Fan Letters: Criticisms of Parky’s approach from Sunderland fans

Dear Roker Report,

It’s time to change formation as far as I’m concerned and really go for it in the final games. 4-4-2 is a must. My team: GK McLaughlin RB Flanagan CB Willis CB Ozturk LB John If Lynch is fit he steps in for Ozturk. RW Semenyo CM Dobson CM O’Nien LW Hume ST Lafferty ST Grigg. You could also play Robson in Midfield.

Dobson and O’Nien would be my choice for their energy and to win it and get it forward to the strikers or down the wings. The back 4 can concentrate on defending. Gooch and Maguire on the bench as they slow the play down too much, and we need pace on the wings.

That would be my thoughts don’t know what anyone else thinks but the current formation has been found out, and we need to change it now to have any chance.

Let’s be brave and go for it.

Paul Eden

Ed’s Note [Gav]: Whilst I think that aspects of our player has indeed been figured out - namely, doubling up on Hume and isolating Gooch, cutting off our main supply to the striker - I don’t think all is lost because of a run of bad results.

Instead, Parkinson needs to be more flexible. We have good players, and he needs to use them. The attack would stand a better chance of scoring goals if our defence could get back to being resilient, and with Lynch and Smith waiting in the wings I’d be tempted to give them both a go. Similarly, Declan John provides us with a different option on the left. One of Hume’s biggest weaknesses is his one-footedness - is John capable of switching up the direction of his attacks and using both feet?

Up top, we have Semenyo, Watmore and a clutch of strikers. Can we perhaps change the shape of our attack? Could adding the raw pace that Semenyo and Watmore offer cause teams more problems than, say, Wyke?

He has to think about switching things around and, importantly, developing several other plans. As the last four results show, we’re too easily figured out and not defending well enough.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

Morning all proper fans - just to say a big well done to all who travelled on Tuesday evening. Die hard legends need to be recognised, see yous again on Saturday no doubt. After the autopsy is now over and all fans agree almost to a man the blame firmly falls on Parky’s inability to recognise we are in trouble on the pitch before the last 5 mins, we can now assume you are watching barcelona, and we are watching sunday league.

Let us tell you that only semenyo and scowen came out with any credit, players who you’ve had on our books and won't start as they are not up to speed and ready for the match plan - I’m not surprised at all as neither am I after watching week in, week out and still scratching my head. I know one thing - that Ozturk, Hume, Flanagan, O’Nien, Power, Dobson, Gooch, and Wyke should not turn out in the same team again this season as they are not either, which leaves you with a massive problem as you don’t trust the players you brought in.

It’s comments like this and fans calling for your head that inspired the upturn of results over the new year - I hope it works again, promotion only will suffice or that's where you’ll be managing - Sunday league.

Keep the faith lads, onwards and upwards.

Jeff Angus

Ed’s Note [Gav]: I don’t think that now is the time to lose faith in the manager. We have eight games left, and he did a good job of turning round our form after Christmas. Let’s leave the inquest until after the season ends!

Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images

Dear Roker Report,

Hello lads - just here to make my point, as I have from day one of the day Parkinson was appointed by owners dumb n dumber being rich but trying to get much richer on the back of our beloved SAFC.

This manager has had a lucky streak over Jan and Feb. I would not let this man run a raffle in my local pub cos he wouldn’t have a clue how to do it, just like he is no good as a manager.

Let’s get it straight - if you are at work and need a bit of a lift and confidence in trying to do your job a bit better, would you or could you respond to this miserable faced up his own a**e individual? I challenge any SAFC fan to send you a photo of this miserable individual actually cracking a smile.

My advice to him is: ask someone to teach you how to. Next time Peter Reid is at the SOL, tell Parkinson to look at Reidy and learn how to smile.

Yeah, just smile - god forbid you try to laugh.

One step at a time Parkinson. Hopefully stepping well away from our beloved SAFC.

William & Jarvis

Ed’s Note [Gav]: Jose Mourinho doesn’t smile much and he’s won everything!