With all the fanfare in the international break of Jurgen Klopp's arrival at Liverpool, it has largely gone unnoticed that Sam Allardyce has returned to Premier League management with Sunderland.
Martyn McFadden is the editor of Sunderland fanzine A Love Supreme. He joined Joe on Off the Ball's Football Show last night to speak about the Wearside club and whether Allardyce will be able to keep the Black Cats in the Premier League.
Allardyce is the eighth permanent manager at the club since American Ellis Short became chairman in September 2008. It is the fifth season in a row that Sunderland have changed managers during the Premier League season.
"Everyone seems to be happy", according to McFadden about the Allardyce appointment. The former West Ham manager was the first choice for the job with Nigel Pearson also considered. Last seasons Leicester City manager had "dodgy sides to him" which may not have helped his candidature.
Sunderland have conceded 18 goals in eight league matches so far. McFadden has called the defence, "the slowest centre half quartet probably in the history of football" which includes John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Sebastian Coates and Younes Kaboul.
"John O'Shea certainly plays better for the Republic of Ireland", McFadden told Joe but added that it is easier to play well when not constantly organising the defence. He also said a quick centre half was badly needed.
McFadden also spoke to Joe about the discipline issues in the squad, and how a constant turnover of managers "is not very good for stability". Current Ireland manager Martin O'Neill "was sacked too early" at Sunderland
"We keep getting good managers in, sack them and they go on elsewhere and do alright."
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