AS a burly Black Country boy faces the music up the road, an Irishman continues to call the tune unchallenged at Sunderland.
It seems Roy Keane’s struggle to extract much value from £32 million-worth of summer signings is worthier than Sam Allardyce’s bid to get the best out of players who cost less than a third as much in net terms.
In the mire the Black Cats may be, but the mud-slingers have yet to target their manager.
There are several possible reasons for this – among them, that national newspaper sports desks aren’t too fussed about Sunderland, and that some journalists still seem scared of Keane.
Despite the grim reality of Sunderland’s situation, the man maintains an aura.
