Phil Parkinson came under significant criticism when he decided to transfer list Aiden McGeady and banish him from the first-team, but Ian Holloway has suggested it was the right move to make.

What did he say?

The Grimsby Town manager may have a point, too, as a quick examination of Sunderland’s results since that decision suggest it was the right call to make, with the Black Cats unbeaten in eight matches.

Looking back it is even more impressive when one considers that Parkinson had just two wins from 12 games under his belt at Sunderland at that point [12/12/19], and that means the move could have backfired and perhaps even have cost Parkinson his job.

Instead, his players have bought into what he has implemented, and Sunderland are now well placed to make a push for the automatic places in the 20 games they have remaining.

Speaking to EFL on Quest, as reported by the Chronicle, Holloway said:

“If anyone, no matter if he has the most skill and is the best player, if he isn’t going to use it correctly then the manager is not going to put up with it.

“You get paid to make those big calls and people are quick to jump on you if you get them wrong so let’s give Phil the credit he deserves.

“For me he has got it right if you look at his results since. He is trying to mould the team to play and represent the values he believes in. If he thinks he has made the right call then you have to back him.”

Watch Sunderland Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Big turnaround

The decision to remove McGeady could end up proving the pivotal turning point in the Black Cats’ season, something that seemed controversial at the time given the Irishman was the top scorer in his side with six goals.

However, as Holloway mentions, it is big decisions that make good managers successful, and Parkinson used his experience and better understanding to make a bold call.

He knew the benefits that could come out of removing a player of negative influence, and now there seems to be a positive spirit and strong mentality in the dressing room.

That is reflected by the fact that the north-east outfit are now difficult to beat, even conceding just three goals in seven matches, though Parkinson’s tactics are also responsible for that, for which he deserves credit.

Removing McGeady from the team was a decision Jack Ross never thought to make, and that shows the differences between the managers, and why Parkinson may ultimately deliver promotion from League One, as he managed with Bolton.

Life after football: Do you know what all of these former players did next?

In transfer news, one Sunderland player has emerged as a target of four Premier League clubs.