Sunderland Football Club is in disarray. Phil Parkinson couldn’t find a win if it hit him in the face. This was made apparent after the team’s recent loss against Burton in the league.
It appears that Parkinson isn’t giving up though, as fan account Roker Report shared. They posted a picture of Parkinson’s motivational message to players before one of his October matches. The sign reads ‘forward runs, forward passes’ in an attempt to remind his team how to play basic football. It is something you would maybe expect to see on the walls of a youth team dressing room, however, it is apparently a tactic Parkinson is willing, or desperate enough, to use on professionals.
When fans saw the message they couldn’t believe what they had seen. They suggest that the players are obviously not remembering the message by the time they make it out onto the field. Another singles out Grant Leadbitter, pleading with the midfielder to take special note of the message. They can’t believe it has come to this.
How can you spell ‘sideways’ that wrong? #safc
— Jordan Ramsey (@RamseySAFC) November 26, 2019
That’s in the warm up room… They’ll have forgotten by the time they’ve walked through the dressing room.
— Gary Lawson (@Lawson82) November 26, 2019
Grant Leadbitter should’ve read this.
— SunderLAD (Sunderland Satire) (@LadSunder) November 27, 2019
Who needs an expensive manager when you have a printer and a laminator….
— Peajay (@Peajayp) November 26, 2019
It’s actually that bad
— South Standers (@StandersSouth) November 26, 2019
Do you agree that Leadbitter must complete more forward passes?
Does Leadbitter need to help contribute with more forward passes?
Yes
No
Others proposed alternative messages that might explain the actions of players in recent games.
Lump it forward
Stand and watch— Andrew Malcolmson (@podmundo) November 27, 2019
— cheeses of nazereth (@Cheeses0fNaz) November 27, 2019
“Let the opposition make………..”
— Ross Robson (@rossrobson) November 26, 2019
They spelt hoof wrong
— Stewart (@StewartWright73) November 26, 2019
What do we think?
It is apparent that Parkinson is becoming increasingly desperate. If his spoken words of wisdom weren’t working, it is unlikely that a post-it note on the door is going to achieve anything positive. At Sunderland Football Club, it really is that bad.