Fan Letters: Eh - Sunderland manager Jack Ross ‘seems weak’?! & Darren Bent interview reaction

Dear Roker Report,

I’m writing this with utter disappointment.

All these years, I was under the belief that Darren Bent’s move to Villa was utterly down to money and his hope that playing for Villa would give him better chance of representing the nation. But in his interview this week with Roker Report, things were turned upside down.

Even though he wasn’t easily replaceable, with Gyan and Welbeck around we could have stayed calm together but I feel gutted that the club even after accepting the offer asked the player to hand in a transfer request to save their image.

I think club should have been more transparent and should not have put the blame on the commitment of a player banging goals for us in the Premier League. I genuinely hope the current owners wouldn’t do such a thing, after all its a beautiful game more than it is a business. Feeling disappointed.

Adarsh Dinesh (a diehard Sunderland fan)

Ed’s Note [Gav]: Hi Adarsh - it certainly caused a bit of a stir when Darren gave his side of the story to Roker Report earlier in the week. We received a staggering amount of responses from people who had read it - some felt betrayed by the then-owners, some said their perception of Bent had changed, and others just couldn’t believe a word that he was saying. What I’d say, is that you should remain open-minded. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle - I’d certainly love to hear what Steve Bruce and Niall Quinn have to say about it all!

Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

I have supported SAFC for 65 years through all the highs and lows.

I’ve seen umpteen managers come and go and, in truth, there is very rarely anything to separate them. The one thing most of them seem unable to do - and that applies to the current manager - is to motivate eleven men and turn them out prepared to give 100% for the club EVERY game.

This really is all their job entails. Everything else is secondary.

Man management and motivation - that’s all their job is about.

We are currently in a league where on paper we are miles ahead of the rest. We have by far and away the biggest and best squad, far and away the biggest support but once again this is not matched by the manager.

Recently he tells us the players are “leggy or weary” due to the amount of games they have to play and he has to rest them. Nearly every game we start lethargically and only step it up by bringing on subs in the last 20. This works in league one but is a very poor tactic.

The opposition does not have the luxury of the quality on the bench we do, so more often than not it works but it certainly won’t in the Championship.

To lose at home to Walsall in the manner we did was a disgrace.

Our manager seems weak and makes excuses to cover players who play badly.

Please Mr Ross do your job and get 100% out of all the players for 90 minutes, not the last 20 minutes and we’ll walk this league.

Sam L

Ed’s Note [Gav]: Christ almighty. I’m usually willing to give people the benefit of the doubt when I disagree with their stance on things, but most of what you’ve said there is totally unfounded. In fact, I’m not actually sure that you have watched Sunderland or Jack Ross much this season - if you have, then you’ve not been paying attention.

I don’t disagree with your assertion that we have the best squad and support in the league, but when has that ever been enough to waltz through unchallenged? League One is a rugged, tough league and we’re up against it most of the time as teams undeniably up their game when they come up against us most of the time.

The Walsall performance was poor, but that’s a complete overreaction. We aren’t going to win every game, it simply doesn’t happen. We will have off days. Accept it.

To say that Ross is weak just blows my mind - he’s shown nothing but steel since arriving at Sunderland. We’ve lost ONE LEAGUE GAME ALL SEASON - I honestly don’t know what you expect? I can only assume that you’re on a windup here - I’ve not met a single Sunderland fan who isn’t impressed by Ross and the great job that he’s done so far.