Neil's major transfer hints and likely Cats XI emerging
It was a disappointing night for Sunderland as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Bradford City on Tuesday evening.
Alex Neil admitted his side were well below par, but addedthatitwasbettergothrough these issues now than when the season begins.
So what were the key lessons we learned ahead of a crucial few weeks on and off the pitch?
Sunderland hope striker pursuit will soon pick up pace - and it needs to
It’s widely known that Sunderland have been tracking striking targets from the Premier League, including Everton’s Nathan Broadhead and Tottenham Hotspur’s Troy Parrott.
After the Bradford City defeat Neil discussed the club’s search in depth and without mentioning names, he did reference the fact that the club
Aspartofthis,henotedthat many Premier League teams have taken large squads with themontheirpre-seasontours abroad,andhintedthatthishas included a number of Sunderland’s transfer targets.
Neil said: “As I’ve said before, we need to talk to other teams, and then it becomes a questionofaretheygoingtolet playersoutonloan,aretheygoing to sell them, what are they going to do with them?
“You can’t sign a player if he’sinadifferentcountry,”Neil later added.
That Sunderland are in need of a breakthrough is obvious.
With Ross Stewart’s minutes being carefully managed, Neil opted to put a second striker into his side against Bradford, hoping that would add some more presence and threattomitigatetheScot’sabsence.
Though Neil felt generally the shape of his side was good, Harry Lewis was barely tested in the home goal.
You feel for Jack Diamond, whoiskeentomakeanimpression,butisstrugglingtodosoin an unfamiliar role.
As it stands, Neil’s options to change games in the final third are severely limited. He has attacking midfielders and wingersforsurebutintermsof fresheningthingsupifStewart tires or needs support, there is a major gap in this squad.
The head coach is hoping that top-tier teams returning to the UK and finalising their plans for the season ahead will spark movement in the market.
The positive is that these potential targets have been training in a high-intensity environment, which should leave them with less catching uptodoifandwhentheyarrive on Wearside. Neil said the club are banging the door down as much as they possible can. It needs to yield a return sooner rather than later.
Alex Neil is also on the hunt for a goalkeeper
It was a mixed night for Jacob Carney, who was impressive in how quickly he was able to get off his line to snuff out some dangerous Bradford breaks.
His inexperience also showed at times, though, and he will feel he could have done better for the opening goal.
Neil heavily hinted afterwards that Sunderland would lookforanexperiencedkeeper to provide cover and competition for Anthony Patterson, whichcoulditselfallowCarney the valuable opportunity to go and get regular senior football on loan.
Sunderland need to be able to keep Jack Clarke on the wing
Sunderland signed Jack Clarke in part because of his versatility. He had played as a striker for Spurs Under-23s in the early stages of last season and done it well.
As it stands, the Black Cats may need him to reprise that role at some point across the early stage of the season.
But at Valley Parade it was noticeable how quickly and how strongly he came into the gamewhenSunderlandreverted to a back four and he could move to the left wing.
He had the beating of his marker just about every time, andElliotEmbletonclearlyenjoyed being able to bring him into the game.
The Black Cats did not necessarilygetbetteraftermoving to 4-2-3-1, but in an attacking
sensethe21-year-oldverydefinitely did.
The Coventry City line up is really taking shape now
There are two more preseason friendlies to play and Neilwilllikelysplittheminutes across his playing squad.
That will be the last chance for players to change Neil’s thinking as after this disappointing performance, it feels asiftherearen’ttoomanypositions still really to play for.
You would say that there is still a question mark over who is best suited to playing right back, though Trai Hume has hadagoodfewweeks.Thecentre back pairing still feels quite
difficult to definitively call as Bailey Wright catches up on minutes, as does the midfield slot next to Corry Evans. Who joins Patrick Roberts and Alex Pritchardinplayingbehindthe striker is also not easy to read, though you strongly suspect it will be Jack Clarke or Elliot Embleton.
In short, the core of Neil’s preferred XI from the play-off campaign look likely to be in situ when Coventry City arrive at the Stadium of Light a week on Sunday.
Sunderland have got a good one in Aji Alese
Allyoungplayersneedtime toadaptandAjiAleseisgoingto be no different.
He has been at West Ham United since he was eight, and evenlivedwithinafewminutes of the training ground.
This is a big move for him and one that came round very quickly. He’ll need to find his feet, and there were some understandable signs of that in his first full 90 minutes.
Also evident was his pace, and his willingness to constantlyshowfortheballtostart moves. Alese will have ups and downs this season, as players likeDennisCirkinandDanNeil did last time out.
The potential is clear and exciting all the same.