Dick Advocaat has won only one game – out of two – since succeeding Gus Poyet at Sunderland but, with that victory coming against Newcastle United, it is no surprise there is already a clamour to keep the Dutchman at the Stadium of Light beyond the end of his two-month contract.
Sunderland’s hierarchy have made their intention to recruit a new coach this summer plain but Advocaat knows possession is nine tenths of the law and seems rather pleased supporters have begun lobbying for a contract extension.
“I’m not being arrogant but this is a normal situation for me,” said the much travelled 67-year-old former Holland manager, whose side host Crystal Palace on Satuday. “At the clubs I have worked at and with the prizes I have won it is normal for the fans to think that way about me.
“We will wait and see with my situation but it’s good to be back in club management. I’m enjoying every minute of this. I enjoyed last Sunday, the fans were unbelievable. Hopefully it will be the same against Crystal Palace.”
He is suitably wary of Palace’s counterattacking capabilities on their travels. “They are hard-working and very opportunistic,” said Advocaat. “They get a lot of players behind the ball and counterattack. They have beaten many clubs away [five]. We have to be clever.
“We have to [stop] thinking about Newcastle any more – I have told them that – because we have in principle five games in which we have to escape relegation.” Their last two are at Arsenal and Chelsea.
The Palace game is further spiced by the fact that, while in charge of Newcastle, Alan Pardew lost his last four derbies against Sunderland. Palace’s manager will be keen to change that narrative and, as a paid-up member of the Pardew fan club, Advocaat is not underestimating him.
“Alan Pardew is an excellent coach,” he said. “I met him once in Spain when he was with Charlton, they were in Marbella training. We talked. He was a nice man. I liked him and from that moment I started following him. In my opinion he did a great job at Newcastle and he is doing a great job now.”
Advocaat, though, has a special weapon he intends to deploy against Palace. Despite the unseasonably warm weather Wearside is currently enjoying, the winter scarf he wore during the 1-0 win against Newcastle will be making another appearance. “I will wear my brown scarf,” he said. “It is more successful than my grey one.”
