Gus Poyet The Wrong Choice

Gus Poyet looks certain to be Paulo Di Canio’s heir apparent at Sunderland. The problem is simple: Poyet will not be able to save Sunderland.

With Sunderland at the foot of the table they need a manager with the tactical know-how to drag them into the obscurity of mid-table. Poyet, like Di Canio, has no experience at this level, having only previously managed Brighton in League One and the Championship. Without taking anything away from Poyet’s undoubtedly solid achievements, has he really cut his teeth enough to keep Sunderland in the Premiership?

If you’ve been checking out the Next Permanent Sunderland Manager odds on some of the sportsbooks recommended by www.TheTop10bestOnlinecasinos.com, you’ll have noticed that Tony Pulis, formerly of Stoke, is also mentioned. He would be the safer bet; he kept Stoke in the league for six years.

A mutiny from within signalled the end of Di Canio’s tenure at the Stadium of Light, while Poyet left Brighton under a cloud of suspicion. These two mean share similar character traits: both are headstrong, authoritative and flamboyant. Di Canio’s attitude and treatment of his players led to his axing. Poyet does seem to be a better man-manager than the Italian but undeniably is made of a similar cloth to the former boss. This poses one question: why Poyet? The players didn’t warm to Di Canio, so why bring a manager in, who potentially could go the same way?

Di Canio had hoped to bring attractive football to Sunderland, signing fourteen players this summer, but sadly their football isn’t good enough and opponents have beaten them soundly. Poyet is an attack-minded manager and presumably he would maintain that style at Sunderland. The problem is, Sunderland are struggling for points with this system and do not look capable of winning ugly. When you’re at the foot of the table, playing good football and losing counts for nothing; winning at any cost is paramount.

Ultimately, Poyet is near enough a like-for-like replacement of Di Canio. Sunderland should have turned to Pulis, who can unite this toxic squad as well as bringing necessary experience in this dogged battle for survival.