” Listen” Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole openly shares his honest opinion about his boss, Mick Beale…

Lee Cattermole shares his candid perspective on Sunderland manager Mick Beale

As we approach the final stretch of the Championship campaign, Sunderland remains in contention for the last two play-off spots.

However, Despite their current standing in the league, discontent has been steadily increasing among fans at the Stadium of Light regarding the club’s present situation. This includes the recent appointment of Michael Beale, who has taken charge on Wearside for slightly over a month.

The recent match between the Black Cats and Middlesbrough ended in a 1-1 draw, with Nazariy Rusyn equalizing Marcus Forss’ goal. This result was a small redemption for Sunderland, who had suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat against the same opponents earlier in October.

During the match, former Middlesbrough and Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole provided his insights as a pundit on Sky Sports. Cattermole, known for his combative style of play, had an impressive career at Sunderland, making 258 appearances and scoring ten goals between 2009 and 2019.

In regards to the current situation at Sunderland, there has been criticism directed towards Michael Beale, who took over from Tony Mowbray, now the manager of Birmingham City. Cattermole, offering his perspective, believes that not much has changed at his former club in recent weeks.

Cattermole expressed his thoughts on the appointment, stating, “I believe everyone anticipated a foreign manager after Mowbray’s departure. Will Still’s name was mentioned, which excited the fans.”

Regarding Beale’s appointment, Cattermole mentioned, “I don’t think the team’s performance has significantly changed, but there has been a slight alteration in the style of play. During the Hull game, Sunderland had the potential to win comfortably, but their play seemed robotic, lacking penetration. Tony, on the other hand, had the team attacking exceptionally well.”

Cattermole added, “I believe Beale would have taken note of that. Although I didn’t watch the Stoke City game, reports suggest they were more threatening in their attacking play. Like any job, whether as a player or a manager, constant proof of oneself is necessary. Beale is capable of that, having worked at Rangers, QPR, and alongside Steven Gerrard.”

As previously mentioned, despite their inconsistent performance, Beale’s team still has ample time to secure a spot in the play-offs for the second consecutive season. Cattermole emphasized that this should be their goal, and Beale, being 43 years old, must learn to cope with the pressure.

“He is the leader of a significant club with a weekly attendance of around 40,000. There are high expectations placed upon them, but in my opinion, they need to strive to regain their position in the league, and that should be their ultimate challenge.”

“There has been a lot of discussion about the club’s model and other related matters. I have gained some insight into the inner workings of the club, and from my perspective, what the fans truly witness is what transpires on a Saturday at 3pm or a Sunday at 12pm. That is the aspect that needs to be executed flawlessly. Undoubtedly, it is a demanding task for him, and I am confident that he is prepared for it,” he concluded.

Michael Beale’s tenure at Sunderland

Beale’s appointment did not initially receive the overwhelming support from fans, which added its own set of pressures for the former Rangers boss even before he managed his first game, resulting in a 3-0 loss to Coventry City on December 23rd.

Despite winning two out of the next three games, the Black Cats suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat in the FA Cup against their bitter rivals, Newcastle United. This was followed by frustrating back-to-back losses against Ipswich Town and Hull City, with the latter resulting in sections of supporters turning against Beale.

However, Sunderland managed to secure four points from their next two games, putting them just one point behind Liam Rosenior’s side, although they have played an additional game.

In their upcoming fixture, Sunderland will host Ian Foster’s Plymouth Argyle, who recently secured their first away win of the season against Swansea City.

The Black Cats will be eager to avenge their 2-0 loss suffered in Devon on November 25th. It is crucial for Beale’s future that his team delivers consistent results and performances, as his job may be at stake if they fail to do so.