Just to say @Safc_in_peace Mike is Head Coach not Manager, seems this is playing to his strengths and certainly is the structural model our new bosses require.
The squad is young but prolifically talented. Both Jobe and Rigg have ceilings way beyond any previous Sunderland youngsters, including Henderson. Watson, who has only played a couple of games could be just as good, the fact that Brighton were happy to offer £13m for the kids says a lot.
A lot of people keep saying we are too young, but forget that this squad has in the main been together for more than three years, during which Dodds shaped the kids into an exiting team.
Then add in Enzo Le Fee, this guy is just a different level, if you didn’t watch the match last night have a look and judge for yourselves.
I hope Fodds gets you up this season and his only game at the Stadium of Light is a cup tie.
"He helped me a lot when I came to the club to manage the first sessions, the first connections with the team and the club.
"We found a good set-up together. He decided to leave and it is a good opportunity for him because he wanted to become a head coach and we have to accept that.
"But at the same time, it is a bit of a regret for me because I think we worked well together."
I mean this with the greatest of respect, but how on earth did you sign Le Fee? Surely he’s good enough for a team in a top division somewhere in Europe, if not for Roma themselves. He’s magical
Your excellent post is the perfect antidote to some of the ill informed comments made when he was appointed. You have provided context to his record as interim manager and I thank you for that.
Our manager has known him since he was about 7 in the school boys teams and coached him throughout all the way into the first team and a £24m transfer.
Le Fee lost his dad when he was young and Le Brie was like a second father to him. I think that might have something to do to do with it.
He is good enough for a top end Premier League team and we have him to keep if we go up.
I do think what we are doing is now being noticed in Europe and that helps us sign players we would never have got close to in the past. The fact that our owners father owned Marseille FC and had contacts throughout our all of the major leagues across the continent gives us access to all sorts of place we really shouldn’t have at Championship level.
At the moment we have taken in as much we have spent on transfers, so we are well placed financially to exploit our contacts if we go up.
The real coup has been getting Isidor for £3.2m when Boro paid £8m for Whittaker.
Anyhow I don’t want to derail this thread.
As we have a lot of very talented kids who know Dodds I can see us trusting him to take them on loan next season .
Jason Statham? Has he done a football based thriller yet? Lower league midfielder turns out to have been elite special ops super army soldier...finds out a shadowy eastern European with plans to introduce a super league has taken over his team...or something.
Good to watch his arrival video / clips. All I can say is he seems a nice fella and very warm first interactions with the players. Kind of had the feeling he had met or come across some of the faces in the past too.
Pretty sure he starts off by saying it’s been a “worldwind” at the start though…
Jokes aside, I like the way he referenced both Matt and Gaz for the work in the past and also bigging up Sam Grace and Vokesy for the work more recently.
Clearly has some ideas of his own he’ll want to get across but clever enough to recognise what they have been doing thus far has been good so doesn’t want to throw that away.
The next few weeks and games are going to be interesting to see how things evolve.
Hugo Boss vibes from the interview which is ok at this level but if he wants to get to the top there will have to be a conversation about Moncler in the future.
Luckily for him there is a Moncler outlet in Bicester Village where you can get the stuff at a very reasonable discount.
Comments
Just to say @Safc_in_peace Mike is Head Coach not Manager, seems this is playing to his strengths and certainly is the structural model our new bosses require.
See you in The Championship next season😉
I think Sunderland will get promoted via the play offs
We might even go up automatically.
The squad is young but prolifically talented. Both Jobe and Rigg have ceilings way beyond any previous Sunderland youngsters, including Henderson. Watson, who has only played a couple of games could be just as good, the fact that Brighton were happy to offer £13m for the kids says a lot.
A lot of people keep saying we are too young, but forget that this squad has in the main been together for more than three years, during which Dodds shaped the kids into an exiting team.
Then add in Enzo Le Fee, this guy is just a different level, if you didn’t watch the match last night have a look and judge for yourselves.
I hope Fodds gets you up this season and his only game at the Stadium of Light is a cup tie.
