Fan Letters: ‘We Need To Get Behind The Manager And The Lads’

We need to get behind the manager and the Lads. We've seen what constant change looks like, and it hasn't exactly been a roaring success. New managers, new philosophies, rebuilding the squad every 12 months. At some point, you have to trust the process and give people time to develop. We've spent years demanding a long-term plan, but some supporters seem unwilling to tolerate the patience required to make one work.

Getting Brobbey and Ballard back are big steps in the right direction. Injuries and a harsh hand from the fixture computer have contributed to the position we sit in the table. Yes, the players and the manager could also do better, but something positive is just around the corner.

Let's not end up like the shower up the road, who boo their team off the park at half-time and full-time. We're better than that.

Editor's note [Martin] Thanks for the email Steve. We've all seen what happens when we don't have stability – no one wants to go back to those days. Similarly, I'm sure the vast majority of us want Regis Le Bris to enjoy more and more success here. Change doesn't automatically mean things are going to go well – nor does it mean they're going to go badly. Le Bris staying doesn't guarantee either of those either. We can all see where we need to improve, and the reality is the players' performance hasn't been good enough this season, and neither have results. The ideal is Le Bris is able to change that – the question is how long can the club wait for things to change? I believe the playing squad is more than capable of competing towards the top third of the league, and I suspect the club believe that too. So putting sentiment and the past to one side, he needs to start getting results over the next couple of months, or he'll be replaced.

I think Sunderland supporters should give credit where it's due for what Régis has done over the three years he's been with us.

After all, look how long it took Sir Alex Ferguson to get there when he was manager. So come on, supporters, give Régis a chance. He's the best manager we've had in years.

Editor's note [Martin] Thanks for the email Ian. I don't think anyone would fail to give Le Bris credit for what he's achieved in the 2 seasons he's had here. Hopefully he'll turn this situation around – however if a new manager had come in in the summer and the team was producing this level of performance and results he'd likely already have gone. Football moves quickly, it's a results business, you know the cliches, and if things don't drastically pick up soon we'll be in massive trouble. The Ferguson example is relevant, albeit in a different era. But I bet there aren't many Man Utd fans who in hindsight say ''we should have kept big Ron". Sometime change is necessary. I'm hoping Le Bris turns this round, I genuinely am, but he needs results, quickly.