How do you go about beating a team like Sunderland? I’m not a football coach, but I would suspect that we need to focus as much on how we play as we do their appraoch. If we were to get sucked into stopping them too much, we might forget that they’re only eleven players and that they’re certainly not unbeatable. I’m looking at the Rotherham and Bolton draws and can see that there’s something in this game if we do a couple of things right.
Firstly, this game is all about our full backs. If McGeady plays, he’s going to terrorise our right back. I’ve heard calls for Aaron Lewis to come in, I think I said something similar on the pod, but if McGeady is going to be fit it’s Neal Eardley we’d need in the side. McGeady is good, he’s tricky, skilful and experienced, but he’s not explosive in terms of pace. In that instance, Eardley’s experience would be of more value than Lewis’ energy. On the other hand, if Gooch plays on the left then I’d plump for Aaron Lewis for the extra pace. The sad thing is, we won’t know who is playing so Michael Appleton will have to second guess.
On the other flank, it’s all about us attacking. Chris Maguire is a good footballer, make no mistake, but he would have to offer protection to Conor McLaughlin. I’m not saying he won’t, but with the attacking prowess we have down that flank I can see it being our best route to goal. McLaughlin is relatively new to Sunderland and makes around 3 clearances and 4 interceptions per game. I think he’s got a lot more to make this weekend and whatever combination we use (Toff / Bruno / Grant, Payne / Hesketh) I think we’ve got a weaker side to expose.
Much will then rely on Tyler Walker making runs near and far post. We can only hope that Joel Lynch and Jordan Willis have not yet formed an understanding; we saw in some early Sunderland matches lapses in communication cost them dearly, I believe Ipswich and Oxford were the beneficiaries. Ross did try some new formations early on, 3-5-2 and 4-4-2, but settled on neither, which may have led to the poor start.
That brings me to another advantage we may have; their fans. I said on the pod this week that a big fanbase can help or hinder and I always feel it’s better to have a small, quiet away following as the home side. When a team visits with big numbers it might make for a great atmosphere, but all-too-often it spurs them on. That might not be the case this weekend.
If we keep it tight at the back, look to soak up their early pressure and play neat football without being too risky ourselves, we might make them restless. Remember, whilst we’re talking this game up as one of our biggest at home in years, they’re coming to a side who were in the non-league whilst they were playing Man Utd and Arsenal. If any game, other than Accrington Stanley, typifies how far Sunderland have fallen, we’re it.
Imagine being a side like them, going away to some godforsaken hole you’ve barely needed to know exists in the past. Now imagine they frustrate you, or maybe even grab an early goal. Players are paid to have the right attitude, but fans? Nobody expects Sunderland’s fans to remain with them if it starts getting tough, not when they’re calling for the manager’s head after a 3-1 win.
That’s pointed out the advantages, but clearly the odds are stacked against us. If they’re not getting luck via one route they’ve got options to switch things around. If it is Lewis and Gooch on one flank and Gooch is struggling to match the pace of our young Welsh under 21, then Jack Ross can call on McGeady. If Charlie Wyke is struggling, £4m Will Grigg might come on, or McNulty who cost Reading £1m a year or so ago. That’s frightening.
I’m not saying we will definitely get something out of this game; I’m just saying it’s entirely possible with the right approach. We’ve seen over the past few years how this group of players, evolving as it has, can raise their game for the big encounters. That’s not trying to say we’re easing off for smaller clubs, but the siege mentality we have amongst the group makes it hard for big teams to come and pick us apart. That image was shattered against Oxford, but who went into that game thinking we’d get beat, not by six but just one-nil? Not many supporters. Who is going into this one thinking we’re going to get even a point? Few, if any.
The pressure is all on Sunderland, we’re on a bad run, they’re a huge club with great resources and a bulging squad and nobody really gives us a chance of winning the game. That is a great starting point to go out and get a decent result if ever there was one.