[Stairs]

Oh what a weird feeling this was when I heard that TP had been given an extension to his contract.

It comes at a time when Sunderland are in free fall with a manager that I once would have loved to see at our club and it makes me, yet again, wonder whether we are better off with the Devil we know.

There are positive signs - I know, I said it!

TP knows and openly says that are team is old and desperately needs a refresh
TP is playing Chadli a lot and there are signs of Chadli and Rondon making a partnership
TP has been told he will have funds and he claims to have target players in mind for January

Another season and another hope for January

[talkSAFT]

Come off it, Stairs.
I wouldn't trust Pulis with the cheque book. And which players with any flair would come to work for him?
I fear the inevitable unless Pulisaurus admits his mistakes, and uses the training ground to remind his players how to pass and move.

[BBB]

This post isn't to defend TP - I'm not a TP fan or a fan of his style.

However, I do think a lot of the anti TP propaganda is based on myths with very little backing. IMO...

Myth 1) It doesn't matter who we play, our style is always the same.  

I disagree with this. I think TP does play for a draw away from home against everyone, but plays to win at home against everyone outside of the top 6. Against Everton and West Ham at home we came out all guns blazing, pressing hard from the offset and getting early goals. We tired in both games, with the quality of the opposition starting to take over in the second half. Everton they were too good for us on the day, but had we been more clinical when we were the dominant side, maybe it would've been different. Boro was a disappointment but I think that was just a bad day at the office - plus it's notable that this game was pre-deadline day, prior to us signing Chadli and others - Boro did all of their business in the summer.

Our home form was woeful under Irvine, Mel and at the end of his reign, Clarke. TP improved that from the offset and despite his coy approach, has lead us to wins against Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal at home.

Myth 2) With TP we will not be able to attract quality players.

We can really only speculate on what attracts players, but IMO it's more like:

20% Chance of playing first team football
10% Style of play / manager
70% Money

Who exactly plays good football in the Prem anyway? Stoke? Palace? Burnley? Sunderland? Swansea? After watching these sides on TV, I can attest that they're all just as boring as us. Stoke have attracted the likes of Shaqiri but i'm pretty sure that was more to do with the pay cheque than the thrill of living in Hanley or playing with the likes of Glen Whelan, Phil Bardsley and Andy Wilkinson.

With the exception of the odd 'nothing' pundit who has to say something controversial to elevate their career (i.e. Chris Sutton), TP appears to be quite well respected in the industry. I'm sure players would be fine to come and play for him, just like Woodgate, Crouch, Tuncay, Nzonzi, Adam and plenty of others have in the past. The reality is, players are much more concerned about the pay cheque than the manager.

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I don't think it is that we are pulling in different directions, Slick, I think there are two opinions how we want our team to play. One boring defensive stuff with the last 20 minutes of giving it a go, or playing exciting football, with our hopefully not losing. TP has only shown us the first choice, and that I think that is all he is good at. However I will rest my case and hope the future brings more enlightening football.

BBB

I think the boardroom and TP were pulling in different directions in the last window; with signings clearly made that were not players TP had identified. Hal Robson Kanu for example, he could've come in during the summer had we been interested; but was rushed in on deadline day despite being a bosman to appease the fans. Obviously TP will get stick if he ends up being garbage (which is likely), bit it's obvious to me that TP never wanted him.

Hopefully this deal means the manager will get backed to buy more proper players from other Premiership sides, such as Chadli and Evans; rather than having to scratch around the Championship for budget options.

As for the style, I think in home games against sides around us, we usually have a go from the start. We did so against Everton and West Ham and generally have during TP's time. I appreciate that we could be playing the Hen and Chickens away and would try to snatch a goal on the break though. Maybe even with better backing this wouldn't change - but it's really hard to tell when the manager hasn't received any backing at all and we're having to rely on an ageing squad to try and play football on the front foot.

Finally, someone talking sense...

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Who? BBB - you could be right.