King or Diamond – the changes Cats could make to save season
It’s something Sunderland haven’t experienced since March 2018.
For the first time since dropping into League One, the Black Cats have lost three league games on the spin.
It’s a run of form that needs to promptly come to an end, particularly if Sunderland wanttoentertheplay-offswith anykindofmomentumbehind them.
Thereareunlikelytobeany radical reforms and, indeed, Lee Johnson will be aware that large parts of the performance against Blackpool were good – with small margins costing the side.
Butwhatchangescouldthe head coach be weighing up as he looks to arrest the run of defeats?
We take a look at THREE potential changes that could be considered in the coming weeks…
SHOULDJACKDIAMOND GET AN OPPORTUNITY?
Havingrecentlybeenhanded a new long-term contract, Diamond looks set for a sparkling future at the Stadium of Light.
But he could also be a useful player in the here and now.
Quick, direct and difficult for defenders to deal with, the academy graduate could give the Black Cats a different dimension in the attacking third –atatimewhentheyhaveoccasionallylookedsomewhatstale in the final third.
Jordan Jones hasn’t been as influential in Sunderland’s last two games, and Diamond
impressedinhisstartatWigan Athletic.
Itwouldthereforebeoflittle surprise to see the youngster handed further opportunities in the coming weeks, as he could help liven up the Black Cats forward line.
IS IT TIME FOR CHRIS MAGUIRE?
When games are being decided by fine margins, Sunderland need those players
who are capable of conjuring upsomeinspirationinthefinal third in their side.
Maguire is certainly one of those, but has been out of favour in recent weeks.
But having returned to the benchatBloomfieldRoad,calls will now intensify for Maguire to return to the starting lineup.
And it’s understandable as to why – Maguire can deliver those moments, whether they bestrikesfromoutsidethebox or deliveries, that can help settle games.
Sunderland are in need of something different in an attacking sense, and the Scot could well provide that.
COULD SUNDERLAND CHANGE THEIR SHAPE?
Sunderland have had some success while playing three at theback,butthatlooksunlikely in the short-term.
That’ssimplyduetothefact that Sunderland’s defensive options are severely limited, meaning a flat back four looks likely moving forward.
But could we see some tweaks ahead of them?
Johnsonstartedina4-4-2at Blackpoolandhasalsoutilised a 4-2-3-1 in recent weeks.
Given their defensive injuriesandthefactthatJohnson’s tacticshavelargelyservedSunderlandwellduringhistenure, it’sunlikelythatwewillseeany form of radical overhaul when it comes to system and shape.
Some subtle tweaks may well be applied though, particularly in the final third as the Black Cats look to turn their periods of dominance into something more tangible in the final five games of the League One campaign.