This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Lee Cattermole has spoken of a key failing of David Moyes during his spell as Sunderland manager, and thinks it was critical in the Black Cats’ relegation from the Premier League in 2017.
What did he say?
Sunderland were a disaster under Moyes as they tallied a points total of just 24, and though some may believe their relegation was a long time coming, having struggled in the years previous, Cattermole thinks otherwise.
Under Sam Allardyce, Moyes’ predecessor, the club appeared to be moving in the right direction and had the makings of a good squad, but the former Black Cats captain points to the changing circumstances of four key players as the main factor behind their decline.
Younes Kaboul, Yann M’Vila, Lamine Kone and Wahbi Khazri had performed well under Big Sam and each was instrumental in the club’s success that season.
However, Kaboul and M’Vila didn’t remain at the club, whilst Kone was alienated as a result of a failed move to Everton and Moyes didn’t favour Khazri, which was disastrous according to Cattermole.
Speaking on the Roker Report podcast, as reported by the Sunderland Echo, he said: “Losing Younes Kaboul was huge, he was such a big player for us at the time in terms of helping the French boys.
“For Younes to leave the club was massive and obviously Yann M’Villa. Wahbi Khazri didn’t play much after that and these were all massive players for us the year before.
“Obviously, [Lamine] Kone we had a load of drama with the potential move to Everton. These were tough things going on at the club and unless they’re managed really well, it’s going to affect people.”
Unfortunate circumstances
Cattermole was a leading figure in the dressing room at the time, and although injury prohibited him from playing often, it is fair to assume his knowledge of what contributed to the club’s failings that year is as good as anybody else.
And from what he says, it is fair to say that Moyes didn’t have the rub of the green.
To lose such important players in one way or another is a difficult hurdle to overcome for any manager, and though his management of Khazri was his own doing, he could do little to prevent others departing.
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As a result, his team suddenly lost a commanding figure in Kaboul, and the key to the midfield in M’Vila, who had achieved a pass accuracy of 81% during his spell in the north-east.
Moyes should, therefore, be granted some sympathy, as it wasn’t like he had resources to amend the situation either, instead having to perform under pressure and in trying circumstances.