Regis Le Bris' thoughts (from BBC).
"Mike was really important for me," said Le Bris.
"He helped me a lot when I came to the club to manage the first sessions, the first connections with the team and the club.
"We found a good set-up together. He decided to leave and it is a good opportunity for him because he wanted to become a head coach and we have to accept that.
"But at the same time, it is a bit of a regret for me because I think we worked well together."
I mean this with the greatest of respect, but how on earth did you sign Le Fee? Surely he’s good enough for a team in a top division somewhere in Europe, if not for Roma themselves. He’s magical
He’s on 90k a week at Roma.
Your excellent post is the perfect antidote to some of the ill informed comments made when he was appointed. You have provided context to his record as interim manager and I thank you for that.
Our manager has known him since he was about 7 in the school boys teams and coached him throughout all the way into the first team and a £24m transfer.
Le Fee lost his dad when he was young and Le Brie was like a second father to him. I think that might have something to do to do with it.
He is good enough for a top end Premier League team and we have him to keep if we go up.
I do think what we are doing is now being noticed in Europe and that helps us sign players we would never have got close to in the past. The fact that our owners father owned Marseille FC and had contacts throughout our all of the major leagues across the continent gives us access to all sorts of place we really shouldn’t have at Championship level.
At the moment we have taken in as much we have spent on transfers, so we are well placed financially to exploit our contacts if we go up.
The real coup has been getting Isidor for £3.2m when Boro paid £8m for Whittaker.
Anyhow I don’t want to derail this thread.
As we have a lot of very talented kids who know Dodds I can see us trusting him to take them on loan next season .
I think this is the most upvoted post ever on the new gasroom. And deservedly so, useful info. Thanks.
He looks like Paul Lambert
Love child of Paul Lambert and Tom Cruise......?
Tom Cruise hasn’t won the European Cup.
Yet.
No
Jason Statham? Has he done a football based thriller yet? Lower league midfielder turns out to have been elite special ops super army soldier...finds out a shadowy eastern European with plans to introduce a super league has taken over his team...or something.
See you in the Premier League in 2 years you mean
It wasn't a thriller but he was the 'Mad Monk' keeper in the Vinnie Jones UK remake of The Mean Machine.
he was originally cast as a forward in that but he just kept diving.
Good to watch his arrival video / clips. All I can say is he seems a nice fella and very warm first interactions with the players. Kind of had the feeling he had met or come across some of the faces in the past too.
Good luck Doddsy!!
I think we can all agree the days of The Stath being a supporting player in a Vinnie Jones fillum have long gone.
What are the criteria for Mike being ‘Doddsy’ rather than, say ‘Doddo’?
Really hope he hits the ground running and we don't have to entertain Dudsy v Doddery
Ken Dodd died
Did he?
No, Doddy
Has he appointed any Diddymen assistants yet?
And we deffo don't want P Doddy as a nickname.
https://www.wwfc.com/news/2025/february/05/mikes-first-interview/
Good listen from Dodds. No Revolution more Evolution of the style of play. Baby steps
More Humble and letting the players do the job.
Spoke very well there.
Pretty sure he starts off by saying it’s been a “worldwind” at the start though…
Jokes aside, I like the way he referenced both Matt and Gaz for the work in the past and also bigging up Sam Grace and Vokesy for the work more recently.
Clearly has some ideas of his own he’ll want to get across but clever enough to recognise what they have been doing thus far has been good so doesn’t want to throw that away.
The next few weeks and games are going to be interesting to see how things evolve.
He came across very well. It is going to take some real self control to be able to wait 2-3 games before making some tweaks .
It's good to here he won't make wholesale changes all the same .
Hugo Boss vibes from the interview which is ok at this level but if he wants to get to the top there will have to be a conversation about Moncler in the future.
Luckily for him there is a Moncler outlet in Bicester Village where you can get the stuff at a very reasonable discount.
Really positive first interview, think he comes across very well.
Hoping his reference to Sam Vokes is a promising sign that Vokes might get a chance in his coaching set up.