On the eve of Sunderland’s visit to fellow League One promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town, Black Cats boss Jack Ross has been speaking about the form of misfiring striker Will Grigg.
Grigg is struggling to find the scoring touch that persuaded the Lads to part with a reported £4 million to bring him to the Stadium of Light from Wigan Athletic. The twenty-eight-year-old has only scored a disappointing five goals in twenty-three appearances since his arrival on deadline day in January as the replacement for the departing Josh Maja.
Speaking to the Sunderland Chronicle, Ross was adamant the Northern Ireland international would come good but admitted the striker was currently going through a challenging time. He said ‘it’s been a tough period for him and I’ve been trying to help him through that, both with what we do in training and in games.’
‘It’s bothering him because he wants to be a success here and at the moment it’s not really happening for him.’
‘He will back himself because of his record, but I think, like any player who is going through a period like this, he just wants to get back on the scoresheet again, get a couple of goals and he’ll be up and running.’
Ross also defended the striker’s all-round contribution claiming ‘some players do things that are more obvious to the eye than others.’
The reaction on social media to the comments by Sunderland supporters suggests many feel the tactics employed by Ross are a significant problem and not helping Grigg. They argue that Grigg looks lost in a target man role with the ball often flying over his head and believe he will only start scoring when Ross finally plays to his strengths and ditches his direct approach.
However, some fans claim Grigg looks disinterested, and a few are beginning to question the forward’s commitment, desire and work rate.
Here is a selection of responses to the manager’s comments on Twitter.
Would help if we could pass him the ball instead of sticking crosses 15ft over his head.
— Alan (@AlanJWatson) August 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/walke2l/status/1159733875431677952?s=20
https://twitter.com/Hatton__1/status/1159734689843879936?s=20
Erm yep, he will come good if you play to his strengths. Everyone with half a brain can tell he's not a target man, so don't use him as one.
— Panhead1973 (@Panhead1973) August 9, 2019
Maybe if his tactics allowed him to be fed chances every now and again this wouldn’t happen. Instead it’s keep ball at snails pace in their own half!!!
— Alex Carlton (@alexecarlton) August 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/DanHull22/status/1159767458066116608?s=20
https://twitter.com/SR5andahalf/status/1159744813463420928?s=20
https://twitter.com/downy100/status/1159774863114084352?s=20
https://twitter.com/JoeAbbftm/status/1159775790323634176?s=20
Lots of comments about him not being a target man and crosses going way over his head. These remarks are true but the fact remains he has missed many ‘sitters’ since his arrival in January and doesn’t attempt to get into goalscoring positions to receive a pass. In short, he is now hiding when he should be busting a gut to get in front of his marker so a pass can reach him.
he just doesnt go looking for the ball he expects other players to do the work hes lazy and just not good enough to be in the team, every time he is on the team sheat it’s like fielding 10 men.