big rumour kev flying around that Everton have agreed with Sunderland to "land" Reidy. A good thing for you or bad thing?

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

Answers

adios peter

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

Well I am a Reid fan but something has to change.

For me the change is Murray.Either he has to pay up or get out.

He spends to much time pandering to the non-commited fans and the media.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

i thought you'd say that, Murray seems to be the problem, but it's not him that picks the team is it?

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

superkev - do you think it is Murray who is keeping a tight rein on Reidy's spending, or simply Peyter's reluctance/fear to spend?

I've always felt that Reidy's philosophy is based very heavily on avoiding the star system, maximising team spirit and all that results from that - and that he is very reluctant to put this at risk by bringing in high-cost, high earners who could screw up this philosophy. I'm very interested.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

The other thing is, Kev, are you sure that the club actually has that much money? Even big gates don't compete with European TV revenue.. (as we know as well as you lot).

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

the talking monkey won't spend big because it cuts into his share value - from a cynical point of view

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

Reid has survived to fate on the back of results. What ever criticism was thrust at him, or his teams playing style, he could rightfully say 'f**k off this is the highest position a Sunderland side has been for 50 years'.

Similarly he can always say you don't need to spend big cos he found Kevin Phillips at a bargain, therefore he can always do so.

Once his side stops winning he will have nothing to fall back on. No one would ever have a go at Burley when Ipswich are not getting results cos his side played 'nice' football. Reid just doesn't have that to fall back on.

Regardless of everything else Sunderland MUST have more revenue than Boro, say. The players aren't over paid, the crowds at SoL are higher, there just must be more money available. It is unfair to pick out either of Reid or Murray as single points of failure, as they must both have some say in it. Murray as chairman should be being prudent, making sure the club is on a found footing, has a long term future. Reid should be wanting to improve the playing side with every ounce of his soul. Either Murray is being a tight fisted bastard, or Reid isn't asking, or Reid isn't clever/smart enough to sell the need for investment.

It was reproted that Stonehouse left us as Shepherd demanded we spent £16m on Bellamy and Robert instead of on the youth academy. We all want both of these things, who was right ? If we get into the Champions League, get knocked out after the first phase, then we'll get 3 full houses at £30 a ticket, plus the rest. £1.5m per game in the ground, plus telly, plus merchandising, suddenly we've got Bellamy for free !!

I struggle to know what to think about Reid. He has limited vision or his side would be playing more stylishly. He does keep them steady without spending any money. They coudl be in a funny situation of sacking him and being able to give an incoming manager absolutely bucket loads of spending money. All strange

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

The main problem this season as regards finance wise to buy big name players is the construction of the academy. With the indoor training pitch being submitted to South Tyneside Council for planning approval later this month the total cost of the project has risen to £15 million. With the £6 million that has been ring fenced since the Sky bought the media rights that leaves a shortfall of 9 million to be found somewhere.

Bob has never been a man to borrow or take a gamble, so that's why our transfer kitty/wage structure won't change until this project is complete and all paid for.

Plus with the doom and gloom predicted by city analysts with future TV revenues, I don't blame him. Reid is fully aware of this too, but it's a shame that the club are'nt more forthcoming emphasising where their money is going.

You can tell I'm one of those patient 'Reid In' type. I've waited long enough for consistant top league football all my life, so what's a couple more years waiting to put the infrastructure in?

Reid should be judged on 'big signings' when we can afford them, which isn't quite yet IMHO...

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

Would there be as much discontent if we were fighting a relegation battle ??????

Sunderland have had there best three seasons for years and for a small club on par with the Southampton’s of footy should be well chuffed at what he's achieved.

Myself.............I don't give a monkeys !

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

Macbeth - your analogy regarding Ipswich is rather flawed - there were many Ipswich fans who were baying for Burley's head earlier in the season, certainly as evidenced by their boards.

GavMackem - interesting thoughts - thanks. Certainly I would applaud SAFC's efforts in investing massively in their Youth Academy - a major flaw in our present make-up. This strategy is fine, but only if they avoid a hiatus on the playing front.

