Steve McManaman criticizes Sunderland tactics and officiating during narrow Premier League victory over Leeds United

Pundit Steve McManaman hits out at Sunderland's use of towels and long throws during their victory over Leeds United, calling the tactics ridiculous.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 4, 2026, 9:47 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Football365

Tactical frustrations at Elland Road

Steve McManaman voiced strong disapproval regarding the tactical approach employed by Sunderland during their recent Premier League encounter at Elland Road. Despite the visitors securing a vital victory to reach forty points for the season, the pundit argued that the quality of the spectacle was severely diminished by repetitive pauses in play. McManaman highlighted a specific reliance on set pieces and long throws, suggesting that the modern game is being hampered by teams intentionally slowing down the tempo.

The controversy of the towels

A major point of contention for the TNT Sports analyst was the placement of towels around the pitch to assist players with long throw-ins. McManaman mocked the sheer volume of towels provided, noting that at one stage there were more towels visible than actual scoring chances. He found the inclusion of a towel behind the goal particularly nonsensical, questioning its utility for a goalkeeper and labeling the current trend as a sign that the sport has lost its way in pursuit of marginal advantages.

Concerns over match flow and integrity

Beyond the specific use of equipment, the pundit hit out at what he perceived as a broader trend of simulation and time wasting. He claimed that players are frequently faking injuries to secure tactical time outs, a practice he believes is driving fans and former players to distraction. McManaman stated that the current state of the game is not an enjoyable watch and called for football authorities to look closely at how to prevent these frequent interruptions to the flow of play on the grass.