Marco Gabbiadini isn’t shy in criticising Sunderland and their performances, nor about criticising any individual player either.
If ever there was a time to be critical of Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland side, it’s now. The Black Cats put in perhaps their worst performance of the season last time out, losing 3-0 away at Coventry City in time for the March international break.
As a unit and as individuals, Sunderland were just awful. Fans criticised the performance of Dan Neil among others, with the skipper’s performance maybe highlighting the desperate need for a couple of week’s break for this young Sunderland side.
But Le Bris has a number of Sunderland players on international duty this month and so whether or not Sunderland return fit and firing remains to be seen. The Black Cats next play Millwall at the Stadium of Light later in March.
Fans will certainly be hoping that something changes in this two weeks break though. Sunderland still boast a 12 point cushion within the top six but there’s still 24 points left to play for, and the Black Cats will want to take some kind of form into the play-offs should they qualify.
- READ MORE: Sunderland could land brilliant free agent signing this summer as door left open on Wearside deal
Marco Gabbiadini critical of Patrick Roberts after Coventry City 3-0 Sunderland
Another player who was poor against Coventry City and who many fans think has been generally poor all season is Patrick Roberts. The former Manchester City attacker has faced growing criticism from Sunderland fans for his lack of goals and assists this season, with two goals and six assists to his name in 37 Championship games.
But Le Bris keeps on selecting Roberts. Speaking on Total Sport in wake of the Coventry defeat, pundit and former Black Cats hero Marco Gabbiadini has rued Le Bris’ decision to go with Roberts, in a game that promised to be more physical, and perhaps less technical, from the off.
Gabbiadini said: “It truly was an awful performance. They got exactly what they deserved. I was quite shocked at the substitutions – cannot believe how many minutes Roberts played in the game, he was absolutely pointless being out there. It was a game that was about being first to the ball, about getting the first touch on the ball.”
- READ MORE: Grim reading as Phil Smith drops verdict on Sunderland man’s current form, he’s ‘not at the level’
What Patrick Roberts said after Sunderland defeat
The debate around Roberts rumbles on. He’s clearly a player with technical ability but he’s not proving to be a player with end product. And Gabbiadini’s verdict may suggest that Le Bris doesn’t know how to best use the 28-year-old either.
There’s certain opponents and certain games where Roberts’ trickery can cause problems. But there’s other opponents and other games, like the game against Coventry, where Le Bris needs to be more ruthless and admit Roberts isn’t the right man.
Speaking to the club, Roberts said he was ’embarrassed’ by the Coventry defeat, explaining: “I thought today we lacked an awful lot. It’s something a lot of us are embarrassed about. To come here we knew it would be a tough place anyway but to give two goals like that is unacceptable.”
There’s certainly a lot left to be desired with Roberts and with Sunderland of late. Maybe this two week break will do him more good than others.