Dan Harrison says…
Despite the comments from Le Bris, I don’t think either of the two make it into the squad for Saturday’s game.
Le Bris has always played his cards close to his chest and so whether either player was truly fit enough to start, he’d probably not want to reveal and potentially give Wolves any advantage. Having said that, Dan Ballard comes in for me as a straight swap with Omar Alderete, but the decision around Noah Sadiki could go one of two ways.
Should Le Bris decide he wants to play Neil alongside
Granit Xhaka and Enzo Le Fée, it’s safe to assume Trai Hume will shift to left back and Lutsharel Geertruida will deputise at right back to help provide some stability & continuity behind Simon Adingra.
In the event Le Bris prefers either Dan Neil or Geertruida in that additional midfield role with Chris Rigg and Xhaka, we see Arthur Masuaku retain his place in the size to provide width, with Le Fée moving over to the left wing and Le Bris trusting two of our Championship survivors to help protect Xhaka in the middle of the pitch.
Malc Dugdale says…
I’m happy to trust the gaffer to do the right thing.
Ballard is flying so he can start if needed, or maybe we start Omar Alderete and bring Ballard in for the last half hour or more. The coach won’t take any risks, but he also won’t let on what the team will be ahead of the team sheet being issued, which for me a lot of this is about.
For Sadiki, I feel much the same. We have a raft of options — all of whom will be keen to get a chance and take it. If he does a half and we get a lead, maybe we substitute him and use others to see the game out.
I’d like to see Enzo Le Fée in the middle rather than out wide, and it may be a bit too much of a physicality reduction to use both Le Fée and Chris Rigg in the middle, so I’d expect Dan Neil to potentially step up. Anyone alongside Granit Xhaka is a better player, so he’ll help them all shine.
The great thing is the depth of the squad these days is amazing.
As a Sunderland fan I’m used to us playing people out of position and scrambling round for something that may half work.We’re a mile from that and for me we still have enough in the tank to take on Wolves and others, so let’s take this chance to test our depth and squad rotation.
We may have worse issues than this later, so let’s get into these and see what we can do while rotating — like a proper Premier league side does.
Tom Albrighton says…
For me, the suspicion was always these issues were storms in a teacup and the news revealed by Régis Le Bris only firms that up.
That said, and with the tantalising option of giving Dan Ballard a run out whilst he’s in the form of his life, I wouldn’t be against giving Alderete a rest, given the high output he’s given us since his somewhat unexpected debut in the first game at home to West Ham and the hefty travel scheduled awarded to him by virtue of being Paraguayan.
When we have other options, it’ll always make sense to rest and rotate and I think this weekend may be a wise time to do that in this instance.
As for Sadiki, it would completely hinge on how well recovered he is from his ankle knock, but should he train without issue, perhaps he’s in the opposite position to Alderete in which I’m not wholly convinced on any potential replacements in what is such an important game at home to Wolves.
A bit sadistically, I would sooner rest Sadiki in the coming weeks at away games like Chelsea where, should we manage to pick up three points against Wolves would put us in good enough stead to take risks against a side that if we’re honest, we aren’t expected to pick up any points from.
Of course, this all hinges on Le Bris’ assessment and he’z far more qualified than anyone from this fanzine in this field, so whilst I’s be keen to rest one and not the other, I’ll bow to the greatness and wisdom of our very own French Swiftie.
John Wilson says…
It all depends on how much the injuries were taken seriously by the club. As always, I totally trust and back the head coach and staff in whatever is decided. It is becoming apparent that RLB is a master at man – management, as well as a tactician.
If for example, Dan Neil has been ‘given the nod’ that he may be starting, then it would be a big disappointment for the lad, if he was then told his services weren’t needed. We don’t know what’s actually gone on or been known behind the scenes.
If indeed, Alderete and Sadiki are fine (and the media have slightly exaggerated things) then the team needn’t be tampered with. However, if (say) Neil has been primed for action, depending on exactly how fit Sadiki is, Neil may be unlucky not to start. At the least, he should be given 20 minutes or so in the second half. Ballard is a slightly different case, as there could be an argument for starting him anyway, and if Alderete is feeling anything other than match-ready, Dan Ballard should get the nod.
Our squad depth is very good at this moment, so there is no need to rush people back, or take chances with injuries. RLB has always been canny in not giving much away, so it’s difficult to judge his poker skills. He won’t change a settled line-up, unless the niggles are worrying him.
If changes are made, it’s good for the wider squad to be given chances and to show what they are capable of.
