The former manager of Ibrox is facing challenges at the beginning of his tenure with the Black Cats, as supporters are becoming critical of him.
Accusations are being directed at Michael Beale, the former Rangers manager, claiming that he is sapping the vitality from Sunderland, with a noted “draining effect” on the Stadium of Light. Only seven games into his role following Tony Mowbray, the Londoner is already facing discontent from fans. Following a loss to Hull City on Friday, supporters vocally expressed their desire for Beale, who took over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst after a brief tenure at Ibrox, to step down.
On Saturday, Sunderland will face Stoke City amidst growing early pressure, and Ally McCoist, a Rangers legend who transitioned from the Stadium of Light to his childhood club, received a bleak description of life at Sunderland from Michael Graham. Graham, the editor of the Black Cats fanzine Sunderland Nation, shared his insights as a guest on McCoist’s talkSPORT breakfast show.
He expressed concerns, stating that typically when a new coach takes charge, they inherit a struggling team that fans find unenjoyable to watch. However, Michael Beale’s challenge at Sunderland is unique, as he has swiftly transformed a team that fans once loved to watch into one that is now perceived as subpar.
“They used to excel as a team on the counterattack, but now every pass seems to be either going backward or sideways, and it’s just sapping the energy. The only way I can describe it is that it’s truly draining. Under Michael Beale, the team’s ability to create has diminished, and even in the games that Sunderland has won under Beale, the fans haven’t found joy in the style of football. Unlike before, even in defeats, we used to take pleasure in what we were witnessing on the field. He has completely reversed it, and not in a positive way.
It’s not as if the fans haven’t been patient with Beale. They were willing to believe in him and give him a chance, but there’s this undeniable draining effect he’s had on both the team and the supporters, and I can’t comprehend how he’s managed to achieve it.”
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