Keane Made The Right Decision

Roy Keanes decision to resign as Sunderland manager can only be seen as a positive move for the club and the man himself.

The Black Cats recent record has been worryingly poor, and any suggestion that more time may have been enough for the team to gel just makes no sense. Keane put out a number of different sides in search of a winning formula over the past two months, and each one played with exactly the same problems—namely, ill-advised defensive decision-making and unimaginative attacking play.

This was not just about poor selection on Keanes part; the fact that the same problems reared their heads whenever any Sunderland side was on the pitch dictated that these were problems with the style of play that the manager was trying to enforce; or lack thereof.

Sunderland's fortunes since their return to the Premier League have been indicated by the point in a game when either they or their opposition score. They were heavily dependant on late goals last term, and crashed to some bad results when their luck ran out.

This season, it has been evident that unless they can get a ball over the top of the oppositions back four for Cisse to run onto, or unless Kieran Richardson buries a free kick, they haven't really got much of a plan for attacking the goal.

If they go behind, they don't appear to have any real way of rectifying this, because once a team becomes defensive against them and holds a lower line, they have no way of splitting them open, despite having players such as Malbranque, Richardson and Cisse who are imaginative and capable.

This has to be put down to Keanes inexperience tactically, and this has been the area where the side have been weakest since their return to the top flight.

The team works hard, their attitude is good, and they conduct themselves like decent professionals—this may be Keanes biggest contribution to the side—but when it comes to breaking down organised sides, they and their manager are in short supply of ideas.

It will be good for Sunderland to bring in a manager who can bring some new ideas and, more importantly, organisation to the side, as Zola has done for West Ham recently.

It will be good for Keane to get out of the lime-light and work on his management skills in a less high pressure situation; either as at a smaller club, or as number two at a top flight side.

I believe that Sunderland will survive relegation, as they have quality players who just need to be infused with a battle-plan to win games. I also feel that Keane will be a better manager when he is able to develop the tactical skills to go along with his attitude and mentality, and his ability to infuse a team with both.

This would not have possible at Sunderland, and thus, I feel that the right move has been made for both parties.