Sunderland currently sit first place in the Championship, as a result of four fantastic wins. This early success can be dissected into three key changes.
In the second tier so far, the Black Cats have looked like the most impressive outfit. Comprehensive victories against the likes of Portsmouth, Burnley, Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday have handed Regis Le Bris’ side a perfect 12 points.
Sunderland have netted ten league goals and only conceded once. A 91st-minute own goal from captain Luke O’Nien, in a 3-1 win over Pompey, has been the only fault in a near-perfect defence. Le Bris’ side look sharp and resolute, but most importantly they seem like a tight-knit group. Here are three reasons why the Championship outfit have started so promisingly.
The number nine that Sunderland have needed
Having spent four months on loan at Hibernian last season, Eliezer Mayenda has asserted himself into the Black Cats’ first team. The 19-year-old scored twice in Sunderland’s 4-0 victory over the Owls and provided two assists away at Portsmouth.
Mayenda played eight times in the 2023/24 season, after signing for the Wearside club last summer. A move from Sochaux was met with a feeling of initial disappointment at the forward’s lack of output. However, a development loan in the Scottish league looks to have benefitted the Spaniard massively.
A satisfactory fit for the striker role had been somewhat of an ongoing absence in the Sunderland team, prior to Mayenda’s introduction. Experimentation with Jobe Bellingham acting as a false-nine, signing Nazariy Rusyn from Zorya in September 2023, and Bradley Dack being utilised as a makeshift striker in the 2023/24 season, has allowed the 19-year-old to bring something different to the table – something the fans have been yearning for.
The former Sochaux striker has put up extremely impressive numbers already this campaign. It is ‘early doors’ of course, but a 2.61 non-penalty xG (expected goals) lands Mayenda in the 100th percentile; no striker in the Championship has matched up to him numerically so far. The 19-year-old has accumulated seven shots on target and has taken 21 touches in opposition boxes.
Having contributed to just under half of Sunderland’s league goals already, Mayenda looks to solve the ongoing problem of a not having a genuine central striker. Le Bris is getting the most out of the Spanish forward and a big season for the former Hibs loanee could be on the cards.
Full-backs have a fresh attacking license
A change in shape, when progressing up the field, has given new life to both of Sunderland’s full-backs. Dennis Cirkin and Trai Hume have been allowed more attacking freedom than in previous campaigns.
Hume, who has a 100% cross accuracy so far, has been great for the Black Cats in their first few games. The former Linfield academy player has made 4.5 recoveries per 90 and won 75% of his tackles. As a defender who can play across the entirety of a back four, the 22-year-old has provided great defensive cover, allowing Cirkin to frequently roam forward on the opposite side.
Former Tottenham Hotspur academy player, Cirkin, has made a statement down the left-hand side this season. In the first four games, the 22-year-old notched two goal involvements. Most impressively, the full-back has taken eight shots, achieved five successful dribbles and made ten interceptions so far this campaign.
Cirkin had already scored five times for the Championship outfit, prior to Le Bris’ appointment this summer. Now the Frenchman has seemingly taken the 22-year-old’s attacking capabilities to another level.
As well as the upturn in offensive play from both wide defenders, their ability to remain defensively perfect over the course of nearly four matches, has left Sunderland fans in awe of this new set-up.
Excellent recruitment has covered the correct areas
It has certainly been a very busy summer at the Stadium of Light. Nine incomings have been matched by seven permanent departures and five outgoing loans for Le Bris’ side. A strong use of the ‘free agents’ market, as well as the non-mainstream European one, has left Sunderland with a plethora of exciting options this season.
Simon Moore, Alan Browne, Blondy Nna Noukeu and Ian Poveda arrived at the Black Cats without a transfer fee attached. The loan captures of Chris Mepham, Wilson Isidor and Salis Abdul Samed were left very late on in the window. But, most notably, an investment into future development has landed Sunderland with two promising signings: Ahmed Abdullahi and Milan Aleksic.
This is a very smart business model as the money received for Jack Clarke’s departure to Ipswich Town, has been put towards young talent that could extortionately raise their market value in years to come. The majority of the fee has been kept in the club for future financial reasons, but a sensible amount was implemented into new player wages.
One player who has been very impressive already, is Preston North End’s former captain Alan Browne. Settling into the first team seamlessly, the 29-year-old joined Le Bris’ side after turning down a club-record contract offer from the Lilywhites. Browne has featured three times in the league so far and scored against Portsmouth this weekend.
It is evident that these smart signings could give Sunderland the extra edge when pushing for promotion this season. A finely-balanced first eleven has been boosted by emerging quality from the rest of the squad and reliable substitutes. If Sunderland can sustain this impressive form for as long as possible, then a top-flight ticket could be theirs, come the end of the season.
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