It is worth noting that one social media poll does not represent the full thoughts and feelings of an entire fanbase and there will be variations in thought process and justification from fan to fellow fan but there is no doubting the Wise Men Say’s large response provides a significant snapshot of the mood on Wearside currently, especially when you consider that the response for Beale leaving was close to unanimous.

How did Michael Beale get here and is this backlash fair?

You do have to feel for Beale on a human level. The circumstances surrounding his arrival were not ideal. Sunderland fans

thought they were getting Will Still – the young and exciting Reims head coach or

someone a little left field. Kim Helberg was also mentioned. Rumours of

Sunderland being unwilling to pay compensation to get their first

choice and opting for the out-of-work Beale also counted towards an

underwhelming appointment in the minds of many.

Beale failed at Rangers before joining Sunderland, and the Glasgow club’s impressive win percentage did little to

allay Sunderland supporters’ fears. At Rangers, there are just two things that

count: beating Celtic and winning trophies. Beale received no credit and

accomplished nothing. Fans were willing to give Beale a chance despite their lack

of enthusiasm, but that initial leash is getting shorter by the day.

During the unveiling of his new man, Kristjaan Speakman added that Beale’s training sessions were among the best he

had ever witnessed. With a background spanning from Liverpool and Chelsea,

Beale is clearly a skilled player trainer. However, in light of recent results and

Sunderland’s decline in performance, supporters are rightfully questioning

whether Beale is ready to take the lead at a team the size of Sunderland, given that

his best work has been as a youth coach and as Steven Gerrard’s backup. For

example, Sunderland’s xG in league games has decreased in accordance with

a basic eye test. Since Beale’s appointment, his squad has appeared

significantly worse, and the supporters have noticed.

It also needs to be taken into account who Beale replaced. Tony Mowbray was well-liked by the team’s employees,

players, and supporters. Some were taken aback by his dismissal, and many

expressed regret over the choice. Though there was a vocal portion of the

Wearsiders who supported change, we shouldn’t alter history.

With Sunderland three points out of the play-offs, Mowbray was fired, and it was believed that the head coach and board

were not in alignment. Now that he’s back in management at Birmingham City,

Mowbray has taken Wayne Rooney’s place. He’s had an instant impact,

winning the FA Cup, upsetting Stoke City in the Championship, and drawing his

first league match following a last-minute equalizer.

Any victory for Mowbray will probably be used as a measuring stick to beat his replacement with, given Sunderland’s current record of just two victories in six league games, a draw against relegation hopefuls Rotherham United, and losses to Hull City, Plymouth Argyle, and Coventry City under Beale. It was certainly not ideal to have to issue an apology for his team’s performance during his debut game, a 4-0 loss to the Sky Blues at the Stadium of Light.