Sunderland show due respect in both team selection and performance
Prior to the trip to Merseyside, Régis Le Bris hinted that his team selection against the Toffees would reflect a desire to take the FA Cup seriously, and that’s exactly what happened when the Sunderland starting eleven was published at 11:15.
This was no mix-and-match Sunderland side or a somewhat lopsided mixture of first team regulars and fringe players that so many top flight sides field during these clashes, but even Manchester City decided to start Erling Haaland up front for their eventual
walloping of Exeter City, so it was heartening to see Le Bris opt for such a strong team even after a gruelling recent schedule.
The likes of Granit Xhaka, Nordi Mukiele and Enzo Le Fée all started, with Dennis Cirkin continuing his run at left back and Luke O’Nien slotting into central defence alongside Mukiele — and the upshot was that Sunderland didn’t simply go through the motions, instead turning in a lively and combative display that was refreshing and good for confidence after one or two leggy recent performances.
If Le Bris has watched the FA Cup from afar over the years with aspirations of managing a team through a good run in the competition, this might well have been the kind of tie he relished: an away trip with a vocal red and white backing, and the Lads repaid his faith by getting back to winning ways after a solid display.
From penalty woe to spot kick success for Enzo Le Fée
Yes, he’s not the biggest player in the Sunderland ranks but he’s certainly one of the most influential and after the mayhem of Wednesday night, a botched penalty and a heap of criticism, the Frenchman was front and centre once again — and how.
After opening the scoring with a classy volley from Eliezer Mayenda’s pass, Le Fée didn’t shirk his responsibilities when the game reached its climax, coolly slotting the ball past Jordan Pickford as one of three successful Sunderland penalty takers and drawing a line underneath his midweek mishap.
Fundamentally, the game shouldn’t have gone to penalties as it was only a refereeing howler and a ridiculous call against Trai Hume that enabled the hosts to draw level thanks to James Garner (not the same man who played Hendley in The Great Escape, as it turns out) but when spot kicks were needed to settle this one, there was never any danger of Le Fée passing up the opportunity as he’s a resilient player who does the business when it matters.
Now, about that sumptuous volley. Why, for the love of God, didn’t he just put his laces through it?!?
Three Everton penalties > three Robin Roefs saves
He’s good. Very, very good.
I’m struggling to recall a Sunderland goalkeeper who’s made such a huge impact during their maiden campaign at this level in the modern era — only Thomas Sorensen really compares, if I’m honest — and Roefs demonstrated his growing status within the side by denying three Toffees’ players from twelve yards when the teams couldn’t be separated after extra time was completed.
His opposite number evolved into a truly world class shot stopper after leaving Sunderland in 2017, but if Roefs continues to progress at this rate, he’ll be within touching distance of that status before the clocks go forward.
£12 million? Absurd, and I’d love to know the identity of his former goalkeeping coach at NEC Nijmegen, because for Roefs to be this good at such a young age and with so little senior football under his belt is a hell of a feat and that guy deserves a lot of credit for it.
Superb.
Sunderland’s wingers find the going tough — food for thought for Régis Le Bris?
For me, Simon Adingra has a greater chance of establishing himself as a top flight wide man than Romaine Mundle (I just can’t shake off my concerns about the former Tottenham winger’s durability, even given his talent and his willingness to shoot whenever he gets a sight of goal) but both lads found little joy on Saturday and the returns of Chemsdine Talbi and Bertrand Traoré are likely to be welcomed.
Adingra has plenty of skill and his goal against Leeds was superbly taken, but he seems to be struggling with weaknesses in his game that often affect young wingers, with an erratic style of play and questionable decision-making currently hampering him. He’s also not the most industrious when it comes to defending, which is something Le Bris places a high premium on.
Whether one or both players leave on loan this window — Mundle’s recently been linked with Rangers — it does feel like a position in which reinforcements would be gladly received and it’ll be interesting to see how the club manages the situation moving forward.
