So it seems in an article in todays echo (if someone can copy and paste it). He along with others need to up their work rate to regain a place in the starting side. SA is monitoring everything and is closer to his prefered team. But some seem a bit lazy. Not what you want to hear about a big money signing that no doubt has talent.
Here you go Comm... Jeremain Lens is one of several Sunderland players whose below-par work-rate is costing them a place in the starting XI. Dutch international Lens was Sunderland’s big-money summer capture after the Black Cats shelled out a fee which could eventually rise to £13million for a player who had twice previously worked under now departed head coach Dick Advocaat. But Lens has been an unused substitute for the last two games, with rookie Duncan Watmore preferred against Southampton a fortnight ago. Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has far from shut the door on Lens and expects the 27-year-old to be handed fresh opportunities in his continued search for his strongest side. However, after looking at the statistical analysis of Sunderland’s players, Allardyce says Lens must improve his work-rate to get back in the fold – a criticism which was also aired by Advocaat earlier in the season. Allardyce told the Echo: “I think what Jeremain has to do overall, like they all have to do, is to lift his level up in terms of work-rate. “There is no doubt at this level of football the size of the work-rate needed. “With each position, I have the levels of an elite performer and an average performer for a Premier League player. “It’s easy for me to monitor. “It’s not just Jeremain, but some of our players have been told that they haven’t reached the average and I expect them to reach that average very quickly. “In finding the right team, Jeremain has had the knock back. “But he’ll have an opportunity somewhere down the line that he’s going to have to grab. “I’m still not satisfied with the team and results, so somewhere he’ll get picked and he’ll have to be ready to take it. “Hopefully then he stays in.” Allardyce believes he is getting closer to knowing his strongest side, yet injuries, suspensions and of course results, have hampered his efforts to find the best combination. “I’m leaving players out and putting others in to try to find a solution,” he added. “I don’t want to do that really, but unfortunately there’s no option at this moment in time. “I’m getting a bit closer to finding that strongest XI, but three weeks since I’ve been here have been internationals. “When I first got here there were two suspended and three injuries. “Then we got three injuries in the Newcastle game, and the Everton game was one I’m still trying to get my head around.”
Cheers h and a.. With each position i have the levrels of an elite performer and an average one. Hhmm.
It would be more interesting if there were separate dressing rooms for 'elite', 'prem' & 'average' performers.. I don't think there would be room to 'swing a cat' in the 'average' dressing room at the mo!?!? Elite / Prem / Average ?........... Could be a new thread eh !!!
When PDC singled out players it caused one of the biggest fan backlashes we've had for a long time. I didn't see the big deal, thought people were going way over the top. Sam has said in those quotes there's a few players not giving enough but choose to single out and name one player in particular. Just wondering where the backlash is? It's not a dig, it's a valid observation given the effect it had when Paulo did it.
Defeats the object. O'Shea needed it when PDC did it. People's point was he shouldn't have named any names and that that it should have been done behind closed doors. But here is big Sam doing it. It's a simple observation with a simple question. I've no problem with what either has done. Tells it's own story of scapegoating imo. My problem at the time was the players not Paulo. We're on our third manager since and we're still ****e and there still remains something deeply infectious among the squad that breeds laziness and saps confidence. AJ can't be arsed, Ola can't be arsed, PVA can't be arsed and he's a fullback.
Ive no idea Bri. But how would you rate the rest of the summers tranafers? M.Villa seems to be the only standout.
Injury has stunted Borini's start. Liverpool making him train alone is our disadvantage. I'm very happy with Kaboul, I think Sam will get the best out of him. I still don't understand why we ended the transfer window with 3 right backs and 1 leftback and all 4 are better attacking than defending. We don't have any real safety in the fullback positions when we face teams where we can't push them forward, Palace being on of these sides. Ola looks a shell of the player I saw before he signed. Lens looks special but like AJ they're players we can't afford as they don't pitch in enough when we don't have the ball. Coates was clearly a mistake but Dick wanted him after the way he finished last season. It would have been a good window if we finished the job but we didn't so it was always going to be difficult.
Im on my phone Bri so can you tell us how many capped players are in the squad. I look at the squad and still cant understand why we fail constantly.
Nothing wrong with this assessment - shows BSA will get things to a level we fans want - hard work & commitment from our team - to go with more skillfull players - I'm sure more BSA players will follow in Jan - we're almost ready to go
