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Dear Roker Report,
I believe Trai Hume is a very good full back but I don’t think he’s good enough to play in midfield.
Hume has started thirty two league games — nineteen at full back — and we’ve taken twenty seven points from those games. He’s failed to start only four games and we have nine points from those games. He’s started thirteen games in a ‘hybrid’ position, and we have twelve points from them.
If we look at those ratios over a season…
As a full back: 54
As non-starter: 85
As a ‘hybrid’: 35
So borderline European
place, champions or relegation fight.
Are we not data-driven?
‘Til the end
Jim Wales
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Jim. Thank you for your letter.
I think you raise an excellent point and it’s obvious from the tone of your letter than it’s not a criticism of Hume’s ability but more a question of where he’s most effective and can have the greatest influence on the team — and that’s undoubtedly at full back.
The fact that he’s willing to move into different positions for the good of the team is commendable and says a lot about his character and his attitude, but I’d definitely like to see him enjoy an extended run at right back at some stage.
We all know what he’s capable of and how important he can be there, but I also understand that Régis Le Bris does have to make tough calls from time to time, so it’s always a bit of a balancing act.
Dear Roker Report,
As the season draws to a close, we can all be proud of the Lads and what they’ve achieved this season.
Most so-called pundits predicted eighteenth or below, but how wrong were they? Home form is the key and remaining unbeaten against the top three at the Stadium of Light is no mean feat.
Last Saturday against Manchester United was the best we’ve played in 2026 — with the exception of not putting the ball in the net. Scoring is the object of the game and if we’re to kick on next season, we need to find at least one striker who can score fifteen-plus Premier League goals.
Not an easy task but if we had someone who could, we would be in the top eight and pushing on into the top six — we’re that close.
Haway the lads!
Mark
Ed’s Note [Phil]: Hi, Mark. Thank you for your letter.
I fully agree with your assessment of our season as a whole and our performance on Saturday — we played very well and as you say, had our finishing been a touch sharper, it would’ve been another superb result for the Lads.
I’d definitely like to see us add more firepower up top for next season, ideally in the form of a speedy striker or two who could perhaps play off Brian Brobbey and make the most of his incredible hold-up ability, but the good thing is that we are creating the chances and the foundations are definitely there to be built upon.
I’m very confident that the recruitment team will already be looking at potential targets ahead of 2026/2027, so there’s far more to be encouraged by than to feel concerned about, in my opinion.
