https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/24269585.jobe-bellinghams-sunderland-love-transfer-delight/ By Dominic Shaw LIFE for Jobe Bellingham is unique. Look across the Championship and there aren't many 18-year-olds playing every single week. The Sunderland forward is hugely talented, mature beyond his years and perhaps destined for the Premier League. And yet in the eyes of the watching public away from Wearside, Jobe is not necessarily recognised for his own achievements, rather the fact he's the brother of Jude, the Real Madrid superstar who hogged the headlines yet again this weekend when he scored the last minute winner in El Clasico. "Jobe's life is difficult," says Sunderland's interim head coach Mike Dodds, who first clapped eyes on the teenager on a football pitch a decade ago. "Wherever he goes, he’s never going to get away from that. “It’s difficult for me to comment but I don’t think anyone will truly understand what it is like to be Jobe – if he goes anywhere in the world, he’s Jude’s brother, he’s not Jobe. Him having his own identity is something he desperately craves. I’m sure as he gets older and he gets more accolades and he does wonderful things in football, he’ll be appreciated for who he is.” The youngster's desire to carve out his own identity is why he's opted to wear 'Jobe' rather than 'Bellingham' on the back of his Sunderland jersey this season. "He’s desperately fighting to be recognised for him. It’s always going to be a battle for him, that’s the reality. But everyone [here] is doing their part," said Dodds. "I think the group and the staff are really understanding of Jobe’s situation. We don’t discuss the brother stuff with him at all, if he wants to discuss it, that’s up to him." The wider public might view the teenager as Jude's brother, but Stadium of Light regulars judge Sunderland's No.7 not on his surname and closest relative but what they see on the pitch - which Jobe loves. "That’s why he’s fallen in love with the fans, with the area," says Dodds. "He’s so happy with the decision he made last summer, he’s said that to me personally. It’s a perfect club at the perfect time for him. I’m sure this part of the world will be forever in his heart. He’s completely fallen in love and I think the Sunderland fans have been unbelievable with him." “He’s definitely played more minutes than anyone would have expected," says Dodds. "I think for such a young boy, he always been picked, whether by Tony (Mowbray), Mick (Beale) or myself and that says something. He’s been picked in different positions as well with all three of those coaches which says from a maturity perspective he can be trusted. “I don’t know the numbers but there wouldn’t be many scholars who have played the minutes, maybe Archie Gray at Leeds would be one in the Championship. “I think I have to bring it back to that (the fact he's a scholar) I think people forget that. There’s so much scrutiny around him if he doesn’t play well. I think it’s unfair, because he’s just so young and I don’t think people appreciate how good he is for his age. "I’ve said it a thousand time, if his name was ‘Jobe Smith’ people would be waxing lyrical. But because of his second name and the comparison, sometimes the over-analysing of him is unfair. But those unfortunately are the cards he’s been dealt and he’s got to get on with it. I’ve had that conversation with him." Sunderland will make sure they don't expect too much too soon from Bellingham. “Everything gets monitored, everything gets recorded, the GPS data, we get all the physical data," said Dodds. "And if there ever was a red flag, we would have protected him. In my personal opinion, it’s more the mental break for Jobe that he needs and I think the summer will be important for him to just switch off from football. Not just for him but for Riggy as well. For young players going away in the summer and just forgetting about football is important, less the physical aspects, more the mental aspects. “It’s the same with Chris Rigg. He’s a first-year scholar. This time last year he was in school. "We haven’t achieved what we wanted to achieve [this season] but we have played against Leicester, Southampton, Norwich, Leeds, West Brom, with a boy who twelve months ago was in school and another boy who 18 months ago was in school. "And we’ve done all right in the games. So there’s so many positives from my perspective. We’ve played those games really well with two youth team players on the pitch.” https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/s...ngham-set-two-sunderland-targets-next-season/ MIKE Dodds has set Jobe Bellingham the goal target of hitting double figures next season - regardless of which position he ends up playing for Sunderland.... “I think he can get double figures next year, regardless of what position he plays," says Dodds, who will this week attempt to lift his players after the disappointing Millwall defeat ahead of the final two games of the season. "That will be an easy target for him. he’ll be 18 going-on 19, that would be a huge achievement as a first-year pro. “He’s scored seven goals which for a second-year scholar is unbelievable. I always reference the point he should be playing youth team football and when you use that as the marker, you realise how talented he is. I think he’s had a really successful year." For all Dodds believes Bellingham's versatility is a mark of his talent, he thinks the youngster could do with nailing down one specific role and an "identity" moving forward. He said: "I mean, is he a No. 9 for Sunderland? I think he has all the attribute. Or a No.10, a No.8? "In twelve months’ time there'll hopefully be a little bit more clarity for him, the fans and everyone at the football club. “I would like positionally for him to have been more consistent but for him to have been utilised in so many positions at this level at such a young age is a huge marker for what his future potentially has for him. "Ultimately if he has the support of the fanbase, which I’m sure he will have, he’ll be a happy boy."
