Sbragia Steps Comfortably Into Leadership Role As Sunderland Shut Down West Brom
Black Cats bounce back under caretaker manager Ricky Sbragia
The King is dead. Long live the King. Pictures of Roy Keane have already been removed from selected walls inside the Stadium of Light where newly blank spaces presumably await adornment by portraits of his successor. That man is unlikely to be Ricky Sbragia but all the indications are that Sunderland's caretaker manager is capable of presiding over the smoothest of interregnums.
A recurring theme of Keane's regular homilies was football's essentially cold and ruthless heart. The Irishman's emotions are clearly well insulated by cynicism but even Sunderland's former manager may have been a little taken aback at just how enthusiastically everyone on Wearside is embracing life after his walk-out.
While those fans who once serenaded him with choruses of "Keano" switched seamlessly to "the mighty Quinn" in homage to Sunderland's enduringly popular chairman, Niall Quinn, his former players performed in the gloriously relaxed manner of the newly liberated.
Andy Reid summed up the mood with a comment as subtly incisive as many of his passes. "Roy clearly felt it was time to go," he said. "And maybe he also felt it was time for us to be away from him."
Admittedly West Brom were woeful, with Gianni Zuiverloon and Abdoulaye Méïté experiencing defensive shockers and even their normally über calm manager, Tony Mowbray, losing his temper — unsurprising given they have now gone 10 matches without a victory — but Sunderland's players certainly seem to be responding to Sbragia.
Tellingly they were delighted when the first-team coach turned caretaker dispensed with Keane's usual habit of keeping them in a hotel on Friday night, agreeing that such stays were "boring".
"I've tried to give the senior players a bit more of a voice," said Sbragia. "They can have an opinion. We have chats. My staff and I aren't always right. Players sometimes see things we might not. Sometimes their ideas are probably better."
A believer in dressing-room democracy he may be but this does not preclude Sbragia coming over all managerial when necessary. "I spoke with three players regarding my team selection and they're not happy," explained the former Manchester United and Bolton coach who provoked an angry response from Steed Malbranque when he substituted the midfielder.
"Steed's not happy," he acknowledged. "And [El Hadji] Diouf is definitely unhappy but at least I gave him a reason why I left him out. Our big squad's a problem but, if I'm honest with people, I'll be OK."
Sbragia's deployment of the excellent but hitherto underused Teemu Tainio as a quasi sweeper between defence and midfield proved inspired as did his positioning of Reid, Sunderland's creative catalyst, in a tucked-in, left-sided role. When Reid despatched a sumptuously curving, left- footed, far-post delivery Kenwyne Jones evaded Méïté to head the opener.
West Brom struggled to contain the formidable amalgam of power and pace presented by Jones and Djibril Cissé and Jones soon added a second from close range before Reid dodged Zuiverloon to connect with Malbranque's cross and head the third. Djibril Cissé's penalty following Roman Bednar's handball fully extinguished the contest.
Sunderland were due to refine their shortlist yesterday and Quinn hopes to speak to contenders this week but now feels no urgency to rush someone into position before Christmas.
A galaxy of names from Bernd Schuster to Gordon Strachan have been touted but Sbragia promoted his one-time boss Sam Allardyce's candidature.
"When I joined Bolton I actually thought Sam was a big bully," he said. "But he's completely different to what you see. He's outstanding, different class. I think Sam's ready to come."
Allardyce yesterday said there had been "no contact" but reiterated: "I'd like to talk to Sunderland."
There are suggestions that Quinn is tempted by both Allardyce and Strachan while Ellis Short, Sunderland's majority shareholder, favors a foreign coach. If so, Sunderland's chairman clearly did not watch a steadily deteriorating Newcastle much during Big Sam's tenure or, indeed, a faltering Bolton during his latter months at The Reebok.
Some see Sbragia as the answer, particularly after Quinn refused to rule him out of contention. "That's very nice but I've never spoken to Niall about the job," said the Scot. "I haven't applied. I've never ever thought about being a manager, I've always liked being a coach. But if it comes, it comes. I'm just happy I've a day off tomorrow, I'll be down the pub with my family just enjoying things."
