Fan Letters: “We became a wealthy club yet have a mediocre manager & players bought on the cheap”

Dear Roker Report,

I think we can all agree our recent form has been very poor. I’m refusing to be negative at the moment. It’s obvious to be annoyed with the current form but I’m not going to speak negatively of either the team or manager.

Haway, four away games in roughly two weeks and all away it was always going to cause an issue with the results, maybe being beaten so badly made it look worse than it is, but travelling a total of 1640 miles (There n Back) we need to calm down, HMS Piss The League will resume soon. I think we should ease off them and back them because it’s what they need.

Since we have 2 cup games on the trot before the league game [ed: this letter was received prior to the Mansfield game] and we’ve qualified for knockout of Papa Johns. Just rest the starting 11 and let the youngsters and fringe players play. I feel like that’s the most obvious thing do to but will Lee Johnson actually do that? I hope so.

Kyle Ramsay

Ed’s Note [Martin]: It’s perfectly rationale to be p*ssed off at results at present Kyle, we’re putting in performances that will quite rightly attract concern – I agree re the approach to the Bradford game. I’d give all of the first team players some time away from the club, reset and build up to the Ipswich game. The Bradford game is completely irrelevant.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Dear Roker Report,

If Johnson spent less time arguing with the 4th official and more time watching the game, he might be able to influence the game more effectively with tactical changes and substitutions.

Kev Lincoln

Ed’s Note [Martin]: I always think it’s a sign of a manager who’s struggling when they spend so much time arguing with the officials. It’s a sign of frustration.

Photo by Will Matthews/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

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Dear Roker Report.

It’s like the old saying to fiddle while Rome burns. Why not ask Bristol City about their former manager. You know what was his pedigree?? I even have reservations about the club owners. Sunderland became a wealthy club yet have a mediocre manager and players bought/loaned on the cheap. I know Sunderland have wonderful supporters possibly the best in the country and I’ve followed them for 61 years and apart of winning one trophy still same old same old. I predict they will not go up this year with this man in charge.

Kenny

Ed’s Note [Martin]: I think overall, Johnson did well at Bristol City – he got them established as an upper mid-table championship team. Since he left them they’ve got worse and worse, so make of that what you will. We all know that, for whatever reason, Johnson has runs of results in both directions – it’s strange, and we’re nowhere near as bad as the results suggest at present. I’m not sure what your reservations are about the club’s owners – we’ve brought in some excellent young players who by virtue of their age will have ups and downs throughout the season. We need to improve, and quickly – and the owners and the manager will know that better than anyone.