I have to say I think Reidy has done a tremendous job to date, but if I were in your position I would be rather worried about his ability to maintain the status quo. Experience in business tells that you are either moving forward or backwards, but never remain static. SAFC appear to be sliding somewhat, and restoring the previous momentum could be difficult and/or take significant time, even with investment.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

I'm sure there were upset Ipsiwch fans, but the press wouldn't have a go at Ipswich, whereas they will at Sunderland, because of style content

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

seems to me that reid is executing the mackems business strategy pretty well.

the clubs revenues are steady:

PL tv money, sponsorship, gate money.

as long as they stay in the prem. win a few big games, plus the odd cup run the revenues won't change.

if they want to increase revenue they need to get into the champions league on a regular basis. this requires signing expensive players, paying expensive players and overall, increasing the playing staff.

however, there's no guarantee that this (move into europe) will work. the new expensive players may turn out to be whiney frenchmen, skiving spaniards etc. or the other teams in the PL might just outspend them, in which case the club has a significant increase in costs and investment and no increase in revenue.

back to the point, it seems that the mackems are positioning themselves as a decent mid table prem club and are unwilling to take the risks required to be like arsenal, liverpool or leeds. (manu are different)

with this in mind, reidy is a frickin genius of a manager, the only downside is that the 40,000 paying customers (plus the corn flakes packet brigade) will get bored with watching the team and take up fishing instead. this hasn't happend yet and as long as the fans get the odd bone to chew on (like a 2-1 win at sjp) it may not ever.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

To belatedly answer Clarkys question I think /am certain that it is Murray that is keeping a tight hold on the purse strings.

He has been with us as chairman since 1986 and Reid has been manager since 1995.

Since we have not spent a lot (any!)of money in the past x amount of years and Murray has been there longer then Reid then I think the answer is self-revealing.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

I say give the bloke a bit longer. There is virtually no chance of SAFC going down to to play at the likes of Selhurst Park and Valley Parade on a regular basis, so there doesn't seem to be any point in getting a new manager.

Without being spectacularly brilliant this season, SAFC are comfortably above the relegation zone and have beaten the likes of Leeds.

Just wondering SK, a poser for you:

If we were 2nd top and won our game, but Sunderland were playing Man Utd on the last day, would you prefer to beat Man Utd and hand us the title, or you lot to get relegated and Man Utd snatch the league?

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

Well as I have never been a great fan of relegation despite my many brushes with it, I have to go for us staying up,you winning the league and me moving!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

I really think SAFC would be mad to sack Reidy for all the reasons outlined by george best and Paul. Before they totally p** him off the fans need to think for a moment about who they might get in his place.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

I believe George Graham is currently looking for work.... KD too.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

gg is no idiot

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

I think Kieron Dyer is still a bit on the young side.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

After his team's 1-1 draw against Fulham, Sunderland manager Peter Reid shrugged off the call for his sacking from some of his own supporters.

"I've had worse, I've had pork pies thrown at me and I've been spat at here, so it's quite civil at the moment: it's not a problem," said Reid.

Real nice people!

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

He's had bananas thrown at him too. That didn't seem to bother him either - in fact he seemed to like it.....

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

They are allegedly buying Jay Jay Okacha from PSG!

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

Err Clarky.

I think it may have been a joke by reid.You cannot buy pork pies at the ssol.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

but bananas? =)

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

Oh yes bananas.

There is a branch of bookless doing a roaring trade in the west stand at our ground.

It is not uncommon to see big hard drinking blokes enjoying a mango and kumquat cocktail before the match.Whilst nibbling on a garlic baked yum yum.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

they must be the same ones showing their bums in Jopling's windows ?

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

A Fulham supporter phoned in to 5 Live yesterday to say part of the away section was trying to get a "Reid Out" chant going to take the wee, and were surprised when a number of Mackems stood up and applauded them.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002