It is probably safe to assume Mowbray's Sunday lunch proved somewhat less jolly.
Man of the match Teemu Tainio (Sunderland)
A recurring theme of Keane's regular homilies was football's essentially cold and ruthless heart. The Irishman's emotions are clearly well insulated by cynicism but even Sunderland's former manager may have been a little taken aback at just how enthusiastically everyone on Wearside is embracing life after his walk-out.
While those fans who once serenaded him with choruses of "Keano" switched seamlessly to "the mighty Quinn" in homage to Sunderland's enduringly popular chairman, Niall Quinn, his former players performed in the gloriously relaxed manner of the newly liberated.
Andy Reid summed up the mood with a comment as subtly incisive as many of his passes. "Roy clearly felt it was time to go," he said. "And maybe he also felt it was time for us to be away from him."
Admittedly West Brom were woeful, with Gianni Zuiverloon and Abdoulaye Méïté experiencing defensive shockers and even their normally über calm manager, Tony Mowbray, losing his temper — unsurprising given they have now gone 10 matches without a victory — but Sunderland's players certainly seem to be responding to Sbragia.
Tellingly they were delighted when the first-team coach turned caretaker dispensed with Keane's usual habit of keeping them in a hotel on Friday night, agreeing that such stays were "boring".
"I've tried to give the senior players a bit more of a voice," said Sbragia. "They can have an opinion. We have chats. My staff and I aren't always right. Players sometimes see things we might not. Sometimes their ideas are probably better."
A believer in dressing-room democracy he may be but this does not preclude Sbragia coming over all managerial when necessary. "I spoke with three players regarding my team selection and they're not happy," explained the former Manchester United and Bolton coach who provoked an angry response from Steed Malbranque when he substituted the midfielder.
"Steed's not happy," he acknowledged. "And [El Hadji] Diouf is definitely unhappy but at least I gave him a reason why I left him out. Our big squad's a problem but, if I'm honest with people, I'll be OK."
Sbragia's deployment of the excellent but hitherto underused Teemu Tainio as a quasi sweeper between defence and midfield proved inspired as did his positioning of Reid, Sunderland's creative catalyst, in a tucked-in, left-sided role. When Reid despatched a sumptuously curving, left- footed, far-post delivery Kenwyne Jones evaded Méïté to head the opener.
West Brom struggled to contain the formidable amalgam of power and pace presented by Jones and Djibril Cissé and Jones soon added a second from close range before Reid dodged Zuiverloon to connect with Malbranque's cross and head the third. Djibril Cissé's penalty following Roman Bednar's handball fully extinguished the contest.
Sunderland were due to refine their shortlist yesterday and Quinn hopes to speak to contenders this week but now feels no urgency to rush someone into position before Christmas.
A galaxy of names from Bernd Schuster to Gordon Strachan have been touted but Sbragia promoted his one-time boss Sam Allardyce's candidature.
"When I joined Bolton I actually thought Sam was a big bully," he said. "But he's completely different to what you see. He's outstanding, different class. I think Sam's ready to come."
Allardyce yesterday said there had been "no contact" but reiterated: "I'd like to talk to Sunderland."
There are suggestions that Quinn is tempted by both Allardyce and Strachan while Ellis Short, Sunderland's majority shareholder, favors a foreign coach. If so, Sunderland's chairman clearly did not watch a steadily deteriorating Newcastle much during Big Sam's tenure or, indeed, a faltering Bolton during his latter months at The Reebok.
Some see Sbragia as the answer, particularly after Quinn refused to rule him out of contention. "That's very nice but I've never spoken to Niall about the job," said the Scot. "I haven't applied. I've never ever thought about being a manager, I've always liked being a coach. But if it comes, it comes. I'm just happy I've a day off tomorrow, I'll be down the pub with my family just enjoying things."
It is probably safe to assume Mowbray's Sunday lunch proved somewhat less jolly.
Man of the match Teemu Tainio (Sunderland)
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