PHOTO CREDIT: Manchester City Football Club
PK’s Premiership/PATRICK KINMARTIN
Sunderland groggily went into Old Trafford manager-less on Saturday and were seconds away from escaping with a draw for the ages against Manchester United.
Nemanja Vidic’s heart-breaking goal in extra time was appropriate for the theme of the Black Cats’ week. which was thrown into sudden disarray 24 hours earlier when Roy Keane abruptly stepped down. Head assistant Rocky Sbragia took the reins temporarily and oversaw the plausible showing against United.
Even so, Sbragia is not anxious about a permanent promotion, not when multiple reports have indicated Naill Quinn has already began deep discussions about the search for the club’s next bench leader.
The Sunderland chairman has never proved to by shy about pursuing the rock-star names of the industry, and no one among the front office staff was more outwardly joyous when Keane initially signed his way into the organization on that memorable afternoon of Aug. 28, 2006.
So already, Quinn’s list of replacements is predictable. Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley, Alan Pardew and even Steve McClaren have been getting plenty of play on the airwaves and in the papers around Tyne and Wear.
Unfortunately, the turn of events will present another ditched opportunity in the league to be more bold and bring aboard the reputable members of the English coaching fraternity in line for their first crack at top flight management. A look at the names that would be an ideal fit at the likes of Sunderland that may warrant the call-up from one of the major franchises in the year to come…
*Pat Rice. There is no telling when a negotiating chairman of the Quinn mold will finally be able to shake Rice out down from that locked branch he holds on Arsene Wenger’s coaching tree at Arsenal. From youth advisor to caretaker manager to vice boss, there is not a role Rice has not mastered over the past 25 years to deserve his portions of all the triumphant riches the franchise has earned.
His reluctance to ever leave (don’t forget, his Gunners playing career spanned 16 seasons until a move to Watford in 1980) makes everyone skeptical that Northern Ireland native’s time to budge will never arrive. Rice’s interest in shepherding young talent, however, and the type of salary he can command despite lacking sheer managerial pedigree, provide reasons.
*Jim Cassell (pictured above). Manchester City’s academy director has been praised for stabilizing the the club’s youth base that continues to furbish alumni like Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joey Barton, Micah Richards and Stephen Ireland. Cassell’s work continued to shine last season when the program captured the FA Youth Cup.
His 19 years of official work in local government add to the attraction.
*Owen Croyle. The 42-year-old Scot is yet to experience a losing season since starting his career in his country’s minor league system and now has Burnley brimming within playoff position in the Championship league. The Clarets are also riding the momentum from their elimination of Chelsea and Arsenal in the Carling Cup before a semifinal exit.
Croyle, whose prolific career as a striker included a brief stint with Bolton and 249 goals in 22 seasons, has been heartily endorsed by Alex McLeish and Andy Cole, a three-month Burnley loanee last year.
“I went to Burnley and spoke to Owen and got a great vibe,” Cole said. “He brought the best out of me and made me feel a lot younger than my age.”
Lack of Premiership familiarity and international prowess are Croyle’s drawbacks.
*Roberto Martinez . When Carlos Queiroz left his post as Sir Alex Ferguson’s top aide at Old Trafford to take over the Portugal national team, the notoriously mercurial Martinez was being brandied as the likely replacement. His work at Swansea City has been nothing short of sharp, and the Swans’ persistence toward promotion from the Championship this season may get their Spanish head man a clearer shot at vaulting upward.
Martinez, 35, has a distinct Keane feel because his last playing days were not long ago and yet he successfully has commanded an authoritative vibe that has translated into eye-catching results. Plus, the Tottenham sacking of Juande Ramos seems to have done little to diminish the reputation for resourceful Spanish leadership established by Rafa Benitez at Anfield.
On the same token, Paul Ince carried that Keane aura until he failed to jumpstart things at Blackburn.
*Roberto Di Matteo. In addition to the international flavor Martinez has and proof of a quick rise like Croyle, Di Matteo harbors know-how of a Big Four operation from his six years as a midfielder at Chelsea. Stops at Zurich and Lazio also gave him a bite of that prime time feel.
In less than two seasons at the helm of Milton Keynes Dons, he already has more wins (39) than his current age (38). A genuine Fabio Capello recommendation may be around the corner and his development of United States winger Jemal Johnson into a constant threat shows the ability to transform talent.
Wrapping up the rest of the Prem weekend…
OWED DRINKS: Nicolas Anelka. Bolton fans should be welcomed to rescind any spite that remains from the striker’s bolt last season to Chelsea, where his return to a high scoring stature this year — bolstered by a goal in his return to Reebok Stadium and a 2-0 win over the Wanderers on Saturday — prove his intentions were suitable.
OWES DRINKS: Wenger and the Gunners. A mere goal contributed to a decent outcome at home, a 1-0 win over Wigan. Arsenal fans who have come to expect the league’s most recognizable attack to score frequently have seen the team net just 15 goals in eight league matches at Emirates Stadium so far. At this juncture last season, Arsenal had 20.
GOAL FULFILLED: Ashley Young’s buzzer beater to sink Everton in Aston Villa’s 3-2 win at Goodison. Breaking straight from the kickoff following Joeleon Lescott’s equalizer, Young took Gabriel Agbonlahor’s flick pass on a race-away and proceeded to guide his low shot past Tim Howard in pacy-but-elegant fashion.
LET IT BE: No need for Fulham to come away pleased about the home 1-1 draw against Manchester City at Craven Cottage just because it extended their unbeaten run another week. First off, there is that clear vibe now existing that City’s legitimacy has just about completely wore off. Fulham also held an advantage in every main offensive category and didn’t prevail.
SAY IT IS SO: Sunderland were out-shot 31-3 overall, 8-0 on goal, gave up 10 corner kicks while taking merely one and were on the defensive end of possession for 72 percent of the match against United in the 1-0 loss. Maybe the defending champions are a little more woozy than we are slow to give them credit for.
3-POINT FINISH: The 59,317 spectators in attendance at the Emirates with the Lactics in town was Arsenal’s smallest league turnout since the move from Highbury in 2006. It also was the first time the 60,000 mark was not topped in a league contest there this season. … Michael Owen’s two goals for Newcastle in their 2-2 draw with Stoke City marked the first nicks on the score sheet by any player for the Magpies in the three matches that he and Obafemi Martins have started together this season. The potentially dazzling forward duo, derailed by injuries on the behalf of both players, has yet to ignite the Magpies to victory, however. Newcastle is 0-0-3 with the two starting togethe. … Dancing in December has become a rite of passage at Tottenham since Martin Jol took over in 2004 and it has continued since his unceremonious exit. With Saturday’s 2-0 win over West Ham, Spurs are now 17-6-5 in league games during this festive month.
