Patrick Van Aanholt was purchased by Sunderland during the summer transfer window of 2014. Many fans felt that the young Dutchman’s combination of pace and dribbling skill would add a new dimension to Sunderland’s attack. After a first year which established him as a solid first team player, if nothing spectacular, the general consensus around the fans was that Van Aanholt would be ready to help take the Sunderland attacking threat to a new level with his blistering pace, whilst also remaining solid in his defensive duties. Has this been the case this year?
No. Not by a long way.
This year, even in an already-struggling Sunderland side, Van Aanholt has been found out on the left-hand side time and time again. We as fans were looking forward to seeing his acceleration and speed give defenders a torrid time, leading to chances for our experienced, clinical forwards to lap up like pigs at the trough. From extensive observation, it has become clear that Van Aanholt’s pace appears to be his only redeeming quality.
First and foremost in the list of his criticisms is his lack of work rate. It has become clear throughout the season so far that Sunderland this year are a team that lacks quality, aside from perhaps the two main strikers Fletcher and Defoe, who have struck up a fairly successful strike partnership between themselves as of late. In teams such as this, it is entirely vital that the team is hard-working in their approach, as if they do not remain a cohesive unit who work tirelessly, then the lack of skill begins to show and the whole team eventually collapses (e.g. away vs Everton this season). Van Aanholt is not this type of player. In Sunderland’s first game against Leicester, Van Aanholts lack of willing to track back in defence after running at the opposition allowed Leicester, a team exemplifying the term hard-working, to consistently make openings in the Sunderland defence on the left-hand side, which contributed heavily to the 4 goals shipped by Sunderland on that day. This blatant lack of effort was commented on by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher post-match, which began a long line of criticism of the player throughout the season so far. 
Secondly, whilst his pace can help with counter-attacks, an element of Sam Allardyce’s style of play, Van Aanholt has repeatedly lacked the skill required to beat Premier League defenders. Though fast, he often struggles to reliably beat his opposing man, either attempting and getting dispossessed or passing and relying on other team members to do the job instead. This would be less of an issue if the player was defensively strong and put in a shift, but those are only two more problems for Van Aanholt. He also can’t put a decent ball into the box to save his life. When a striker thrives on quality crosses in the manner Steven Fletcher does, it is important that the whole team steps up their crossing game in order for the side to benefit from him (hell, look at what Kaboul did against Newcastle). Van Aanholt does not contribute to this cause. He also has a poor first touch, which further leaves his open to being dispossessed. He lacks a threat outside his speed, which is an attribute no player wants to be labelled with.
Thirdly, Van Aanholt is a very, very poor defender. Whilst he can cause problems for defences with his pace, when the opposing winger does the same, Van Aanholt seems to be bamboozled, unable to cope under pressure. This was demonstrated against Crystal Palace this past Monday night. Whilst the defensive core played well and snuffed out the attacking threat of the Palace frontmen, Sunderland can consider themselves lucky that Bakary Sako had to leave the pitch injured. The Malian winger constantly used his skilful dribbling to get past Van Aanholt time and time again, allowing him to provide the ball to the Palace strikers though they were often nullified by the impressive O’Shea, Kaboul and Coates.
I personally believe that, based upon the performances he has had this season, that Van Aanholt should be used primarily as an impact substitute. He lacks qualities that make a solid Premier League-standard left back, and if continued to be allowed a starting berth, the Sunderland team as a whole will continue to suffer a whole lot more.
