HATCHET MAN: Tough-talking Sbragia has turned out to be Sunderland's soft touch

Ricky Sbragia continues to prove he is the Premier League managers' equivalent of beige: boring, little-noticed and easily glossed over. After the bold, wild approach of the always red Roy Keane, the current Sunderland manager is his virtually colourless successor. All talk: Sbragia has failed to back up his tough stance earlier in the monthOh, and he appears to be powerless too. After stating quite clearly on January 8 that he 'wouldn't be doing right by the club and I wouldn't be giving myself the best chance of staying in management' if he let his 'best' players leave, the rookie manager added: 'Pascal [Chimbonda] and El-Hadji Diouf have been good. we want them both to stay and that's our intention.'   More from Hatchet Man. HATCHET MAN: Oh dear! Birmingham new recruit Costly is the transfer window's poster boy30/01/09 HATCHET MAN: Officials are getting ref justice as long as the FA reverse their decisions30/01/09 HATCHET MAN: Trouble on Tyneside as Joe Kinnear's foot in mouth disease turns into a nightmare30/01/09 HATCHET MAN: United 1 Arsenal 0: Red Devils are still laughing at ditching French flop Silvestre30/01/09 HATCHET MAN: Shut it, smash it or board it up! League must do something to end transfer window pain30/01/09 HATCHET MAN: FIFA should give Vidic a proper punishment for his red card if the World Club Cup was a serious event29/01/09 HATCHET MAN: Sorry Joe, you're never going to get the sympathy vote at Newcastle29/01/09 HATCHET MAN: Kiss off, Webb: Refs are not the stars of the show29/01/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE  Chimbonda has already signed for Tottenham of course and Diouf is now set to join Blackburn. Sbragia's tough stance must have faded into the background then. Diouf could be set for Sunderland exit after receiving £2.8m bid from BlackburnSUNDERLAND FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET

Source: Daily_Mail