Founded1879 talks to Simon O’Rourke, Sports Correspondent for ITV Tyne Tees and Border, to discuss all things Sunderland AFC, including the recent transfer window, (Plymouth defeat aside) the positive start to the season and the Régis Le Bris’ factor!
F1879: Sunderland AFC saw 9 players arrive with 12 leaving during the summer transfer window. In broad terms how would you rate the club’s overall business?
SO’R: Interesting. Annoying. Hard to judge this soon. Some of it’s very interesting (Aleksic? Humans over the age of 20?) and some of it is intensely irritating. Most people would say the main job was the same job as the two previous transfer windows – to get an experienced battle-ready centre forward. Once again, they failed to directly do that job and that’s really frustrating. As far as exits go, other than Clarke, there wasn’t a single one that upset me (even Ekwah, who I like as a player). In fact I would’ve gone further and streamlined the squad even more. I suppose all in all it was a very on-brand Sunderland transfer window.
F1879: Which summer signing do you think could have the biggest impact this season?
SO’R: Probably Browne or Salis Abdul Samed for their experience. Or maybe someone who inherits the number nine role from Mayenda.
F1879: Which player from the group generally have you been impressed with most thus far?
SO’R: The new signings? Browne is the only one I’ve really seen so far. He’s a deluxe Corry Evans, which is no bad thing. It’s interesting that it’s mostly existing players who’re behind this great start – and on that note, Jobe 2.0 is a different, better and scarier player and Chris Rigg is an absolute joy to watch, but they’ve all been good.
F1879: What’s your thoughts on Jack Clarke leaving both in respect of the fee Sunderland negotiated and whether you feel his replacement is already within the squad?
SO’R: Sad acceptance I think. I’m writing this after Kristjaan Speakman spoke with the press and said they have to allow a pathway for players who outgrow the club. He’s right, and if I’m honest I thought it was time for Jack to go and play in the premier league this season. So then it comes down to the deal and the deal was a bit underwhelming. But honestly, it’s hard to gauge the market. Some Championship to EPL deals (Summerville, Rutter, Odobert) were players who were bought previously as premier league players on premier league contracts which presumably inflated their fee. Spurs think Archie Gray is going to be special, so that’s an outlier. But then there’s deals like Jacob Greaves which make the Clarke fee seem a bit on the low side. Ultimately I think the deal yielded a good profit and was, sort of, OK. As I said, they had to let him go. The plan, the model, is to have replacements in house. Clearly (let’s all just be honest about this now) Mundle was bought to replace Jack Clarke. So far, so good. Like many parts of the model it’s a hard concept to get fans to buy into. But if it works, then OK.
F1879: The Black Cats have the highest number of goals scored and one of the fewest conceded in the Championship so far. What do you think has been the key to this impressive start?
SO’R: Coaching, obviously. But also the group just looks more mature. Part of the model has always been the idea that three years down the line, the young core will have grown up together. Well, here we are, down the line, and we’re starting to see the benefits. There’s also a load of individual things, like the return of Dennis Cirkin (it’s only now I realise how much he was missed). But credit where it’s due, the coaching is clearly spot on so far.
F1879: It feels like a lifetime ago already. But, Sunderland chiefs took an age to appoint Michael Beale’s replacement. What were your thoughts on that protracted search and the eventual appointment of Régis Le Bris?
SO’R: It didn’t do anyone any favours did it. Especially when the “imminent” update came out. But it became clear it wasn’t an easy market and they couldn’t get their first choice. If the Beale debacle proved anything though, it was that doing it right is more important than doing it quickly. Now, I’d be lying if I said I expected the appointment of Régis Le Bris and I’d be lying if I said I’d heard of him beforehand. But I did expect someone of his profile IE relatively unknown, European, a reputation for working well with younger players and a scholar of coaching rather than an old school manager type – and (this phrase is going to come up a lot) so far, so good.
F1879: And, how important do you think the role of Le Bris has been – in broad terms – in maximising performances this season?
SO’R: If you look at it logically, then Le Bris is clearly the most important part of this. Quite simply because he’s almost the only thing that’s really “new”. Browne has played, but it’s not as if this season’s team is full of summer signings. It’s basically last season’s team with a year’s more experience and better coaching.
F1879: Based on pre-season and the early stages of the campaign, have you noticed any significant tactical changes in Sunderland’s play compared to last season, or is the success more about refining their existing approach?
SO’R: He actually spoke about this in response to a question I asked at one of his pre-match press conferences. The question was along the lines of “how well do you think the players are adapting to your plan?” His answer was it’s not really a new plan. He said the framework is similar to how the team has played, in its best moments, over the past two years. The game he referenced was the 5-nil home win over Southampton last season. He said he really enjoyed watching the tape of that game and what he wants is a refined, more consistent, version of that. I do find the tactics and formation side of the game fascinating and I think Sunderland have slightly modified the way they play both in and, especially, out of possession. But I’d argue the front foot aggression, the attention to detail and the increased connectivity of the team is the key to the good start.
F1879: At the time of this interview, Sunderland have outperformed their expected goals metrics in both attack and defence this season. Do you see this as a sign of clinical finishing and strong defensive organisation, or if not are you seeing any underlying niggles that you feel may catch up with them?
SO’R: I buy the strong defensive organisation, definitely. The out of possession side of things has been great and it was encouraging to see how gutted they all were when they conceded the late consolation goal at Portsmouth. But I need to see more of the attack because I’m not convinced they’re clinical enough yet. They’ve scored a lot of goals, but they could, maybe should, have scored a handful more. As for concerns? The cover in the squad at full back isn’t great and I still worry physically big teams like Luton, might be able to bully them from time to time.
F1879: In the main, the Lads have shown more resilience so far this season in closing games out. Do you attribute that to more experience within the squad, better coaching, both or something else?
SO’R: I think the coaching is demonstrably better as we’ve discussed. But I think the big thing here is the group maturing, as I mentioned earlier. Two years ago a lot of this group had little or no football league experience, but Sunderland have essentially grown their own experienced players now. They understand the game better, they understand themselves better and they’re better able to take on board and process instructions.
F1879: Looking ahead, what do you think – in broad terms – are the challenges Sunderland’s squad will face this season, either from within or from teams around them.
SO’R: What happens when they don’t play well? It’s all hearts and flowers and 9 out of 10s now, but when they hit the dog days of two games a week in late November, they won’t always play well. That’s when an experienced striker can burgle you a draw or a win with a bit of penalty box know-how and, well, they are where they are in that department. As for the opposition: I don’t think the top end quality of the Championship will be as good this year, but I still expect it to be hard as hell (as an example, does anyone expect Luton to finish in the bottom three?). I’m a regional correspondent so I will mention I like Boro’s chances. Good squad, good Head Coach. I’m really looking forward to their visit to the Stadium of Light this month.
F1879: Where do you think Sunderland will finish in the league?
SO’R: An unfair question this early into the season! I know this because I’ve been asking people variations of this question at this time of the year for longer than I care to remember. But here goes: they have raised my expectations, but not to the point that I’m ready to predict they’ll trample all over the league. So, higher than I would’ve said pre-season, but lower than perfection, which I guess means I now consider them genuine top six contenders.
Thanks to Simon. Follow him on X.
