Sunderland continue to struggle under Phil Parkinson but the draw against Blackpool did show signs of improvement, and offered an indication of the new direction he is trying to take his team in.
On the chalkboard
Parkinson has had a tough time so far and though improvements need to be made by him, he has on the whole been let down by the squad at his disposal.
Too many key players have failed to perform this season. Will Grigg looks a shadow of his former self while players like Chris Maguire have been guilty of a lack of effort in recent weeks.
Sunderland’s weak mentality means they are often unable to overcome a deficit, and they regularly find themselves behind due to a defensive vulnerability, but that has largely been solved by Parkinson’s recent switch to a five-at-the-back formation.
The Black Cats have still conceded two goals in two games but one of those was a Gillingham set-piece and the other a beautifully lobbed goal from the Seasiders at the weekend.
Parkinson’s change is, therefore, paying off at the moment, and the greater understanding the team has playing in such a style, the better they will be as a result.
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Formula for success
Sunderland’s midfield is not good enough at defending or attacking to give them a chance to dominate possession in matches, but playing 5-2-3 negates that issue somewhat.
It has granted freedom to wingbacks Luke O’Nien and Denver Hume, both of whom benefit from being given a license to roam forward, with the former scoring three goals this term and Hume averaging 1.9 successful dribbles per game.
Furthermore, the reassurance of playing three centre-backs fills those playing there with more confidence, particularly Alim Ozturk, who has made a strong case to start on a regular basis in recent weeks – receiving a higher rating from Roker Report than any other defender.
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In attack, there could be a similar story developing. While Grigg would likely be isolated in the new formation, too, Charlie Wyke has come in and shown just how pivotal he could be.
He scored a terrific goal last weekend and could have notched the winner but for the woodwork. His four shots overall is the kind of involvement from a striker that Parkinson is looking for since the Northern Irishman has averaged just 0.8 shots per game by comparison.
A greater understanding of the system and these players continuing to improve is a good mix for Parkinson to get things back on track, and with a bit of belief and confidence, the team may start picking up results.
To enhance his chances of picking up points, however, Parkinson should make one key personnel change to his team which could make all the difference.