To paraphrase the late warmonger Donald Rumsfeld, there are known knowns, there are known unknowns, and there are unknown unknowns. Over 20 years on, confusion still reigns among the British public as to what the United States Secretary of Defense actually meant (though apparently it is common parlance in the corridors of US power).
The theory of it can be applied to our current ownership group: there are known knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns when it comes to the big decisions they make.
Throughout the last few years, big decisions have been taken regularly with regard to the playing staff, management, and structure within the club. Most have been correct and are undisputedly directly responsible for the position Sunderland currently finds itself in. Without doubt, there has been less success when it comes to, say, Michael Beale, but more of that in a bit.
Since time immemorial, it has been the case that every summer is a big summer for the club; though that’s the case everywhere. When it comes to recruitment, there is no more important factor in how your team will perform the following season, and every side up and down the land lives or dies by their – primarily – summer trading. These are the known knowns to the supporters.
The unknown unknowns are a little murkier. The ones that we don’t really see coming, because we aren’t party to the thoughts and plans of those in power. It’s happened on more than one occasion recently: the departure of Kristjaan Speakman, and then David Bruce, two men who have had a key role in the club’s rise since the ownership group walked through the door a little over five years ago.
Big decisions, for sure – have they got it right? Time will tell – though I would say removing a man who bridges the gap between the fans, the city, and the club almost seamlessly is a major risk, the necessity of which is difficult to justify – his body of work is proof that vision and action can be a potent attribute. Will his successor have these in spades? He or she will be required to be, and unless they are a Sunderland fan, from the city and support the club, it’s going to put them at a bit of a disadvantage because they lack the lived experience Bruce has, the value of which cannot be measured.
I digress slightly, so here’s what’s concerning me: the rumblings that the summer may see Régis Le Bris replaced in the summer. These unwelcome mutterings first reared their head post Brighton, and have done again this week following TalkSport’s tweet that if the club doesn’t get Europe, Le Bris might be removed. Those pesky sources at work, once again, I see.
Now Kyril Louis Dreyfus and Juan Sartori might be willing to make big decisions – and their lives have been steeped in big business and ruthless choices, for sure – however, they would be wise to remember that Sunderland, for all its success this season, are only one bad decision away from big problems. Michael Beale, for example, came in, and this move dragged the club down the Championship table. In many ways, they were lucky to avoid relegation as a result of one duff appointment. The Premier League will not be as forgiving.
Régis Le Bris has done a remarkable job in his two years with Sunderland. To quote Jerry St Clair in Phoenix Nights, he is the compere without compare. To discard his steady hand and meticulous approach would be the worst decision to make at this point.
Yes, there may be those who have a view on Sunderland’s lack of goalscoring, their generally low xG, and the fact that they have outperformed the underlying stats. To those I say, look at the… lying stats – Sunderland are going for Europe with five games remaining in their first season back in the top flight. To expect the club to be doing better than it is right now, well, to KLD et al., I say equip Le Bris with more accomplished strikers to play alongside Brobbey and see what happens.
If nothing else, what message would it send to those on the outside about how the club is run? There must be an allowance for consistency of leadership when things aren’t going right, let alone when things are going as well as they possibly could. To remove Le Bris would be a big step towards being lumped in the same category as basket-case clubs Chelsea and Watford.
So please, do not answer the question that absolutely nobody is asking. To meddle in this way could have very bad consequences. That is a known known. Because as fans, we’ve been there before.
