So horses for courses is very much Le Bris’ mantra - be flexible, be confident, and ultimately be in the driving seat when it comes to getting the required result.
Sunderland’s points this season have come about in the following circumstances: second-half domination and a comfortable victory, a turnaround in the last 10 minutes, a ground-out goalless draw with 10 men for an hour, and a superbly organised away win.
No dropped points from winning positions, four picked up after being behind. That doesn’t just happen by accident.
The focus seems ever more so to be on the more obdurate managers in the Premier League and the furore that ensues when things don’t quite go to plan. A better example than Rúben Amorim at Manchester United would be hard to find; someone so sure of their methods and tactics, the idea of changing for anyone or diverging from the plan would be anathema. And what about Ange Postecoglou – utterly wedded to his suicide high line that you’d think the man actively enjoyed losing football matches.
Then cast your mind back to Russell Martin at Southampton. Playing out from the back, despite the multitude of evidence that it would cost his side far more than it would benefit them, was one of the most egregious examples of managers actively damaging their sides’ chances of getting a result.
Le Bris constantly talks of “interesting problems” and “finding solutions” both in-game and during the preparation for an upcoming match. Initially, we might have been forgiven for thinking it was simply him falling back on words and phrases he felt comfortable using in his second language. But no, we’re seeing there’s a method to his approach.
It gives such confidence to know there is a man who is constantly thinking, analysing, and looking at the threat of the opposition. And not to simply play the game he thinks his own players should play. Because in the top flight, combating the threat posed by the opposition is as important as thinking about what you’re going to do with the ball.
Over the last few seasons, particularly in League One, the frustration of having teams come to the Stadium of Light and enforce their game plan was one of the most depressing aspects of being down there. “How can we let them do this all the time?” was a question posed with grim regularity after the latest 1-1 draw to someone like Shrewsbury Town.
Now, however, I realise allowing other sides to impose their game on Sunderland isn’t the problem – the problem is not having the solutions Le Bris talks about so often.
Well, thank God he has a plan for every eventuality – and it’s been reflected in results. A plan for Brentford, a plan for 10 men, a plan for going to the City Ground. He is showing that being able to adapt and change is the most important thing. A man with so many plans he’s run out of letters in the alphabet.
So horses for courses is very much Le Bris’ mantra – be flexible, be confident, and ultimately be in the driving seat when it comes to getting the required result.
To look at the statistics, you’d think Sunderland had got away with it somewhat – low xG, low chance creation, surely something has to change? But just because you’re quieter on the pitch, it doesn’t mean you don’t have that command over proceedings.
And that’s just like Sunderland’s manager – whose control is absolute – as is his willingness to adapt. Right now, he’s proving to be an absolutely perfect fit for this football club.
Category: General Sports