Like the lad a lot. Hit and miss this year but I'm hoping the minutes in his legs and the lessons learned set him up for a biggggggg year next time around.
Dodds says it all really, he’s just a kid like Riggy playing in a man’s game which is often overlooked by some. Hopefully he blossoms and reaches his full potential then we’ll really have a player on our hands. Patience and our fans haven’t been the best of bedfellows in the past. I doubt it ever will with some.
It's easy for us to forget just how young he is. Reading what Dodds says, he seems amazed at how much game time he has had. I think we as supporters have recognised that and at times have voiced our concern at him getting too much game time for his own good. There's no doubt that we have some real gems at our club and even in a disappointing season there have still been signs of the talent we have blossoming. Jobe, Clarke, Rigg, Patterson, Neil, Ballard, Hume and to a lesser extent because of injuries Cirkin, Alese and Huggins all have the potential to play at the highest level. That's 10 players - nearly a full team. It's great to hear that Jobe loves the area and the fans and I look forward to see him moving up a level with his performances over the next couple of years.
I really like him, I think there has been a lot of criticism around him this year, however I don't think it's about him personally. I think it's been directed more at the club and the notion that he has to play. In fairness if you look at the fact most players his age are lucky if they even make the bench he has actually excelled, along with Rigg they will be something else in the coming years
Thing is, if he's just a kid, I don't understand why he's played practically every minute this season when available? Surely somebody like Dodds would know that he'll have needed taking out of the team now and again to keep him fresh and not get burnt out which he has done a few times this season. Imo.
Well he's played up front last part of the season as for whatever reason we haven't had a C.F. of note. The kid has played where he's been asked to fit in and that's probably why in some fans eyes he's appeared undroppable. Hopefully he'll get an 8 or a 10 roll and stick to that in future and secure one position as his own.
Nobody seems sure what his best position is. Hope our new coach can find it for him and he can fulfill his potential with us.
thing is, i never expected jude bellingham. i expected a young lad who would blow hot and cold but not be playing so many games this season, at times i feel he could have 'shown more' in games and possibly could have used a couple of breaks from the team now and then but then i am not the coach. he has the talent, he simply needs to learn the rigours of 'the mans game' during a full season...i am sure he (and the other young lads) will see a better season next year.
One of his best showings this season, ironically, was when he was dropped/rested and came off the bench, scored that game too iirc.
I don’t watch much of Real Madrid. Is Jude a box to box, kind of 8 there? It could be Jobe’s best position as well. I do like some of what he brings to the 9 position like the instinct for goals and some decent movement that he shows. He has got better awareness there than when in the 10 position. He can hold the ball up well but got outmuscled and out thought against Millwall. That was more than forgiveable for a young lad. The service wasn’t great again. Edit: As has been said elsewhere, Jobe doesn’t have great pace or a burst of acceleration which would make him more dangerous as a 9. Maybe he will improve there a bit as he’s a big lad and only 18. Still developing his full physique and athleticism.
As you say,still developing. He has talent,but we need to channel him into finding his best role. To me,he's the sort of young lad that comes into a winning team and will add quality. Not as effective in a team struggling to find their form.
Those are two brilliant interviews. That is the Dodds I want to hear. His individual player development knowledge and ability is 1st class. I hope somehow whoever the new gaffer is finds a way to play to these talents Dodds has. We have talent coming out of our ears and someone to think about players as individuals and what they need is essential. Dodds isnt a team coach yet in my opinion, but man he has a role to play to help players be their best selves.
I’ve had a proper brain fart here. Dack started up front v Millwall so not sure which game I’m thinking of.
I don’t think he works hard enough and can often go missing for 80-90% of games. I love his attitude and I love how much he wants to succeed. But im pretty certain he will never be a top premier league player. I don’t think he’s quick enough, he hasn’t got great movement or passing and no real skill. It’s just my opinion on what I’ve watched. But I do hope he makes me look like an idiot and goes on to have a fantastic career, for the benefit of safc and himself.
As an opinion of an 18 year old player and what we have seen I can understand how you came to those conclusions but TBF to Jobe he is probably quicker over the ground than most realise. I think that his biggest area for improvement is speed of thought. I do think he will go on to be a top player and I hope that is with SAFC, but that will mean we as a club will have to match not only his but our players ambitions
The abuse he gets is extremely harsh. He's a young lad and he's still learning. It's bound to affect his confidence when you see the comments that are posted about him and hear people yelling at him at the match. Think he's promising but he needs a leader on the pitch IMO. The whole team does to be honest. A Kevin Ball type figure to organise the team, encourage them and help them stay grounded during the match.
