Dan Ballard has heaped praise on Sunderland coach Mike Dodds for what he has been doing ‘behind the scenes’.
Mike Dodds joined Sunderland in 2021 and has had an extremely up-and-down time on Wearside ever since.
The 37-year-old was part of the team that won promotion back to the Championship, but he has also had three stints as interim manager.
Dodds first took over following Lee Johnson’s sacking and lost back-to-back games, before looking much better during his second spell before Christmas – beating both Leeds United and West Brom.
Dodds has now just picked up another four points off the promotion challengers, however the win over the Baggies was only their second victory in his ten games in charge.
Despite a difficult time of it so far this year, the squad have made their appreciation for him very clear and Dan Ballard is the latest to praise him.
Sunderland players really ‘respect’ Mike Dodds
Speaking to Sunderland Echo, the defender said: ““I feel comfortable in that back four, back five. Whatever system we play the gaffer’s tactics are spot on every week, even against Blackburn that was down to the players. He’s a brilliant coach and sets us up perfectly every week. It’s about us keeping our concentration.
“I think he said it himself, the Blackburn game was a learning curve for him, not to come off the players because it was our fault. Even though it was our fault he still took the blame which shows he’s a good coach. We respect him, he’s done really well. He works so hard behind the scenes and it’s nice to be able to deliver some good results for him because he works so hard.”
“I think all the lads had huge respect for him before and we maybe have more respect for him now. He’s had to take on a lot of work himself. He did a lot of work behind the scenes before but now the limelight is on him he’s got that extra pressure.
“I don’t think it will change too much whatever the decision is going forward, but we respect him and like him as a coach.”
Were we too harsh on Doddsy?
Sunderland fans loved Mike Dodds after his tactical masterclasses in December, but he looked a completely different coach when he was given the reins once again following Michael Beale’s exit.
However, the Black Cats have looked much better in recent games and have now picked up five clean sheets in six games.
While they still don’t seem to have their shooting boots on, it does suggest the team’s struggles were mainly down to external factors such as injuries, lack of experience and a lot of uncertainty around the club.
That’s not to say Mike Dodds is good enough to manage us, because he’s not. But it shouldn’t ruin his reputation as a coach, because he clearly wasn’t ready to take on such a role for such a big chunk of the campaign.
No doubt he will continue to do brilliantly as part of the backroom staff for whoever our next permanent coach is.