Fan Letters: it would be a different result if Sunderland players had done their jobs!

How can the supporters blame the manager for the draw the other night. McGeady missed penalty and Whyke missed a sitter the players have to be responsible 3-1 a different result if the players had done their jobs

Michael Scales

Ed’s note [Damian]: I think being the manager of any club in the modern game is a bit of a poisoned chalice. Thankfully, I think most manager’s know that, and no one more so than Jack Ross judging by his previous comments. Inevitably the buck stops at his feet and most fans don’t feel the need to see past that to what you might call the intricate details.

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Facts Mr Ross took a season and couple of games to find we play better at 442. Fact Mr Ross does not know what his best team is. Fact subs and tactics not a clue. Fact we have the best team in this league fact we play like bottom 3 team in premiership at man City nearly every game or if we score first. in a league we should be going for 2nd or killer 3rd goal. Fact we must get out of this league this year. Fact Ross will not get us in top 2. Most fans think play offs.. Fact can we take the chance on keeping him especially when new takeover complete. One area they can spend money apart from academy and behind the scenes is management. Fact he has to go. Ftm

Kevin Smith

Ed’s note [Damian]: Firstly, I’d challenge your initial point that Jack Ross doesn’t know what his best eleven is. Consider that our main issue this season hasn’t been losing or drawing games, but conceding needless goals. Then consider that you’ve got a ‘keeper capable of heroics, as proven last season, in Jon McLaughlin, and that you’ve got a large group of defenders from varying stages of club development that might all require unique circumstances in which to thrive. If the question is “why can’t we keep a clean sheet?” then the answer invariably lies in tinkering with the team setup. This would account for Ross’s selection being somewhat unsettled - it’s trial by error.

Secondly, I’d have to disagree entirely that Ross isn’t capable of automatic promotion. We’ve got players that haven’t touched a ball in anger this season yet we’ve lost one game. We one win from second place as it stands, with a better team and a more effective game-plan than we could boast this time last season. So far, there simply isn’t any evidence to reasonably suggest that Ross isn’t doing his job properly.

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I believe that Jack Ross is limited in his ability to find the teams best shape, be a more cohesion attacking unit.

John Derisi

Ed’s note [Damian]: As I’ve said above, John, I don’t believe there’s enough evidence to suggest this is the case. The reality is that we are a far more cohesive attacking unit than we were last season, indicating that Ross is more than capable of establishing that avenue through the defence of the opposing team.