positive and negative scenarios.”
against Saturday afternoon, Sunderland takes against QPR at the Stadium of Light with the aim ofstop their losing streak, although they are aware that they will have to do so in spite of an ever-expanding injury list. With Dan Ballard seriously doubtful and Jenson Seelt and Luke O’Nien also down, Dodds faces significant challenges, particularly in defense.