In breaking news, Roy Keane has announced that he has quit Sunderland.
Keane walked out of Sunderland AFC after having won only one game since his side’s win over Newcastle in October. The defeats for Sunderland that secured Keane’s departure were Stoke 1-0 Sunderland, Chelsea 5-0 Sunderland, Sunderland 1-2 Portsmouth, Sunderland 1-2 Blackburn, Sunderland 0-1 West Ham and Sunderland 1-4 Bolton. The only win was on November 15 when Sunderland beat Blackburn 2-1 at Ewood Park.
Sunderland currently sit in 15th position, third from bottom, with 15 points.
Possible replacements for Roy Keane include the usual pack of Terry Venables, Sam Allardyce and Alan Curbishley, as well as other managers such as Martin Jol and Alan Pardew.
What’s surprising about Sunderland’s form since October has been the lack of commitment shown by his players. Usually footballers show a lot of fear when playing under Keane but that has been absent for quite some time. The other issue has been the poor defending. Sunderland’s defending was abysmal against Chelsea. And in the most recent game against Bolton, Sunderland could have easily lost 6-1 or 7-1 after several schoolboy defensive errors and poor marking at the back.
If Keane had to walk, now is the right time. At least Sunderland will be able to find a manager before the end of the month, who will buy some new players in the January transfer window and help keep Sunderland up between now and May.
The question is, what will happen to Roy Keane’s managerial career? Keane joined Sunderland in 2006 and rescued them from relegation from the Championship, and led them to promotion instead in a remarkable turnaround. Trying to predict what will happen to Keane next is difficult especially with such an unpredictable character as the Irishman. I believe he’ll take some time away from the game to clear his mind, but he would be open to returning to a managerial position at a club when an opportunity presents itself next year.
If Roy Keane had a desire to manage Manchester United, the poor run of managerial form at Sunderland will be a scar on his record and will prevent his chances of succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson.
Wherever Keane goes next as a manager, he’ll be hard pressed to find a setup as good as he had at Sunderland. The owners of the club provided him with plenty of funds for transfer signings, as well as plenty of patience for Keane to turn things around. His next club he goes to may not give him the same luxuries.
I think he should stay with Sunderland. They are just unlucky to lose some of the game. If they are able to win for the coming match, they can be out of the relegation zone. Perhaps there is pressure from the Board.
No surprise he's gone. Keane has a history of walking when he doesn't get his own way. I can't see him going back to management. He spent a fortune at Sunderland and then walked out rather than work to turn things around. What chairman would want to risk that happening again?
Easier said than done. Correct unselfish decision that not many will take for the good of the club, not jeapordizing the club's possible recovery period. Walking out of Sunderland when he had helped them from first division relegation to Premier League promotion? What a pile of rubbish since you can't even pulled it off in any computer video game any given time yourself ! (of course without cheating!)
Buy more players?? They already have 36 players in the squad. They'll need to clear out a bunch first. Chimbonda could go, he's angling for yet another move…this time to Lyon. There are also a number of other players that could be cut or sold. Once they trim down then maybe they can think about paying 1 or 2 players.