Sunderland chairman Bob Murray decided it was time for a change of management on Monday and sacked Black Cats boss Peter Reid after seven years in charge.
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End of the road for Reid and company
(BenRadford/GettyImages) |
Reid was appointed manager in 1995, with Sunderland languishing at the foot of Division One, and by the end of the 99/00 season he had guided the club to a top seven finish in the Premiership - via two Division One championships.
But last season saw the club narrowly avoid relegation and a clumsy start to the current campaign has seen Reid's side claim only two league wins in nine games.
His side have been struggling for goals over the past two terms and a section of Sunderland fans believe that the former England international's negative tactics have had a detrimental effect on the team.
Sunday's 3-1 defeat against champions Arsenal proved to be the last straw and chairman Murray showed Reid - and coaching staff members Adrian Heath, Bobby Saxton, Tony Book and Mike Walsh - the Stadium of Light exit.
The chairman later paid tribute to his former manager's achievements, saying: 'Sunderland is totally unrecognizable now to when Peter Reid walked through the door at Roker Park in 1995.
'In taking this difficult decision it's hard to realise that it has had to come to this, but the club must always come first.
'Nearly a quarter of the season has gone and we are at the wrong end of the table and can't wait any longer for performances to improve.'
So Sunderland have taken the decision to axe Reid, but was it the right one? Is it time to move on? Or are the club too quick to forget what Reid has achieved?
Your Verdict
I think Mr. Murray had little option but to relieve Peter Reid of the position. If you look at the last 50 games the results indicate a change was required.
Peter did an excellent job and can leave with his head hell high, but sometimes you need fresh ideas to move to the next level and they have not been forthcoming.
I think the club has been more than loyal to the manager and gave him every chance to succeed. Try as he did it was not to be.
Steve Boyle
The axe has fallen on the head of a man that has taken Sunderland from the lower rungs of Nationwide Division One to a spot in the Premier league. Apparently, a win against Leeds and a draw against Manchester United must not be considered acceptable with the season still relatively young.
Given the fact that the television cash bubble has burst for the Nationwide Leagues, is staying in the Premier League not success within itself? I'm sure that Ipswich and Leicester supporters would like to be in Sunderland's situation.
The new transfer laws will now limit the next manager's options; therefore, will a new manager be able to make a considerable improvement? Given the fact that, except for the winter transfer window, he will be limited to the present Sunderland squad.
And if the present team's improvement is notable, in the short term, are current players not under scrutiny for the commitment and passion they are showing at the moment?
Perhaps, it had got beyond the point of reconciliation between Reid and Sunderland but it is sad to see him leave a club he had given so much for. Good luck in the future to both Sunderland and Peter Reid.
John Moorcroft
Surely it's now time to comment on the obsession that contributed to Reid's downfall: his insistence on playing 5-4-1 with a totally isolated striker who never got the ball. Reid took to the field on Saturday against Arsenal with, you've guessed it, 5-4-1, and only changed formation when Sunderland were 0-3 down!
Watch Phillips spring back to life and the new strikers get over their bewilderment in the happy days ahead. A dead weight has been lifted from Sunderland's shoulders!
Alex Green
Everyone is so quick to blame Peter Reid for all of Sunderland's misfortunes. I was there watching and supporting him for the last seven and half years and I am not going to stop now.
It's time that everyone including the players and fans took a good luck at Sunderland because they lost the will to fight and win matches a long time ago. No matter how much money is spent on the stadium and new players I don't ever think Sunderland will be good enough.
I think everyone should feel ashamed of how they have treated Peter Reid. He should have walked out on them a long time ago instead of staying to take all the abuse and blame. But then that just proves one thing: Peter Reid was committed to Sunderland to the end, unlike his team.
Donna Snowball
Peter Reid should be remembered as one of the best managers Sunderland has ever had. However the argument that the sacking was harsh because of what he has done for the club is weak due to the fact he was taking the side rapidly back to where he started.
It is ok staying still if you're good, but the top seven finishes could not be sustained and the club is in decline. I wonder if this was due to the regular reports of falling out with players, playing players out of position and being playing too negative against the better sides.
The statistics speak for themselves five Premiership games won out of 25 with 16 goals scored, 14 were losses. Murray gave Reid ample opportunities to turn it around, but with £22million spent our league position has not improved.
The brush with relegation last season was far too close, and the squad full of internationals are playing like schoolboys. The rot from last season has not gone away. Sorry Peter, I know you cared passionately but your sacking only comes a surprise to those who are ignorant to the facts.
John Carson
Everyone agrees that Peter Reid has taken Sunderland to new heights.
The fact that loitering in the second half of the Premiership is no
longer acceptable for a club that was in the First Division only a few
years ago, is great indication of how much Reid has achieved during is
tenure.
His plight is comparable to that of Bryan Robson's at
Middlesbrough. It reminds us that times change and expectations grow
with success.
Ven Shanmugam
The Sunderland team that Reid has single-handedly constructed is utterly dire. Bob Murray has given him more time than he deserves to change the pattern but the task was beyond him.
Reid has been vocal in attacking his players for lack of heart and commitment. What is a manager paid for if it is not to motivate his team? In any industry, when a manager makes such a public admission of his inability to manage, he's for the chop.
Steve Spence, County Durham
Peter has been a loyal Sunderland manager for seven years. Sunderland played really above themselves on finishing seventh two seasons on the trot.
Reid needed more time to improve an average squad, but the fickle and demanding supporters were not so ready, especially after defeat to Newcastle.
Peter
You cannot live on past glories forever. No-one could deny that Reid did a great job for a long time, but he came to the end of his usefulness last year.
The passion gone, the goals gone, the team playing poorly. And the only response to this from Reid has always been more commitment, more passion - but it just doesn't work forever.
The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle would have baulked at a game against the red and whites two seasons ago, but now they are so many classes behind a two goal defeat is considered a relative triumph.
Congrats on your achievements, Pete, but it is time...
Porthole
I have stood by for nearly two years and watched Peter Reid slowly go backwards. He did a great job when he came and the days of 'Cheer up Peter Reid' will always be remembered but he was out of his depth when it came to taking my club to the next level.
That is it in a nutshell.
Sam Lucas
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