Roker Roundup: “He came across as a jerk” says Sunderland defender of Lewis Grabban in Netflix

Sunderland duo on Grabban

Former Sunderland striker Lewis Grabban did not come across very well in the Netflix documentary Sunderland ‘Til I Die, with the on-loan forward demanding a return to Bournemouth half way through the season.

Two of Sunderland’s Dutch duo Glenn Loovens and Robbin Ruiter discussed the series in the weekly football magazine Voetbal International back in their homeland and although Loovens was pleasantly surprised by the series, he thinks Grabban comes off as a ‘jerk’:

It is also a cool series. When I came here in the summer, there was a negative atmosphere around it. The boys were not waiting to see the footage from last season.

Then we looked at the first episode with each other. Almost everyone was positively surprised. Me too. At home I have chased the other seven episodes in two days.

You see how deep that club is. With the supporters, with a number of players. The boys who were not interested in anything, it did not show them.

Only that striker, Lewis Grabban. He came across as a jerk.

Ruiter was a team-mate of Grabban and sat next to him in the locker room and explained how the striker was always bothered by something while at the club and his attitude brought down the atmosphere around the club:

He did not really get along with the club. Grabban sat next to me in the locker room and said every day he did not feel like it. No idea what exactly bothered him. He is now two clubs further [along]. So in the selection you had a few players who brought down the atmosphere.

Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images,

O’Nien on Sunderland move

Luke O’Nein has been speaking about his move from Wycombe Wanderers to Sunderland ahead of his return to Adams Park tomorrow.

O’Nein says it took him some time to acclimatise to life at Sunderland but is now fully enjoying his time at the club, thanks to everyone being so patient while he adapted:

The transition took a while to get used to but I am really enjoying my time here.

I took a while to get in but everyone has been so patient with me and the fans have been brilliant.

The north east is a lovely part of the world and I am really enjoying my time with the club and we are playing really well at the moment.

The midfielder has been a revelation since his switch to right-back and although he lied to Jack Ross about how much experience he had in the role, he believes he is now doing a decent job:

The gaffer came up to me and asked if I had played right-back before.

I told him I had, although I had barely played there as I just wanted to contribute and knew I could do a job there.

It is different from centre mid but after a few adjustments, I feel I am playing well in the role and am doing a decent job for the team.

Sunderland AFC

Irish international news

Sunderland duo Aiden McGeady and Jimmy Dunne have been called into the 38-man provisional Republic of Ireland squad for the games against Gibraltar and Georgia by former Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy.

McGeady had been dropped by Martin O’Neill for Ireland’s Nation League campaign but his fine form for Sunderland - which saw him named the League One Player of the Month for February yesterday - has earned him a recall, while on-loan Burnley defender Dunne is yet to make his senior bow for his country.

The squad will be cut down to 23 before they get together for training on Monday, March 18.

Meanwhile, former Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid has been named manager of the Irish under-18 side. He replaces Jim Crawford as he steps up to work with Stephen Kenny in the under-21s.

Reid had been working with Crawford as he worked towards his Pro Licence and is keen to keep up the good work started by his predecessor:

I have been involved in the set-up over the past 18 months with Jim and have seen first hand some of the amazing work he has done, I am keen to maintain that work whilst putting my own stamp on it. I am very grateful to Jim for all of his help so far and I can’t wait to get started.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images