21 Aug 2026 20:03:16
Kinnear publicly said that TFG were disappointed with last season and deemed it a failure, and Moyes has now had his say:
"I am surprised they were disappointed because I don't think anybody set out, there was never ever a time anybody said to me: 'David you have to make Europe or you have to be in and around the top end'.
I think everybody wanted to make sure that we moved into the new stadium safe not having too difficult a season and we certainly done that last year."
Kinnear also identified qualification for European football as a target for this season, and Moyes has now basically said that our expectations are lower than this and that we are not yet at the same level as the clubs qualifying for Europe:
"I have been in it long enough, I am experienced enough to know what it looks like and what you really need to get to become a team challenging for Europe and I still think we would need to buy more if we want to become one of those teams."
Now, to me, this sounds like someone who is far too negative about where our club should be aiming.
I don't expect Moyes to come out and say that we're guaranteed European football, but surely he should be demanding more from his players and pushing them to believe they can achieve those league positions. Instead, the message seems to be that we're not ready for Europe, we need to buy more players and that finishing comfortably in mid-table is enough.
I just find that mentality concerning. We should be trying to build towards becoming a club that challenges for Europe, rather than seemingly accepting that we're currently a mid-table club and setting our expectations accordingly.
21 Aug 2026 20:27:44
Totally agree.
That's not a statement of intent of a great leader who's driven to succeed and push his squad to achieve the highest standards.
Sounds like he's going into the fight with a white flag in his back packet.
He needs to get some passion and desire in him! If he doesn't, get someone in who will do this.
Very disappointing read that was.
21 Aug 2026 20:41:22
Genuinely felt like Moyes' interview sounded like a man who is not enjoying what he is doing. Sounded almost depressed - did not fill me with confidence at all.
21 Aug 2026 20:55:47
Just watched the presser. It doesn't read well as the OP has printed, yet, seeing it, it gives off a totally different feel. He is clearly linking where the squad is today and not where he expects the squad when the window is closed. He is applying polite pressure to the owners to support the rebuild. He clearly stated the squad isn't today capable of Europe, as we are, in his words, 'short of where we were last season and I expect several new faces not just a RB'.
Is this another swipe at DM that's unfair? By the anti DM mob? I think so.
It's ultimately the guy with the cheque book who is responsible for supplying the players, and it's correct that the manager (whoever he is) states to the press where he sees the squad in comparison to the questions asked. Sounds like DM is expecting and calmly demanding several new players, especially if the owners, fans and journalists are applying expectations to improve last season with a qualified spot. I thought he was, as usual, open and honest. All I ever want from a manager.
21 Aug 2026 21:00:40
Couldn't agree more, lads, with your posts. He did sound negative and disinterested when the topic came up with tfg. Disappointed with not trying to push for Europe last season, and he's saying stability sounds like total lost of communication and objectives.
21 Aug 2026 21:46:27
I thought the comments about Europe were absolutely ridiculous.
Sure, before a ball was kicked, Europe may not have been the target, but from the position we found ourselves in, we should have got it.
I wonder if Sunderland owners and fans thought that Europe should be the target, yet look what they did.
Really poor perspective from him, and stinks of the usual knife to a gunfight b******* which was very tiresome in his first stint.
As many in the press have said recently - we are very uninspiring and boring. That will only change when the manager does.
I watched a 2 min clip on SkySports today of Carragher interviewing Iraola. Couldn't be more polar opposite to Moyes. Clearly a deep and meticulous thinker about the game, filled with passion and desire. Ahh, if only.
21 Aug 2026 22:58:47
Moyes said his remit was to keep the club up prior to our move to the stadium, which he did.
It would appear that he feels that the objective for the following season, the first in a new stadium with a clean slate, and a fresh start with an improved squad was to achieve exactly the same goal and avoid the drop. Now I'm sure TFG didn't see it that way. They would've wanted to see progress, and rightly so.
The only person who felt that finishing in the same position and one point better off was progress was Moyes. The season hasn't started yet, and a little positivity would've been nice, but the tone of his press conference and his demeanour were genuinely demoralising even for Moyes.
Then there was his Right Back comment: "who we bring in has got to be better than what we have." We've only got Patterson, and he won't play him.
As supporters all we want before a ball is kicked is a little positivity and something to look forward to. Unfortunately we're not going to get that from Moyes. He was bad enough first time round but he's now taken negativity to another level.
21 Aug 2026 23:12:16
Correct, BN, they were disappointed because of the position we were in with seven games to go, as were all the supporters, I might add.
If Moyes isn't careful, his negative remarks will only pull the team down, and the last thing we need is to start poorly.
Going to be interesting what team he puts out against Palace.
22 Aug 2026 00:02:03
What's the point of taking part in the competition if you don't think you can get into the top 7 or 8.
If Moyes publicly states we're not up to it then maybe he isn't the right man for the job. You keep those thoughts private & do your best to inspire the players & supporters.
I bet Pep, Jose or Anchelotti have never said such a negative thing publicly. Maybe that's why they are serial winners.
UTFT NSNO. ? ? ?