Ciaran McKenna says…
This seems to be both a brilliant and necessary signing.
After Dennis Cirkin and Arthur Masuaku left the club, the signing of a left back became imperative. To be honest, I thought we would buy a cheaper option who would be happy to ride the bench, but the club clearly prioritised bringing in someone to challenge Reinildo.
Reinildo’s performance on Saturday showed his class and I would’ve been happy to go into the season with him as first choice left back — now it’ll be an interesting battle between
Méthalie and Reinildo. For me, Reinildo will start most games as we know Régis Le Bris loves his connections, but after a few weeks of training and matchdays, hopefully Méthalie will force Le Bris into a difficult decision.
Fingers crossed, the dynamic between the two is positive. Méthalie should learn and develop from the top class, experienced Reinildo, and Reinildo should be pushed to maintain high standards with the presence of Méthalie waiting to step in.
Overall, a great signing which makes perfect sense on paper. With Reinildo entering the last year of his contract and not getting any younger, Méthalie should provide an excellent long-term replacement.
Gary Engel says…
If Reinildo’s performance at the weekend is anything to go by, he is not letting his first team place go lightly. We all know how well he played for us at left back last year and was a great free bit of business. Going toe to toe for the starting birth at left back could be epic.
But Methalie’s protracted capture also shows intent in my opinion. His attacking figures show a full back, or at times wing back, ready to take on the opposition defender. That could free our left winger to cause more damage going forward.
Matches, points and Sunderland’s final flourish were all decided by fine margins last season. The manager and club all understand that very well. That’s why they’ve signed Methalie, whose defensive stats show little difference in comparison to Reinildo. But they may be looking at the margin of improvement in the final third, where Methalie could be that little difference in tight games, either starting or coming into matches later on to get more crosses in from the left side.
Malc Dugdale says…
This signing is a real statement for me.
Dennis Cirkin was hoped to be able to step up to the Premier League when we gained promotion, but he didn’t quite make it and had really struggled with fitness for a few seasons, which was a major factor.
The signing and performances of Reinildo were the final nails in Cirkin’s Mackem coffin, and while we always needed cover at left back, the decision to move Cirkin on made as much sense as this signing does.
This new fella is strong, fast, dynamic and carries sacks of potential, giving him the ability to learn and grow alongside not only Reinildo, but also Dan Ballard, Omar Alderete, Nordi Mukiele, Thomas Meunier and even the likes of Trai Hume, Luke O’Nien, Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki, which will only help the lad catapult his development.
I’m pretty sure that Régis Le Bris won’t throw him straight into the starting eleven but he has the profile to challenge for starts very soon (especially with the formation options he enables), and if he wants to fulfil the much-publicised predictions that he could be a regular defender for France very soon, he’ll be super incentivised to achieve that.
It’s not often that I’m super excited about a defender being signed but this lad has it all, and with the aforementioned club mates around him, helping him to adjust and to understand both the football and “getting Sunderland” aspects of our team and how it works, the sky is the limit.
I’m half-hoping to see him against Ipswich this weekend, maybe for twenty minutes as a substitute. Having him running at their tired and newly-promoted defence on the overlap could be a sight to behold and at the other end, I’m very happy he could help retain a solid defensive outcome.
A great signing, providing competition, depth and massive potential. What a coup for Sunderland.
Mark Ryan says…
This seems a great signing on multiple levels.
At the simplest level, left back depth is where it needs to be. Statistical comparisons suggest Méthalie is of a similar profile to Reinildo, with perhaps a little more attacking dynamism. Not only should they be able to seamlessly step in and out of the lineup for each other, but it makes Reinildo available as a depth option at left centre back in a four, and either of them at the spot in a five.
The signing expands Regis Le Bris’ lineup/tactical options in a similar way Thomas Meunier’s does on the right. Reinildo’s presence gives the club the opportunity to be patient with the highly talented but still-raw youngster, and gives Méthalie an excellent professional role model. The push from Méthalie could also spur Reinildo to an even better season.
It was likely coincidence, but the Mozambican was arguably the best player on the pitch Saturday just as the deal was being announced.
