Sunderland must use this period ‘off’ wisely and Zoom back all guns firing
Whenever a manager arrives at a new club, one of the most important places to learn about the players’ strengths and weaknesses is on the training pitch.
Whether it’s working on patterns of play or seeing who has the attributes to fit into his planned system, the training ground is where any new gaffer will start implementing their own ideas.
In doing so, he should find out which members of his squad can support his plans and who may not fit quite as well.
Lee Johnson can consider himself very unlucky this avenue has been taken away from him, in just his second week in the job.
It could be weeks until relative normality is resumed.
Johnson will be cursing the hand he’s suddenly been dealt.
There are now quite a few obstacles obstructing his quest to get his methods across.
You have to feel for him. So while it’s far from straightforward, Johnson has to find a way to utilise this isolation period for his squad to the best of his ability.
For example, I’d be very surprised if he isn’t holding Zoom meetings with his squad.
I know it’s not the same as being on the pitch but there is scope to have individual meetings with certain players.
He could make these meetings really in-depth, and use them to point out exactly what he wants from that player.
A more detailed example of this could be using a one-onone meeting to examine the issues preventing Will Grigg from recreating the form we’ve seen from him elsewhere in his career.
Perhaps getting Grigg’s perspective could help him find a solution to finally making him fire, and, who knows, we could see a refreshed Grigg after the break because of this.
I honestly feel like he could still be a big player for the team if he gets firing, but he is clearly running out of time.
Hopefully after this enforced break the team won’t be cut too far adrift from their promotion rivals and they can kick on in the new year.
I am a strong believer there are always positive outcomes to come out of negative situations and Johnson and his staff will need to work hard to try and find them.
When the team come back training on the 27th, they will only have had a couple of days training before the Accrington Stanley game.
So, as much as the manager needs to find solutions, the players need to do their bit too and take responsibility.
In addition to provided sessions, such as circuit training, they need to ensure they do what they can, such as ticking over on some home fitness equipment.
It’s vital that the squad can keep themselves in some sort of match shape.
At this time of the year, it’s easy for any of us, footballers or not, to fall into the bad eating and drinking habits that most people do over the festive period.
There needs to be personal responsibility in keeping their collective bodies finely tuned, as the games come thick and fast and they need to be prepared for it.
They will be going from nought to 100 very quickly now due to the time off.