I have ZERO inside knowledge, but basing my theories on the public behaviour of all those involved, and judging their characters on past actions, I simply do not buy the idea that Tony Bloom and his employees concocted a gross misconduct charge against our best manager for a generation in order...
Regardless of all the legal stuff, we'll find out a lot about Gus's true character if/when he gets the Sunderland job.
Much more media scrutiny, big expectations ... no longer the big star at a "little club", but a Championship manager being thrust into a Premier League job and expected to save...
A fair reflection of what JB was saying, I think. He wasn't suggesting that players weren't trying, more that a change of manager does unsettle players, especially if they were happy under the previous regime.
Most of us must have been in similar positions in our own places of work. Takes time...