After three straight league losses, Sunderland needs to bounce back this weekend with a strong showing and a positive outcome at Norwich City to resurrect their campaign.
In other words, how might Mike Dodds rearrange his group and what adjustments is he likely to forego? We examine more closely…
Even though Dan Ballard is still suspended for Saturday’s match, there is a good chance Sunderland will switch back to a back four given how poorly they played the first forty minutes of their loss to Swansea. Even though Dodds correctly pointed out that mentality played a bigger role in the match than strategy, Sunderland’s switch back to a 4-3-3 formation, which placed several players in more comfortable positions, made a big impact on the outcome.
In that scenario, Callum Styles would probably be forced to play as a substitute or shift into midfield, and Leo Hjelde would probably push back across to left back. While Ballard is away, Jenson Seelt will undoubtedly have another opportunity to shine. Styles was hired in part because of his wing-back experience, and Sunderland did, of course, thrive playing in a back three when Dodds oversaw a game against Leeds United earlier this season. As such, we are likely to see it again before the season ends.
THE ROMAINE MUNDLE’S START
Jack Clarke will be evaluated this week with the goal of going back to training. As of Saturday night, Dodds remained optimistic that the winger would be ready for this weekend’s match and the ones after. Dodds was certain that there was no serious problem despite Clarke’s ankle injury sustained in the 2-1 loss at Birmingham City, which prevented him from practicing last week. He must now be considered doubtful, at least for the game on Saturday.
Dodds will undoubtedly try to give Romaine Mundle another start, but his return to the starting lineup if fit is quite evident. He came dangerously close to scoring and providing an assist in the first half, making him perhaps the only notable bright spot from that loss at Birmingham. Afterwards, he impressed in his brief appearance against Swansea City coming off the bench. Although playing three games in a week might be too much for him just yet, he deserves another chance to shine. Even if Clarke returns to full fitness, he demonstrated at Birmingham that he can play off the right, which may allow Abdoullah Ba to get some rest and still have an impact in the two games that follow this crucial week.
Dodds wants his Sunderland team to have a distinct identity—that is, to play with genuine intensity and to get out on the front foot. However, he has demonstrated in his four games thus far that, within that framework, he is happy to make adjustments from game to game depending on the advantages or disadvantages of the opposition. This is a belief and quality that he shares with Alex Neil. Against West Brom and Bristol City, Jobe and Clarke have played up top, and against Leeds, the formation was switched as previously mentioned.
Despite the first-half setback against Swansea, Dodds made it clear in his press conference after the game that it would not stop him from pulling off a surprise in the future.
INCLUDE LUIS HEMIR IN THE starting lineup.
After making a late appearance against Swansea City, Luis Hemir looked impressive, and many fans are eager to see him included in the starting lineup. Even though Dodds later acknowledged that Nazariy Rusyn’s language barrier still presents some challenges, he likes Rusyn’s versatility and work ethic, which is probably why he will be retained for the time being.
Between now and the end of the season, Hemir will most likely have more opportunities, but all of Sunderland’s head coaches have stated that they believe he still needs to get better at leading the line and playing out of possession. He has impressed them all on the training ground when it comes to finishing, so he is likely to have more of an opportunity to impress in a home game where Sunderland control the ball.
But, Hemir will undoubtedly have an opportunity to advance from the bench at the very least given the three games in the next seven days. That will probably also apply to Mason Burstow, even though he has not played in either of Dodds’ first two interim stints this season.
ACHIEVING IMPORTANT CHANGES IN THE MIDFIELD (YET)
Sunderland will almost definitely need to rotate their midfield options because they have three games in a week, which should result in playing time for Chris Rigg and Adil Aouchiche throughout the week. It is harder to tell if Dodds is prepared to begin either this weekend.
Given his heavy workload this season, many believe it would be wise to give Jobe Bellingham a break, but Sunderland has made it quite evident that they believe they can manage his training appropriately when there are no midweek games. Although Callum Styles can fill a variety of roles in the middle of the park, Dodds still has options when it comes to midfield positions. This increases the likelihood of rotation, though it may occur later in the week rather than against Norwich.