Black Cats boss Parkinson facing striking conundrum
Few Sunderland fans would h ave p re d i c t e d C h a rl i e Wyke’s current purple patch at the beginning of the campaign.
The 27-year-old has always been a willing worker for the Black Cats, but with a relatively underwhelming six goals in 30 appearances across all competitions last season, a killer instinct in and around the danger area has never truly looked like the sharpest weapon in his arsenal.
Or at least, it didn’t until a couple of months ago.
Wyke has been on fire in front of goal recently – already equalling his tally from last term in 18 games fewer, and notching three strikes in his last five League One outings.
Without a doubt, he is the main man on Wearside right now, but the conundrum facing Phil Parkinson is who to play up top alongside him.
For much of the early exchanges of the campaign, we’ve seen Chris Maguire o c c upy a s l i g htl y d e e p e r, freer role in behind the hitman, popping up to support him when needed and generally making a nuisance of himself.
The Scot came off the bench to carve out a couple match-winning interventions against Gillingham at the weekend, and you would imagine that he’ll be back in contention for a starting spot when Ipswich Town make the long trip to Wearside on Tuesday evening.
But Parkinson has proven on more than one occasion that he’s not averse to tinkering with his system if he feels things are growing a little stale.
T h e m a n a ge r h a s e mployed a front three at times this season, and – as we saw against the Gills on Saturday – is happy to go with a more conventional strike partnership if he feels the situation is appropriate.
Summer signing Aiden O’Brien was the man to get the nod at Priestfield, but there was little in his 73-minute outing to suggest that he will hang on to his place in the starting lineup in mid
week. The former Millwall man won just seven of the 25 duels he contested at the weekend, and he completed just six successful passes before being taken off for Danny Graham.
To contextualise that second figure, the substitute made seven successful passes in his 26-minute display.
Really though, it was the lack of a meaningful threat that O’Brien offered in adva n c e d a rea s th at w i l l b e most concerning to his boss.
The forward had just one shot on goal all game, and he should really have done better with what amounted to a gilded opportunity.
Six yards out, nigh on central to the goal, the 27-yearold somehow managed to skew his first-time effort wide of the upright.
Judging by his reaction – kneeling on the turf, hands on head – O’Brien knew that he’d just wasted a great chance to break his League One duck for his new employers.
It's now seven league appearances without a goal for the Republic of Ireland international, but his first team prospects are undoubtedly being aided by a lack of noteworthy competition from Parkinson’s other striking options.
Neither Graham or Will
Grigg have found the back of the net in League One this term either – although it’s worth pointing out that chances have been at a premium for the latter in particular.
The Northern Irishman has been limited to just 125 minutes of league action this term, but even taking that minimal playtime into account, his record of one shot, none on target leaves a lot to be desired.
The experienced Graham hasn't fared much better, and has hit the target just twice from eight attempts.
It’s a damning indictment of the general standard on display when that still puts him on a level footing with O’Brien as the club’s next
most threatening out-andout striker behind the inform Wyke. And there are causes for concern elsewhere too.
Of the trio, Grigg has won the highest portion of his contested duels, weighing in at a fairly ordinary 41.7%, and when it comes to pass completion rates, nobody is getting anywhere near the aforementioned Maguire's 80.2%.
Perhaps then, the most obvious solution would also be the most effective one.
Common sense dictates th at Pa rk i n s o n w i l l re i n - state Maguire after his sublime cameo at the weekend, and given the lack of a potent alternative, it would probably be a smart move.
That being said, there is every chance that the manager will revert to a more traditional partnership at some point further down the line, and if he does, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see O’Brien given another bite of the cherry.
With everybody but Wyke struggling to properly find their rhythm, he might – just about – be the pick of an outof-form bunch.
Meanwhile, Sunderland could be set to welcome one of their own when Mansfield Town arrive at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
League Two Mansfield travel to Wearside in the FA Cup this weekend without a manager after sacking Graham Coughlan.
AcademyManagerRichard Cooper stepped in as caretaker for the Stags’ 1-1 draw with Walsall. However, by the time the weekend arrives, Mansfield may well have a new man in the dugout. Indeed, it could be a Sunderland-born lad himself who takes the reigns – with Nigel Clough currently the bookmakers’ favourite to take over at 2/7.
Clough has been out of management since stepping down as Burton Albion boss during the Covid-19 pandemic in May. Two other candidates in the running include Paul Heckingbottom (16/1) and Simon Grayson (20/1).