Kenwyne Jones can handle survival pressure
Apr 25 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
Kenwyne Jones has been through plenty over the last year but he remains relaxed ahead of a critical relegation tussle in the Black Country. Mark Douglas reports
Jones does, however, play an active part in the “dressing room democracy” that has become part of Ricky Sbragia’s management style. Rather than dictating the standards he expects of his players, Sbragia has challenged them to come up with targets that need to be met to keep the club in the Premier League.
A list of 10 standards that need to be met was compiled and pinned to the dressing room before the Hull game to let the team know what is expected of them. The piece of paper has travelled with the squad to the Hawthorns, where it will provide a compelling reminder that standards hit against Hull last weekend cannot drop.
While such ploys don’t always work it was a tactic that appears to have engaged the dressing room. A day at York races is the reward if the goals are met.
“It’s something that we’ve been doing for a while. Considering this situation we have to take a step back and look at the amount of games we had left and what we needed and what we think is necessary to stay in and that’s what we’ve done and so far we have been on track,” Jones said.
“The next few games will tell us if we’re hitting those targets. Doing the targets made me realise it’s hard to say exactly how many points are required, I don’t think necessarily 40 is going to save you. It could happen that you might need 42 or whatever so we have to try and pick up as many points as possible. We looked at the run-ins for the other teams but you never go what’s going to happen, which is why I don’t study them in too much detail.”
Jones also agrees with some of the other changes enforced by Sbragia, including the decision to drop the overnight hotel stay before home games. “The day before a game you don’t want to be stuck in a hotel. It’s a minor issue but if you have to do it then you have to do it, it depends who is the manager, it’s one of the things that’s been changed and so be it,” he said.
Provided safety is achieved, it will be another busy summer for the club with changes due to take place throughout the club.
Sbragia’s position continues to be the subject of speculation – just as stories continue to surface linking Jones with a move away from Wearside. Spurs retain a interest but Jones treats those reports, which unsurprisingly emanated from North London, with something approaching contempt. Asked by The Journal to clarify his future intentions he put his head in his hands before taking a long, frustrated sigh. “Jesus,” he exhaled. “For the record we have five games to go and are trying to stay in the league. If I had known what will happen tomorrow I probably might have told you but I don’t know.”
To Sunderland supporters worried that sounds non-committal, he also clarified the long-term goals he wants to achieve with the Black Cats. Having penned a long-term contract in January, he believes the club are capable of progression next term.
“You don’t want to be fighting relegation every season but who is to say next season we can’t finish fifth?” he said.
