Roker Roundtable: Thoughts on Tony Mowbray’s Sunderland contract extension!

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Joseph Tulip says…

I think this is great news for us on many levels, not least because Mowbray is a proven head coach at this level, with a track record of developing youngsters.

His Middlesbrough connections may have even worked in our favour, as he understands North East football and therefore came into the job fully aware of Sunderland’s standing in the game as a club with a big history and huge potential for the future.

An old-school football man who’s certainly moved with the times, Mowbray’s tenure feels somewhat comforting. It’s as if we’re in safe hands with a wise old head at the helm, and someone who clearly loves working with young players and developing a team.

Much like his new skipper Luke O’Nien, Mogga has connected with the fans and was genuinely elated when my wife Jayne handed him a box of Jaffa Cakes at a recent talk-in event.

I understand there was uncertainty surrounding his future over the summer, but Kristjaan Speakman has said there was never any truth in speculation linking Mowbray with a move away from the club.

No smoke without fire? Who knows for certain, but I’m minded to trust the people who are running our football club, and they’ve backed up their statement with a new contract for Mowbray.

I’m also pleased that Speakman has handed the team another season without too much expectation, so let’s get behind Mowbray and his side as they continue to progress - and enjoy the football being produced on the pitch.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Kelvin Beattie says…

I was chuffed to see this development.

Like many, I was a tad underwhelmed at his appointment and I imagined him as a bit of a flat-capped football dinosaur who didn’t have a lot of success on his managerial CV.

However, it didn’t take too long for me to recognise my error of judgement, which was probably coloured by his spell at Celtic.

His successful spells at Hibernian, West Brom, Blackburn and Sunderland have all been characterised by a pacy, ‘tika taka’-style of flowing football and the nurturing of a good sprinkling of young aspirational players.

The extension is reward for a job well done. It does create a bit of stability and it sends a positive message- not only to the playing squad, but to the fans as well.

Mowbray’s ability to function and thrive within the ‘model’ and his panache for working with and nurturing young players has been a bit of a match made in heaven, given where the club is at and where it wants to be.

There are of course tensions (what workplace doesn’t have these?), but he appears to handle these well, with forthright calmness and a bit of gentle humour.

I hope the extension included provisions for a bar or two of Cadbury’s finest, because he deserves it!

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Malc Dugdale says…

I think it’s the right decision for both Mowbray and Sunderland.

We’ve just injected another dose of youth into the squad during the summer and he’s the best man to shape and assess that during the next eighteen months and more.

He clearly loves to nurture and develop young stars, and he’s doing a great job at that, as he has for some time.

Although he may not be the ideal head coach for us should we go up in the not-too-distant future, he’s done enough for me to suggest the club should show faith in him.

If he gets us up this season, he deserves a chance to show how he can perform in the top flight. There have been and will be worse coaches at the top level, and the team certainly seems to enjoy playing for him.

We’re in a good place and the fans are seeing some of our best football for years. It’s not broke, so why fix it?

Photo by Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images

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