Sunderland fans were disappointed to see their side drop points against bottom of the league Plymouth Argyle at the weekend, but Regis Le Bris has reasons to be positive.
Many had expected Sunderland to carry out a demolition job on Plymouth on Saturday afternoon given the South Coast side’s plight this season.
The game was pinned as a 100% banker for Sunderland, but the Black Cats had to share a point in a 2-2 draw with a late Plymouth goal levelling the scores.
Regis Le Bris has been toying with various elements of his team, from personnel decisions to tactical shape, and one experiment on Saturday may not quite have worked how he hoped.
Dan Neil can get back to his best in advanced midfield role
Le Bris admitted his team got ‘lucky’ to take a point from the game, revealing his dismay at the lack of chances created by the Black Cats.
However, when it comes to the midfield roster and the decision to play Dan Neil higher up the pitch with Salis Abdul Samed deeper behind him, Le Bris insists that is something that will work eventually, even if it wasn’t as effective as hoped on Saturday.
Speaking to the Northern Echo, Le Bris said: “It has been Dan’s main position in the past. Although he will probably need a little bit more time to connect with this triangle on the right side.
“It’s not just about this game though. We were disappointed, but we have to build our strength for the last rounds of the season. The experience will be useful for us at the end of the season.”
The Sunderland manager went on to discuss Enzo Le Fee and Jobe Bellingham’s role in that busy midfield, and suggested having so many players to choose from can only be a positive.
“We have two [more] players who can help the team – Enzo and Salis. Jobe also played higher up the pitch, so we are creating other options to deal with all the different scenarios we will face. If we have more options available, we are going to be stronger as a team.”
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Salis Abdul Samed is a good option to have, but patience is needed
Salis Abdul Samed has divided fans since his return to action after a long spell on the sidelines, but it’s important to remember just how long he was out for and what effect that can have on a player.
It will take some time for him to get back to his best. Le Bris admitted Samed struggled on his debut back at the start of the month, but there is a real quality player in there, and he just needs to get sharper.
Once that happens, Samed can unlock the best in Dan Neil, Jobe, and even Chris Rigg, too. Having an anchor man who can be relied upon to hold firm in the middle will allow Sunderland’s creative players more freedom, and bring a new dynamic to the Black Cats midfield.