Reader's Corner: In defence of Kristjaan Speakman

04/01/2025 01:57 AM

The current plight of some former Sunderland players at Carlisle in League Two leaves RR reader Stephen DeCaluwe reflecting on a job well done by 'marmite' Sunderland Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman.

Ever since Sunderland's free-fall from Premier League to League One was broadcast by Netflix for the world to see, the term "Doing a Sunderland" has been applied to any team who suffers back-to-back relegations.

Whilst many clubs around the world have suffered similar dysfunction throughout their history (Luton, the latest Championship outfit to fear this fate, were relegated 3 consecutive times in the late 2000s), the size of Sunderland, syndicated nature of the demise, and sheer lunacy of the characters running the operation means that all who suffer consecutive collapses are painted with a red-and-white brush.

Yet for League Two strugglers Carlisle United, the "Doing a Sunderland" parlance perhaps hits a bit closer to home than most. That's because, for a club with no obvious administrative or managerial links to Sunderland, the similarities between their current squad and some of the worst of the Black Cats' League One years are stark.

Former 30-goal striker Charlie Wyke (for whom supporters pleaded with management to break the club wage structure and meet Wigan's reported £15,000 pound a week offer) captains the Cumbrian-side, although he has been out of action since October injured. Wembley hero Elliot Embleton linked up the Blues in January after a failed move to Blackpool, ousted in Lancashire by past lads boss Steve Bruce. Ex-Rangers loanee Jordan Jones has played a variety of roles, mostly ineffectively, for Carlisle this year after joining from the aforementioned Wigan; while midfielder Dylan McGeouch has been a little used squad player all season. Finally, some previously-highly rated Sunderland academy prospects, including Ethan Robson, Joe Hugill, and Stephen Wearne, have filled out their squad.

Carlisle, who finished rock-bottom of League One in the 2023-24 season, have failed to get going from the off in 2024-25, with ex-Newcastle assistant Paul Simpson quickly getting the sack before being replaced by another former Mag, Mike Williamson. Williamson too was swiftly dismissed, but the arrival of Mark Hughes has failed to get the Cumbrians off the foot of the football league.

The purpose of this analysis is not to punch down on Carlisle, a struggling club but one with a proud history and passionate support. Rather, it is to put into perspective just how strong of a job Kristjaan Speakman has done during his time as Sunderland's Sporting Director.

Speakman is something of a marmite figure among lads supporters. His overall demeanor seems to reek of self-importance to some, and some decisions he has made (most notably parting ways with the ever-lovable Tony Mowbray for Michael Beale), have been criticised and will cause some fans to never again trust his corporate sensibilities.

However, when looking at the overall squad since Speakman arrived, it is impossible to deny the improvements. Speakman's first game after arriving at the club was a 1-0 loss away to Wigan (crazy to reflect on how often the lads brushed shoulders with the Latics for a few years). That day, new manager Lee Johnson fielded a team of Lee Burge in goal, with a back four of Conor McLaughlin, Flanagan, Wright, and Denver Hume. Max Power led the lads out and a midfield with Scowen and Leadbitter, while a recalled from the reserves Aiden McGeady joined Maguire and Grigg in attack. None of those players, at the current stage of their careers, would get into a 2024-25 Sunderland starting eleven.

Meanwhile, Speakman used his first transfer window to bring Ross Stewart to the club for under 500 grand; he would fire the team to promotion and leave for 10 million. Similarly, the next year he took a flier on Jack Clarke; he would leave for 5x the money Sunderland spent on him. These are objective data points to show that Speakman's business has been efficient and increased the sustainability of the club.

For those who would throw all financial prudence to the wind for promotion, consider how much Sunderland has risen in talent and league position under Speakman.

Outside of the prior two examples, it's hard to imagine the Madrox consortium convincing Amad to come to Wearside; nor Jack Ross bringing Jobe Bellingham through the door. While the influence of Regis Le Bris no doubt had a major influence on Enzo Le Fée's recent arrival, it still represents an indisputable increase in talent level when set against the squad prior to Speakman's arrival. Similarly, on an academy level, talents the likes of Chris Rigg and Tommy Watson have potential that dwarfs the ones held by the preceding generation plying their trade in Carlisle.

All of this positive transfer activity and player development has been reflected in on-field success.

While often being accused of signing too much youth, it was some of the veterans brought in by Speakman, such as Alex Pritchard and Danny Batth, who helped finally end the years-long exile in the third tier. The very next year, Sunderland were challenging in the Championship playoffs, and after a down year, the team are right back in the mix again, currently holding the highest league position of any team in England that doesn't have the benefit of Premier League finances or parachutes payments.

This can only be viewed as a massive success considering that the club were 7th in League One, below the likes of Lincoln City and Peterborough United, when Speakman arrived.

In a January 31st, 2021 article on Roker Report titled What will be the legacy of Madrox once there's a change of ownership at Sunderland?, David Holloway wrote "On and off the field we are miles away from challenging at the top end of the Championship." Two years later Sunderland were, and two years after that they are again. The players representing the badge in January 2021, however, are not. They instead find themselves losing a fight they don't really seem interested in winning just to stay in the Football League, getting multiple managers fired with no response, 9 points adrift of Tranmere while the club they once represented challenges recent Premier League sides to reach the promised land. This sharp contrast speaks volumes about the remarkable work Kristjaan Speakman has done on Wearside, and long may he continue to lead the Black Cats toward the Premier League.