Bright debut for Meunier
First of all, as highlighted pretty much every time we’ve spoken about him on the pod, what a specimen of a man. He’s turning 35 in September but popped up all over the pitch in a very bright 45 minutes on his Sunderland debut. He’d press high alongside Hume on the right, chase runners and loose balls across the pitch, and bombed down the wing all half.
I think this was a very bright debut. He showed his footballing intelligence throughout the half and linked up well with both Trai Hume and Enzo Le
Fée, looking like a man who has been at the club far longer than five days. Just on the stroke of half-time, he thought he had opened his account with a debut goal too. Reinildo and Nilson Angulo linked up nicely on the left wing before the latter laid the ball off to Granit Xhaka for a typical deep, first-time cross on his left foot, in which Meunier continued his run deep and nodded home well, but Angulo was correctly adjudged offside in the build-up.
Régis Le Bris confirmed in his post-match interview on the club’s socials that both Omar Alderete and Nordi Mukiele carry minor injuries and “should be available for the beginning of the season”. If not, I have no doubts Meunier will be able to step in at right-back and perform well.
Hume – Sunderland’s right winger?
There has been quite a debate on Sunderland socials since Trai Hume started playing on the right wing last season. Is it his role? Is he ineffective in attacking areas? Will he contribute in the same way a natural right winger would? Well, for me, he was our main attacking threat.
When Hume plays on the wing, he isn’t really a right winger. One of the reasons why we signed Meunier in the summer over Lutsharel Geertruida (apart from the obvious) is that he is a very accomplished attacking full-back, akin to Mukiele. Hume then naturally drifts inside, like he does when he plays in defence. He adds a different dimension that allows us to overload midfield and aided today specifically in how we dominated midfield and dictated the tempo of the match, despite playing a Champions League team abroad.
But far more than that, he also proved today his attacking instincts. He headed in the opener with a great poacher’s finish that Wilson Isidor himself would be proud of. The cross came from the near side, towards the near post where he is backpedalling, looking away from both his marker and the goal, yet still had the time to scan the goal, determine his position and then do well to head through the ball using his neck muscles to shift the direction of the ball entirely back towards the near post. Even before this, if not for an awkward bounce, Hume could have easily opened the scoring earlier in the first half when he hit the crossbar with a first-time volley from outside the penalty box.
We still need an elite, left-footed right winger, but I can envisage Hume starting there at Ipswich. He will be trusted by Le Bris to come in for those games where we will be expected to be on the back foot.
Riggy’s creative cameo
Chris Rigg was one of an unlucky few who have found themselves on the bench with the return of our World Cup stars. He’s had his most productive pre-season at Sunderland since making his way into the first team, and has arguably been our standout performer across the five games so far.
He replaced Nilson Angulo not long after the hour mark, and immediately made an impact from the right. One cross from narrow was well cleared by the Lens back line, but just a minute or so later he played an inch-perfect ball right onto Hume’s head for the opening goal. He pressed highly and effectively, often forcing Lens into touch or into a mistake alongside the rest of our attacking quartet working well in tandem. Then, late in the game, he lofted a first-time chip to Talbi in space with a really exquisite touch – which led to the second goal.
I feel a bit sorry for Rigg; it is so hard to push out any of Xhaka, Le Fée or Sadiki from midfield, but right now he is probably the first name to replace any of them if they have a poor game or pick up an injury.
Blueprint for European away games?
Lens are a good side. They finished second in the league last season behind PSG and even led Ligue 1 for 10 weeks. They won the Coupe de France and have qualified for next season’s Champions League. This could have been a blueprint for some upcoming away games in the Europa League for us next season.
It seems that Régis Le Bris is trying to potentially evolve our style of play. We saw early evidence of this last season after attaining 40 points, with us playing less and less in a rigid low block, and having more possession than the opposition in four of our last six matches in the league. Away from home in Europe, teams who control the game and dictate possession tend to be more successful. There will still be phases of backs-against-the-wall defending, but we’ve just genuinely dominated a game against UCL opposition.
I can’t remember a proper big chance Lens had. They had a few pot shots from range, but overall, none of Roefs, Ballard or O’Nien were particularly tested thanks to the dominance our midfield trio showed throughout, regardless of personnel. This could be a great litmus test for how we can approach these games away, competitively, in Europe (mad sentence still, isn’t it?).
Angulo or Talbi on the left?
I may be a bit swayed by Chemsdine Talbi’s impact upon his return from World Cup duty, as his pace, energy and assist for Isidor’s clever finish at the end were outstanding, but this was a bit of a weird performance from Nilson Angulo.
The Ecuadorian linked up really well with Reinildo on the left in the first half before being shifted over to the right in the second and made some really promising runs, driving us on down the left. However, on numerous occasions his final ball and pass just wasn’t on point.
One particular occasion which highlights this well was when he broke in behind, showing some good tenacity to jump on a loose ball after losing it in a duel just inside the box. After this, though, when in space, he should have just shot at goal. Instead, he seemed stuck in two minds and tried to play in Brobbey and air-kicked the ball.
Angulo is unfortunate with the timing of his injury just after joining last year, impeding his development, but right now, that left-wing spot is likely Talbi’s to lose.
