A good piece from the Roker Report.. While much of the hubbub and hoo hah regarding Sunderland's transfer activities of late has focused on Martin O'Neill's search for a striker (or two), it would be folly to assume finding a replacement for the outgoing Asamoah Gyan is the only item on the Ulsterman's summer agenda. With Stephen Fletcher seemingly the manager's chief target, this has led to much talk surrounding the formation O'Neill will seek to employ come the season's start next month at Arsenal. The prevailing wisdom, at least at this point in proceedings, suggests the Black Cats opting for something of a 4-3-3 formation, with a lone striker - hoped to be Fletcher - flanked by two onrushing wingers. On the left, James McClean's position is assured. The Irishman was a revelation last year and, despite a disappointing lack of action at Euro 2012 last month, he will undoubtedly be one of the first names on O'Neill's team-sheet. It is on the opposing wing, however, where question marks lie. ...................................................................... Read the story here. http://www.rokerreport.com/2012/7/1...l-room-for-seb-larsson-in-the-sunderland-side
Cant answer that one right now, to many if's and but's. Who will we bring in and will Sess stay being the two biggest.
Seb like it or not is slowing down a bit now so in my humble opinion will drift into the centre of the park and we get a new RW to take his place. Seb can pick a pass out, very good at the dead balls and, could control the game from the middle something we have missed in the last 3 or so seasons.
He could do a Pirlo I reckon. .........................Mignolet..................... Bardlsley....Oshea...Cuellar......Richardson ....................Seb....Cattermole................... New Rw...........Sessesgnon.........McClean .........................New Striker......................
I'd play Seb centrally and as its a good shout about a 'Pirlo' role. Seb is an excellent passer and has fantastic dead ball skills and in the modern game, those are skills that can win tight games.
He's an awesome crosser and dead ball deliverer. I think it would be worth keeping him on the wing. He's never had pace, but if you get him in the right position, his crosses are one of the best in the league.
I'd agree with those saying he could play centrally. I also don't think it'll be as black-and-white as 'MoN plays 433' - we'll adapt as required against the big boys and could play with deeper midfielders at times, so there may still be times Seb is wanted on the right as well. I'd have him firmly in our 'indispensable' camp: 'Eight goals for the campaign is nothing to be dismissed easily - he also weighed in with a few assists - and his dangerous set-pieces added a powerful dimension to Sunderland's play that has been missing for too many years.' ....For exactly this reason. Last summer we were all saying a) we didn't get enough goals from midfield and relied too much on Bent/Gyan and b) we hadn't had a set piece specialist for years. It would be foolish to get rid of the player who fulfills these categories after one season where we finished 13th.
