Given the start to the season on Wearside, there needs to be a change in personnel or a change in attitude as a short-term fix to the problem. If financial fair play restricts Sunderland in recruiting player’s maybe the best (and the only) solution is to look within. Below we have listed the three players that if given the opportunity, could be surprise packages for Sunderland this season:
Jordi Gomez
A large emphasis this summer was made on rejigging the midfield. With an insistence on play 4-3-3 this left two spots available to sit either side new team captain Lee Cattermole.
Yann M’Vila was brought in and can compliment Lee Cattermole well with their similarities in the passing and tackling department based on his debut performance this weekend. Unfortunately, this doesn’t solve the main midfield addition required since the start of the summer: a goal scoring midfielder.
Gomez was Sunderland’s top scoring midfielder last season with six goals in all competitions. Despite Rodwell’s nagging problem with injuries, Gomez still manage to keep the former premier league winner out of the team at times. Although often overlooked by fans due to his lack of pace and slow tempo. If utilized correctly in a more advanced role this season where the box-to-box role doesn’t attach itself to him then the potential failure of recruiting a goal scoring midfielder may not be so painful after all.
Duncan Watmore
Duncan’s cameo on Saturday led to him receiving the man of the match award. Not like that was much of an accomplishment given the competition that day. We can only hope this puts him firmly in the manager’s thinking with options on the wing looking thin. His desire and work rate on Saturday as he ran past his own teammates to make tackles speaks volume, maybe more so about the monotonous tone of the home side. At the tender age of 21 and from what we’ve seen thus far it appears his best years very much lie ahead.
Emanuele Giaccherini
With Adam Johnson out for two months and Will Buckley’s future at the club looking bleak. This leaves Sunderland incredibly light in terms of wingers, especially ones who are aware of their defensive responsibilities. Such qualities that lack in a front three full of forwards. Who better than a full international who has a record of performing in a Serie A winning team.
His attitude and strong work rate would be a much-needed addition based on the start of the season thus far. After impressing at times in pre-season, add this to his versatility and pedigree and it is hard to see how he failed to even make the bench against Norwich this weekend. If we see the player that contributed well to the great escape of 13/14 season followed by trust instilled in him from the manager he would be a welcome addition to the side.
Best option: Duncan Watmore
After picking up player of the tournament at the U20 world cup this summer. Add this to the fact he integrated well with the first team over pre season. His attitude given the scenario on Saturday was incredibly encouraging and Watmore stands out as the pick of the bunch for me.
