These stats show the true value Lynden brings to the Black Cats
By his own admission in late April, Lynden Gooch was experiencing ‘a difficult season’ as Sunderland looked to secure their place in the League One play-offs.
The 26-year-old was possibly being a little harsh, yet, with seven league assists and nogoals,the2021/22campaign was by far his least productive (intermsofgoalscoringcontributions) since the Black Cats’ relegation to the third tier.
As Gooch explained, that was partly down to the numerous positions he was asked to play. After starting as a right winger against Wigan Athletic ontheopeningday,theAmericanoperatedaswing-backand on the left and right of a back four.
At times the wideman’s place in the side was heavily scrutinised. For a player who has been at Sunderland for 10 years and experienced the club’s slide into the third tier, perhaps more was expected.
Yet Gooch’s close ties with Sunderland were evident followingpromotionfromLeague One.
“I have given everything for theclubinmy10yearsasapro,” he said, after last month’s 2-0 winoverWycombeWanderers in the play-off final.
And now, after a few weeks of uncertainty, Gooch has signed a new two-year deal on Wearside. The reaction from mostsupporterswasextremely positive.
Gooch’sattackingstatsmay have decreased during the 2021/22 season, yet his versatility
and durability were major assets.
Intotalthewidemanracked up3218minutesinLeagueOne, with only Ross Stewart and Carl Winchester receiving more game time for the Black Cats.
And while Gooch’s assist count dropped from 11 in the 2020/21 campaign to seven, he was still one of Sunderland’s most creative players.
According to Wyscout, only Rotherham United’s Chiedozie Ogbene played more key passes (a pass that immediately creates a clear goalscoring opportunity for a team-mate) than Gooch in League One last term.
Gooch was also ranked sixth in the division when it came to crosses into the box, averaging a delivery every 19 minutes, with many of them directed into the six-yard box.
Theaccuracyofthosecrosseswasquestionedattimes,and the wideman will hope to improve on a 37% accuracy score in the new campaign.
At the other end of the pitch, Gooch’s defensive qualitieshavealsobeenquestioned, yet his performances at fullback in three play-off fixtures demonstratedhiscapabilities. According to Wyscout, Gooch won 62.5% of his defensive duels last term.
Still, despite his strong end to the season, it’s easy to forget that Sunderland came close to selling the winger in January, with suggestions he could move to another League One club. At that point Gooch’s departure may not have seemed such a significant blow, while question marks remained about his best position and consistency levels.
That is why his value is oftenhardtoascertain,andthere was interest from ChampionshipclubsbeforetheAmerican signedanewdealonWearside.
The player’s form under Alex Neil certainly played a big part in the new deal, and the head coach has previously described Gooch as a ‘warrior’ who ‘works his socks off every single day’.