Sunderland concern raised after Regis Le Bris announcement on Thursday
Regis Le Bris has rightly received acknowledgement for his start to the season as Sunderland boss.
Two wins from the opening three games saw Sunderland make Premier League history, and after such a positive summer window, things are looking bright on Wearside.
Fifteen new arrivals checked in at the Stadium of Light over the course of the summer, with Le Bris the man tasked with gelling them together to form a squad capable of surviving the drop.
So far, so good for the Frenchman, who was involved in an announcement this week that certainly raised alarm bells on Wearside.
Regis Le Bris nominated for Premier League Manager of the Month
Alongside the likes of Arne Slot and Enzo Maresca, Le Bris was nominated for August’s Premier League Manager of the Month award.
Typically, fans would see this as a good sign. Your manager is being recognised for achieving something special throughout the campaign, but Sunderland fans have a very different outlook.
Whenever a Black Cats boss has been nominated for a similar award, a wretched run of form has followed, which, for Sunderland, would prove costly this season.
Albeit in tongue in cheek, Sunderland fans were quick to opt against voting for Le Bris, in fear of that “curse” repeating itself again.
One fan explained how the Frenchman “definitely deserves” the reward, but will not be getting their vote, while another supporter said it is the “kiss of death” to be nominated.
Sunderland enjoying life under Regis Le Bris
Since returning to the Premier League, Sunderland have accumulated six points from the opening three games, with home wins against West Ham and Brentford.
They have already matched the total number of wins achieved by Southampton last year, showcasing just how much more competitive they are likely to be in the Premier League than many of the recently promoted clubs.
Le Bris’ tactical setup earned promotion, but has seen the Black Cats transition seamlessly into the top flight, albeit there is still a very long way to go.
If the Frenchman wins the award, it will certainly be deserved, though it will come with the fear of the curse that many Sunderland supporters dread.
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