You could argue Sunderland have tried everything.
The world-class footballer; the local talent with the big reputation; the returning prodigal son (well, supporter) that really should have worked out; the right-wing charlatan and scorer of beautiful goals; a calmer more visionary version of the mad man before him; and a man with an international reputation who has been there, got the t-shirt but unfortunately for Sunderland, rejected their cup of tea.
Perhaps the most worrying problem for Sunderland, post-Advocaat, is the waning appeal of their Premier League status, passionate fans, and proud history. As fans have grown weary from permanent dismal displays and scraps of cheer, the loss of a genuine ray of light in the Dutchman has left Sunderland looking like a basket case.
Advocaat was supposed to be the answer, the experienced and skilled commander with a sense humility and integrity that the others lacked. He would rise above the nonsense and pull the players up with him into a new and brighter era.
For so many reasons, however, he hasn’t. The Dutchman has failed and walked away. He’s mentioned not being into relegation battles, and really, the board shouldn’t have appointed him in the first place after he said goodbye before the summer.
With every door that closes, however, another has to open and interestingly, it’s Robbie Stockdale that’s been left holding the keys.
Out of the naivety, short-sightedness, and frustration, the recent appointment of Robbie Stockdale as an acting head coach might just offer up a surprising solution to shake Sunderland out of their ten-year-long managerial stutter.
It is slightly bizarre (and typical) to think that Patrick Viera’s name has been put forward as a candidate when Stockdale’s U21 side finished higher than the Frenchman’s in 2014/15. And this season the man from Redcar is sitting even prettier at the top of the Division One table.
After all, Sunderland have been down the Patrick Viera route and it hasn’t worked. The club needs to stop being a stepping stone or a flash project for an individual’s ego that is not interested in committing to the North East for any great amount of time.
Perhaps Sunderland fans need to steel themselves for names like Dyche and Pearson. They would be the best bet for a quick and positive shift in fortunes. It’s just how positive they want that shift to be – see Tony Pulis at West Bromwich Albion.
In Robbie Stockdale, Sunderland have a man that knows how to win in red and white stripes. His team plays with energy, pace, and creativity and have nurtured the rise of four of the club’s brightest hopes in Duncan Watmore, Jordan Pickford, Lynden Gooch and Mikael Mandron.
Look at Garry Monk and his job at Swansea. One year older than Stockdale at 36, admittedly the former Swans captain has had a more natural progression into the hot seat at the Liberty, but he has proven that you don’t have to cast the net very wide to find a success story.
Sunderland will look to have found their new manager before 17 October when they face West Brom at the Hawthorns. But if Robbie Stockdale is in charge, after having had the full international break with the players, and they get the right result – what then? Is it not worth trying?
It might not be so mad to think that Stockdale is the choice that leaves Sunderland with the most to gain.
Robbie Stockdale as manager until the end of the season will give the players a chance to prove themselves, stop the transfer churn, and give a platform for this young, talented English manager to carry his success forward into the senior team.
If the club played this wild-card, they give themselves the time to finally accept their fate – be it good or bad – and lay down the proper foundations for a much more purposeful, secure and successful future.
