Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris is one of those managers for whom ‘switching off’ doesn’t even enter his psyche.
Speaking this week, Sunderland chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus admitted that Le Bris had been on the radar since 2022, when he was just getting comfortable in the FC Lorient hotseat.
And, when the Black Cats finally handed him the reigns in July, they did so hoping that a youthful squad would benefit from the Frenchman’s ‘extraordinary qualities’ and the ‘level of detail’ he provides on the training pitch.
With seven wins in ten games, it’s fair to say his appointment is shaping up as something of a masterstroke.
Regis Le Bris is always drawing up new blueprints and thinking up novel ways to out-coach his rivals in the dugout.
And, speaking ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Luton Town, the Sunderland boss was asked about the role of his wingers; Patrick Roberts and Romaine Mundle.
While both have played a major role in a flying start to the campaign, Le Bris accepts that two players who cut inside onto their stronger foot nine times out of ten would benefit from adding a sense of unpredictability to their game.
Regis Le Bris could change Patrick Roberts’ role at Sunderland
The former FC Lorient boss does not rule out the prospect of shifting Roberts from the right to the left, and Mundle from the left to the right. Asking them to hug the touchline and whip in crosses rather than cut in and curl shots at goal.
“I thought about it, during the game,” Le Bris says when asked if he considered swapping over Roberts and Mundle as both struggled to break down Hull City’s backline in Sunday’s narrow 1-0 win.
“During the first half especially, we had full control. It was clear that the sides of the pitch were very important to break that final third, and we struggled.
“It’s not easy to break a low block like that. We tried many options. The one-v-one situations were not very efficient, but this final part of the build-up phase is still the most difficult. I think we need time to adjust our patterns, to make it more predictable for us so its easier to understand when Patrick or Romaine will cross, for example, and when to be in the box.”
Sunderland needed a superb solo goal from an in-form Wilson Isidor to seal all three points on Humberside.
The Zenit St Petersburg loanee grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and did it all on his own as Roberts, in particular, struggled to influence proceedings up against an organised Hull backline.
Le Bris hints at new plan ahead of Luton Town clash
“These patterns are not set at the moment. We will work on it. We had the ball a lot of times, more than expected maybe,” Le Bris adds. “Patrick said after the game; ‘It was unusual to have the ball in the one-v-one situation’ so often.
“He struggled a bit. But it’s a new experience and it could be an option to switch their position. When this one-v-one situation is solved by the defender, maybe you can change.
“They can cross with their wrong foot. Patrick did it during the first half and Romaine in the second. It’s possible. We spoke [on Tuesday morning] and said; ‘If you want to be able to come inside with your strong foot, you need to create danger with your opposite foot because the defender will [then] have two options to defend.
“If it is your only main option, with your stronger foot, then it is difficult to defend.”
Roberts has just one goal from 10 league appearances so far, although the former Manchester City prospect does have three assists to show for his efforts.