The Sunderland persuasion knew this would possibly occur: a conservative summer season switch window which has solely papered over cracks in Regis Le Bris‘ squad might now jeopardise an formidable and high-flying venture.
There was hope earlier than the weekend that Sunderland would stand up and carry out towards in-form Brighton & Hove Albion, however it proved a tricky ask with out Brian Brobbey on the entrance. The Black Cats forgot methods to chew, creating solely 0.72 xG (Brighton doubled that at 1.42).
Anticipated Objectives (xG) is a metric designed to measure the likelihood of a shot leading to a objective.
The Stadium of Mild is meant to be a fortress, and Sunderland will want their house floor to be impregnable for probably the most half if they’re to keep away from the pull of a relegation battle on their second season again within the Premier League.
Additionally they want captain and commander-in-chief, Granit Xhaka, to step up and supply. He is waned in latest video games for the Wearsiders.
Why Granit Xhaka is changing into an issue for Sunderland
Xhaka has been an unbelievable signing for Sunderland, make no mistake about that. Final season, Wayne Rooney hailed him as “in all probability the signing of the season” after arriving from Bayer Leverkusen for £17m and main Le Bris’ facet away from the anticipated relegation dogfight and towards Europa League qualification.
Nevertheless, that does not imply the 34-year-old is immune from criticism, and whereas he has performed with depth this season, Xhaka has struggled to forge the identical clean partnership with Noah Sadiki beside him, and Sunderland will not be firing on all cylinders.
In opposition to Brighton, Xhaka was responsible of dropping possession, sloppily, and permitting the Seagulls to interrupt on a lot of events throughout the afternoon.
He is nonetheless a drive, and requires the Swiss skipper to be dropped are, frankly, a bit tone deaf. Sunderland want Xhaka, however additionally they want him to just accept his ranged strikes will not be paying off, and that maybe there are higher choices than firing Howitzers so unrelentingly.
|
Xhaka with Sunderland within the Premier League |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per 90) |
25/26 |
26/27 |
|
Matches (begins) |
34 (32) |
6 (6) |
|
Objectives + assists |
1 + 6 |
0 + 0 |
|
Touches* |
67.5 |
79.0 |
|
Correct passes* |
44.5 (84%) |
52.0 (85%) |
|
Large probabilities created |
9 |
5 |
|
Key passes* |
1.0 |
2.2 |
|
Possession misplaced* |
12.6 |
14.0 |
|
Succ. dribbles* |
0.3 |
0.8 |
|
Ball recoveries* |
4.7 |
6.2 |
|
Def. contributions |
4.9 |
3.7 |
|
Duels received* |
4.6 (60%) |
5.5 (61%) |
Xhaka must return to the fundamentals, simplifying his skillset and enjoying with a extra industrious edge. Then the Wearsiders would possibly discover their stride as soon as once more.
That mentioned, Xhaka have to be pissed off by the regularity with which is progressive passes show unable to search out an outlet. In assault, all isn’t nicely at Sunderland, and one participant who is not enjoying is changing into one thing of a headache for Le Bris.
Hardly ever-seen Sunderland star is changing into an issue for Le Bris
Sunderland have now misplaced three successive Premier League matches. They fought tooth and nail throughout losses to Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis, however the house loss to Brighton felt underwhelming. With out Brobbey, they wanted extra in assault.
Certainly, Chemsdine Talbi has solely performed 31 minutes of soccer within the Premier League this season, and it does really feel just like the Moroccan winger could possibly be higher utilised.
Talbi, 21, scored an exquisite objective towards Hull Metropolis within the Carabao Cup in September, a one-goal win, however he has not featured within the Premier League for the reason that opening day of the marketing campaign.
He has proven in a Sunderland shirt that he boasts the type of pure means that exists solely throughout the skillsets of the choose few. Nevertheless, after coming near becoming a member of Galatasaray this summer season, now faces an odd state of affairs through which the supervisor might proceed to miss him whereas Sunderland cry out for his qualities. He scored 4 objectives and assisted yet one more throughout solely 16 begins within the league final yr, enjoying on the left wing and the suitable.
This summer season, Le Bris questioned whether or not the Stadium of Mild affords “the suitable pathway” for the mercurial attacker, however with Brobbey’s harm (and Wilson Isidor ineffectiveness in his stead) highlighting the issues Sunderland face in kindling their attacking system, Le Bris certainly must muster all of the forces obtainable.
Talbi is a gifted attacker, however he isn’t getting the alternatives he wants to search out confidence within the venture and the supervisor and, importantly, himself.
Maybe he will probably be shipped out in January, however Talbi has the standard to make a distinction for this Black Cats group – and the actual fact he doubtless will not showcase his most interesting self on the membership is an enormous downside.
