Former striker Kevin Phillips has given a damning assessment of the current ‘model’ in place at Sunderland.
Phillips, now 50, is currently out of work after losing his job as Hartlepool United manager in April.
His former club Sunderland are also without a manager, now approaching the three-month mark since the club sacked Michael Beale after just 12 games in charge.
And we appear to be no closer to an appointment with recent suggestions from Alan Nixon that there’s still more than one candidate to become the next Sunderland manager.
Not only is there concerns about the ongoing managerial appointment, and who the club eventually appoints, but there’s also question marks about he club’s ‘model’.
Sunderland under owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and sporting director Kristjaan Speakman focus heavily on youth recruitment, and whilst it’s unearthed some top players like Jack Clarke, it’s also given the Black Cats a lot of issues in the Championship.
Sunderland went on to finish in 16th place of the Championship table in 2023/24 and just six points above the drop zone after taking just five wins in 2024.
Kevin Phillips critical of Sunderland ‘model’
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Phillips has now given his verdict on the current frustrations at Sunderland, and on the club’s model.
Phillips said: “From the outside looking in, I’m as frustrated as any Sunderland fan… especially after this season, they finished very disappointing.
“Where they go from now, what they do, who they appoint over the summer, it’s so critical and crucial that they get the right appointment.
“With the model they’ve got in place at the moment, do I agree with it? Probably not… That league is very difficult.
“If you’re not prepared to bring in experienced players within that squad, especially in the Championship, it can become very, very difficult.”
Michael Beale, Mike Dodds, and Kevin Phillips all agree about Sunderland
Phillips’ comments about the lack of experience in the Sunderland side, and how costly it can and has proved to be at Championship level, is a view shared by many.
It’s one that many fans have debated on social media, with former managers Michael Beale and Mike Dodds both going on to say that there’s a distinct lack of experience in the ranks.
So for Louis-Dreyfus and Speakman, that’s certainly an area they need to address in the summer, and not addressing it could be as catastrophic as hiring the wrong manager.
Whoever the manager is, and however good they might be, they simply won’t be able to compete in the Championship if they’re doing so with such a young and inexperienced side.
Losing players like Bradley Dack and Corry Evans this summer, whilst maybe not so impactful on the quality of the side, only serves to make the team even more youthful.
So there needs to be a definite balance in terms of young and experienced, and not experienced in the way that Speakman previously said Nazariy Rusyn is experience.
Sunderland need Championship-proven, tried and tested players, or they’ll suffer again next season.