http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...e-after-behind-closed-doors-outing-1-7451267? Fabio Borini is being earmarked for a central role at Sunderland after leading the line in a behind-closed-doors game during the international break. Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat had been looking to add a physical targetman to his squad during the final days of the transfer window, yet instead, the Black Cats revived their interest in former loanee Borini and finally re-signed the Italian in a £7.75million deal after a 13-month pursuit. Sunderland played a behind-closed-doors encounter against neighbours Hartlepool United last week and Borini was tellingly deployed as the central striker Borini spent the majority of his season-long loan at the Stadium of Light two years ago in a wide role under Gus Poyet, albeit he was used as a centre-forward in the Capital One Cup final. But Borini made no secret of his desire to play down the middle and that is where he looks likely to be used by Advocaat after returning to the Stadium of Light. Sunderland played a behind-closed-doors encounter against neighbours Hartlepool United last week and Borini was tellingly deployed as the central striker in Advocaat’s favoured 4-3-3 set-up. That remains the likely set-up for Sunderland’s return to Premier League action against Spurs on Sunday, albeit Borini is short on match fitness after being forced to train on his own this summer during the end of his time at Liverpool. Borini’s signing had prompted question marks over whether he would return to a wide role and allow Jermain Defoe to move into his favoured centre-forward position. But since Sunderland’s opening day defeat at Leicester, Advocaat has been adamant that Defoe cannot play as a lone striker. Defoe has netted five goals in all competitions so far this season, but despite concerns over his ability to offer a helping hand defensively, Advocaat believes the England international has to be used in one of the wide positions in the front three. “I still think, as a striker, he can’t do that on his own,” said Advocaat after the draw at Aston Villa 11 days ago. “Maybe with two, but not on his own. “But he’s a good guy, a really positive guy. “He still had a chance at Aston Villa – a 100 per cent chance. With a better touch, he would score.” --------------------------------------------------------- Good good good!! Hope so
I would be well pissed off if I was Defoe. Somebody telling him he can't play in the central position, yet Fabio Borini can do the job
I disagree - Advocaat has said that Defoe is not capable of playing centrally as a lone striker (which he is not) - I don;t know if Borini is capable as I've never seen him play there but FFS he can't be worse than Fletcher or Graham! Defoe's first touch isn't good enough to play as a lone striker (twice against Villa and at least twice against Leicester he should've controlled a ball but didn't) and that's basically what Dick is saying! Time will tell us if he's right or not but he knows more about our footballers than I do!
Only problem harry kane has not scored in the league - we all know what that means - or meant under previous times - maybe DA has changed something re our regular problem REopposition goal droughts and poor goalkeepers ...... still KTF and ETU
You're going to have to play lone strikers in a lot of games this season though, surely? You can't go into games away from home to most clubs in this league and start with two out and out strikers, you might as well save the bus fare and just give them the three points. I think Defoe is good enough in that lone role, he just needs the service, which should improve with the lads you've fetched in.
You're right in the formation - Advocaat won't play 4-4-2 - he doesn't play that formation. Defoe isn't the right player to play the lone role. Not good enough first touch so holding the ball up is a problem and you desperately need that in a lone striker. (Advocaat agrees with me as well from reading his interviews!) Defoe won;t be the lone striker - Advocaat said that after the Leicester game - he started up front on his own and had 2 very good chances to score at 0-0 - mis-controlled them both. Did the same against Villa and, when you've got a player capable of landing the ball on a sixpence like M'Vila is, you need someone it's going to stick to!
He shouldn't be playing with his back to goal, there's no point having him in the team if you're lumping balls into him expecting him to hold up play. A lone striker should be a clinical finisher and nothing should be prioritised above that, especially holding up play... for who? If DA's attempting this Arsenal-tappy bullshit, he'll be out the door before Christmas.
Naive management in my opinion. Borini will help us defensively playing wide of the front man. He'll muck in helping out the fb which we've lacked so far and is the mmain reason we are bottom. Should be Borini and Lens wide of Defoe with Toivonen in behind.
Is this `lone striker` thing really applicable now? The idea seems to be that Borini, Defoe & Lens is fluid, interchangeable and could be any one, two, or all three at any given time. DA has brought the pace into the team to be able make that work. Just thinking out loud.
I don't think it's Naive at all - Borini has a better first touch than Defoe - I have no doubt of that and that is what you need as a lone striker. I also think AJ will end up playing instead of Defoe and Defoe will end up on the bench as an impact sub once AJ is fully fit - just my opinion though
If that happens, I'll personally take DA out the back of the SOL and shoot him. Defoe has got off to an absolute flier this season and is the only player in our team that can more or less guarantee to score a minimum of 10 goals a season. Borini has no strength to hold the ball up and his first touch isn't exactly great either. I fully agree with Parker that it should be Defoe upfront with Borini out wide and tracking back. Defoe can't track back and can't play upfront? (but can score 5 in 5) Borini can't play upfront but we know is great for out wide and tracking back... Naive management.
I hope that we will be playing fast attacking (and counter attacking) football, with balls played along the ground and accurate crosses coming in from the wings. Things that will play to our players strengths. No ****ing hopeful balls lobbed up the pitch in a naive hope that Defoe/Borini/Lens/AJ etc will be able to hold up. We dont need our "central" striker to be a target man imo, we need balls played into / in front of the players feet for our attacking players to run onto. Any one of our 3 attacking players should be able to get into the box and switch into the central striker role.
I agree with that 100%. Whether Borini can do any better remains to be seen. But he certainly doesn't deliver enough goals playing out wide - other than penalties. We've got a manager who's in his first full season here. We're at the beginning of a season and not in serious trouble yet. So Advocaat will no doubt want to experiment, and now is the time of season to do it. I hope it works out.
How do you know that '83? When did you last see him play as a lone striker? I have seen Defoe do it (badly) this season (his goal against Leicester came as one of a front 2 and his goal against Swansea came running off the wing) so he hasn't played up front and scored when up there on his own - that's not an opinion either it's a definite fact! AJ can do the defensive bit and the attacking bit and is, possibly, ojne of our best footballers on his day - him, lens, toivonen behind Borini I think is an exciting prospect. As per @grandpops comment, it might not make a difference - if we have a front three of Lens, Borini and Defoe interchanging regularly then they all get a go up there at some point!!
