Questions Need Answering Roy
You can always tell when a manager is under pressure because you start to hear rumours of rows, talk of tension and the quiet, whispered suggestions of a sacking around the corner.
Make no mistake, Roy Keane is under pressure at the moment after four successive defeats and sure enough Friday brought the first noise about Keane quitting on the jungle drums.
It turned out to be nonsense of course, but it says a lot that, on the same day, other people were putting about a rumour the Irishman was on the verge of being given his P45 by the Drumaville Consortium which has financed chairman Niall Quinn's takeover of the club.
It is difficult to know how much credence to give the anonymous tip offs and Chinese whispers which set the grapevine buzzing, but as a journalist who initially laughed off such a phone call telling me Sam Allardyce had been sacked back in January, you always have to be open to the possibility that something is afoot.
Significantly, while the something turned out to be nothing in terms of Keane - he may have had some sort of strop in training he may not have even been there depending on who you spoke to - there is no question he is facing his toughest examination yet as a manager.
He has, after all, spent a lot of money on a team which is second from bottom in the table and was knocked out of the Carling Cup at home on Wednesday night.
Questions have started to be asked about his track record in the transfer market and while they were only a minority in a crowd of a little over 18,000, some fans have also started to complain about his tactics and substitutions.
Certainly the guy who was screaming down my ear after the final whistle on Wednesday night had something unpleasant to say on the matter, although it was impossible to tell if Keane had heard him, mainly because I was more concerned my hearing had been permanently damaged!
Such is the knee jerk nature of modern football, but Keane has to find some answers. He still gives off the impression he will be a hugely successful manager, but it does not always work like that does it. Look at Bryan Robson!
It would, in my opinion, be absolutely ridiculous to sack him at this stage. The guy has, when you look at the last two and a bit years, done a fantastic job, but football isn't always sane is it?! Keane may have done wonders for the prestige and standing of Sunderland football club, but people always want more and they generally want it immediately.
A win against Blackburn at the weekend will instantly hush the detractors, but the first murmurings of discontent have been heard and once that happens it is impossible to silence them completely - even Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, the two most successful managers in English football, get people complaining about their decisions.
Finally, I must make a special mention to Blackburn midfielder Tugay. The Turkish international is 38-year-old, was the best player on the pitch at the Stadium of Light and celebrated the win with a cigarette while still in his full kit. You don't hear about him in the anti-smoking propaganda do you!? A tab a day keeps the physio at bay!
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Luke Edwards - is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.
As I read the above article - which I largely agree with - I couldn't help think back to a posting you made earlier in the season Luke. You remember, the rather controversial, pre-wedding insanity one? The one in which you heralded Mr Keane's fine summer signings and posited the view that S*****land now had a far superior squad to Newcastle? Ringing any bells?
The comment that seemed to wind most Mags up the most was your claim that we should be looking at transfer events down in old S*****land town - 'cos we all know it's not a proper city- with envy.
At the time, I said that I'd rather have a couple of cracking signings - Jonas and Fab - rather than a load of average ones. I also predicted that it wouldn't be long before Chimbonda was up to his usual tricks and crossed Mr Keane, with consequences for the player's future. Nostradamus I am not - any football fan could see the writing on the wall. Keane has bought some quality; but he's bought even more sh**e.
Never too late for a retraction Luke, old son. But I won't hold my breath.
You appear to have been spot on with Chimbonda and Keane has certainly had his work cut out trying to find his best team, but I'd still bet Sunderland will finish above Newcastle this season with the squad they've got. You can't possibly tell me you're happy with Newcastle's transfer business in the summer.