Former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray gave some negative insight into his former Black Cats side.
Sunderland beat West Brom this weekend, as Trai Hume scored from a free-kick to help the Black Cats towards all three points at The Hawthorns.
The game saw Regis Le Bris face off with former Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray, now in charge with The Baggies, whose play-off chances have since been dented after the Black Cats’ 1-0 smash and grab.
Following the game, Mowbray was praised by goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, whilst the former Sunderland boss sang the praises of the Black Cats defence. However, Mowbray also touched on his tenure on Wearside and the players that he had at his disposal, some of which he has now said appeared to ‘sulk and moan’ for one reason.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty ImagesFormer Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray reflects on Wearside spell and the players who would ‘sulk and moan’
Mowbray notched 65 games in all competitions for Sunderland, where he notably got the side into the 2022/23 play-offs, a remarkable feat for a side that had just emerged in the Championship after promotion from League One.
The 2023/24 campaign started in a comfortable fashion, but Kristjaan Speakman sought for a replacement after a draw with Millwall, despite Sunderland being sat in 9th and well within touching distance of the play-offs. Of course, Michael Beale came in, something that proved to be one of Speakman’s more disastrous decisions at the Stadium of Light.
Mowbray has since reflected on his time at Sunderland following this weekend’s game, as, per The Northern Echo, he said: “Some of the players we brought in gelled together, but didn’t really become part of the group we had. There were some who might sulk and moan.
“I sit here today, and I look at Sunderland’s team, and week after week there is a real consistency of selection. And yet some of the players who, I wouldn’t say I was forced to play, but I was encouraged to play, are no longer at the club.”
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesKristjaan Speakman bold approach has set the Black Cats up for the play-offs
Whilst, as mentioned before, Speakman got his managerial decision surrounding the dismissal of Mowbray completely wrong, and made matters worse by bringing in Michael Beale, there is one thing he has got spot on this season, and that is player management.
Sunderland certainly had plenty of deadwood throughout the 2023/24 season, and it is clear that in hindsight they were deemed nowhere near Championship level, as seen by Speakman and Le Bris’ joint decision to sanction several loans for those players away from the club.
In particular, several departures for players such as Nazariy Rusyn, Abdoullah Ba, and Timothee Pembele, all of which played a part last season, were proactively replaced and shipped out on loan, and if Sunderland played it safe by continuing to develop and prioritise these players in-house, they certainly wouldn’t be in the position they find themselves in.