The Sunderland stalwart is producing another excellent campaign but a recent position shift has sparked debate
Régis Le Bris is reviewing his Sunderland set up as the Black Cats prepare to return to Premier League action against Fulham on Sunday.
Le Bris’s side are looking to respond to their first back-to-back league defeats of the season against strong opposition in Arsenal and Liverpool, having booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a win over Oxford United. Sunderland will likely again be without Granit Xhaka and Bertrand Traoré, with Le Bris regularly using Trai Hume in a more advanced role in the absence of the latter. While it has produced some good team performances and results, most notably in the crucial home wins against Crystal Palace and Burnley, it is a move that has divided opinion amongst fans.
Le Bris defended the change in the aftermath of the Liverpool defeat, explaining how Hume’s role had helped bring out the best in Nordi Mukiele as an attacking full back. However, he conceded that Sunderland needed to keep evolving in order to keep the opposition honest. The Sunderland head coach also pointed out that in their first home defeat of the season in the league, his team had faced a very strong and rapidly improving opponent.
“Trai played many times in this position and Liverpool were strong, to be fair,” Le Bris said.
“They were better, the second [time] we played them compared with the first. We have different options, not many right wingers at the minute, but this set-up worked well in the past. Obviously the opponent, with video analysis, can now manage our strength and so we have to evolve.
“Probably, it wasn't the best game for our right side against Liverpool but it wasn't only Trai alone. It's a question of connection but, so far, they worked well together. It gives the opportunity for Nordi to use his power and strength to exploit wide areas, compensated by Trai. Now, it wasn't enough to surprise Liverpool.”
Le Bris has the option to play one of his more natural wingers on their weaker flank, but the head coach says it is not as simple as improving his team’s attacking output by going down that route. However, strong performances from Romaine Mundle, Chemsdine Talbi and Jocelin Ta Bi at Oxford will clearly come into his thinking ahead of Fulham’s visit to the Stadium of Light this weekend.
“Yeah, probably it's not so easy [as creating more chances by picking two wingers],” Le Bris said.
“We have, I think, talented young players, but this league is relentless. They had opportunities through different games, it wasn't just one or two. They struggled as well, which is normal, I repeat, because they need time, support, and they need to go across different experiences, often tough ones, to get better.After that, you have to find a balance between the offensive part of the game and the defensive part.
“We conceded only one goal, but I think it could have been heavier because Liverpool were strong with the ball. So if you are not balanced, maybe you might say create more, but you can be more exposed as well. So it's always a question of balance. At the end of the game, we can't rewrite the story because we can't play twice. It's done, but so far this set-up worked well.”
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Dennis Cirkin on Jocelin Ta Bi’s promising Sunderland cameo
Ta Bi made a promising debut from the bench in Sunderland’s win at Oxford, going close to scoring and displaying his impressive dribbling ability.
Left back Dennis Cirkin says the extra depth for the squad is a big positive moving into the final months of the campaign: “He's progressed into training with the group quite recently and I thought he was outstanding today.
“He showed his 1v1 ability, quick to second balls, so that's brilliant for us. He's another winger that's tricky and can add to our squad, so I'm excited to see more of him and go up against him in training.”
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