Out Out Out!

That's right, after four games this season and one point it's only natural that Alain Perrin's future should be on the line and that some fans are calling for him to be sacked. Because of course he's had a fair crack of the whip! Having had his new team together for all of two weeks (and possibly with one or two additions still to come) it's perfectly natural that it's time to consider his future. Booooo! You're rubbish! Get out Perrin!

And there goes sarcasm mode.

I could easily go on a very long and angry rant about this particular subject; how truly pathetic it is that fans can be so fickle to have turned on the man already. And based on what? Admittedly we haven't had the best start to the season, points wise, but anyone who thinks we've been playing badly is deluding themselves. We're a finisher away from being a mid-table side, have played some decent stuff and have been unlucky to be punished by individual errors so far. So what else are people so unhappy about?

- Supposed tactical issues (like bringing off O'Neil for a striker; not that that's got anything to do with changing formation of course - oops, there's sarcasm mode again)
- Supposed communication issues because Perrin doesn't speak the best English (ignoring the fact a fair few of our players don't have English as their first language anyway)
- Supposed dressing room unrest (supported by the likes of Micky Quinn, who undoubtedly knows all due to... er... no, there really is no reason why he'd know anything)
- Supposed sale of best players (even though the likes of Yakubu, Faye and Berger wanted to leave, De Zeeuw threw a hissy fit and Shaka and Stone only trained a couple of times a week and are now both injured)
- Supposed problems with replacement signings (because of course it's fair to judge them after four games)

I could also easily point out previous stats about seasons gone by and how pointless it is to make judgements based on a couple of games; the fact that this time last year we were above Liverpool; how in 03/04 Bolton had a shocking start (including a 4-0 defeat at Fratton) before ending up 8th but I'm sure everyone already knows that. How the likes of aforementioned Bolton went seven games without a win last season, and yet no-one was calling for Allardyce's head. How Spurs indulged themselves in a similarly pitiful run and yet Martin Jol's job was never called into question. How Everton are only a place above us and yet for some reason no-one talks about them as relegation contenders, yet supposedly according to some of our fans showing the legendary Division One relegation scrap Dunkirk spirit we're already as good as down.

No, I don't need to point that out because it's pretty obvious.

Suffice to say that having seen every game so far this season (admittedly no particular achievement since we haven't played many but stick with me here) I've seen more than enough to think we won't be in trouble come May, but say we did sack the manager tomorrow morning just to make some people happy (as if it would; they'd just start complaining about managerial upheaval anyway). But who comes in? Suggestions, please e-mail me. I'm sure I'll get the same amount of replies as I did when I asked for people to admit if they'd booed Karadas or not. Please also e-mail me and tell me how many clubs you know who do well when they go through managers every six months, like our neighbours down the road. Didn't they do well after going through three in a season! Also feel free to tell me which famous Scottish manager went through a barren spell of nearly five years and yet now is regarded as one of the best in the game, been made a Knight of the Realm and won enough trophies to secure a place in the record books.

Thank God he never became Portsmouth manager. One defeat and it would've been time for him to go too.

Still, like I said, I'm not going to go on an angry rant about it. And just to clarify, I'm not saying he's a good manager. I'm not saying he's a bad manager. I'm not saying we won't threaten Sunderland's lowest points total and I'm not saying we're getting to Europe. I am saying that it's ridiculous to try and make assumptions at this stage.