Kevin Kilbane discusses the different moods at Sunderland and Newcastle.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
Sunderland are on the verge of relegation after another poor result, losing 3-0 at home to Manchester United.
The Black Cats have been up against it all season and rarely has a week gone by when they are not sitting in 20th position.
They have picked up just one point from their last six games, real relegation form, and it seems unlikely they will turn it around.
BBC Sport pundit Kevin Kilbane worked under David Moyes at Everton, but believes his former boss did Sunderland a disservice with negative talk about fighting relegation back in August.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
Kilbane compared the ‘flat’ atmosphere at Sunderland to the buoyant one at Newcastle when they brought in Rafa Benitez.
He said: “You could argue that Moyes was just being realistic, but he has not really done much to win the fans over with anything he has said, and that is the biggest difference between his situation and Rafael Benitez’s at Newcastle after they went down last year.
“There was a real positivity about Benitez when he was appointed in March 2016 and, at the end of the season, the fans were right behind him, saying the club had to persuade him to stay. They did, and they are reaping the rewards now.
“If Moyes is going to turn things around, then he needs to change the mood around the club, especially in the stands.”
It could be too little too late for Moyes however, having bought poorly and led an uninspiring season, it is tough suddenly to make a big U-turn in terms of attitude.
It is hard to see him lasting next season if Sunderland do not have a strong start in the Championship, that is even if he has the appetite to manage in England’s second tier.
Rafa Benitez had it, but Moyes looks like a manager losing his love for the game. After the way his managerial career has panned out since 2013, perhaps it is understandable he is losing enthusiasm, but Sunderland should not be made to suffer his personal crisis.
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