Dan Neil, a midfielder for Sunderland, talks about his role on the team and his chats with head coach Michael Beale.
Dan Neil thinks Sunderland head coach Michael Beale, who has worked with some of the top midfield players in the game, has a lot to teach us.
After stints at Rangers and QPR, Beale joined Sunderland less than a month ago as manager. The 43-year-old was Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Rangers (before Beale rejoined the team) and Aston Villa in addition to serving as an academy coach at Chelsea and Liverpool.
Neil responded, “I had a good conversation with the gaffer,” when questioned about his private discussions with Beale. “I believe I was among the final people called in to go talk to him. I like our chat and his thoughts. He was clearly sharing with me his experiences, including his time spent working in Brazil and the excellent athletes he has taught.
“I was simply trying to pick apart a few details. He was, without a doubt, England’s best midfield player and his longtime assistant. That’s great for me because it allows me to pick apart what a lousy manager he was, but maintaining the same mindset and personality. The talk was incredibly enjoyable, and I’ll just keep trying to get better.
In spite of Sunderland’s recent 2-1 loss to Ipswich, Neil is relishing the opportunity to represent his childhood team. Neil said, “How can I not be enjoying it?” “We’re playing extremely good football, and I’m playing for the team I’ve always wanted to play for. Instead of losing on a terrible set-piece goal tally of 2-1, we just need to find a way to win. I’m sure I’ll like it even more if we accomplish it.
In recent seasons, Neil has also modified his style of play, frequently moving into a deeper midfield role with more defensive responsibilities. The 22-year-old said, “It’s something that I’ve kind of had to develop.” “I was pretty much only on the ball and wasn’t really engaged in the defensive aspect of the game when I first broke into the first squad. It’s not like it happened by accident; in League One, I was dropped from the team for that very reason. It’s something I needed to improve in order to rejoin the team.
