SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: Sunderland head coach Mike Dodds reacts on the sidelines during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland and Leicester City at Stadium of Light on March 05, 2024 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Why Mike Dodds must drop 20-year-old ‘great asset’ from Sunderland’s starting XI against QPR.
Sunderland will visit QPR in the Championship on Saturday afternoon, in what has become an important game for the Black Cats.
Sunderland have lost six consecutive games, marking the first time they have done so since 2006.
Mike Dodds’ team is now in 12th position in the Championship standings, with only nine points separating them from the lowest three teams.
The bottom half of the Championship standings has grown incredibly tight, and Sunderland’s seventh consecutive defeat this weekend would put them in serious jeopardy, with fewer than ten games remaining in the season.
This weekend at the Stadium of Light, anticipate changes.
Abdoullah Ba should be dropped from Sunderland XI versus QPR.
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND – MARCH 05: Sunderland head coach Mike Dodds reacts on the sidelines during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland and Leicester City at Stadium of Light on March 05, 2024 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Sunderland’s performance against Southampton was once again disappointing.
Sunderland struggled both defensively and offensively in the first half, with poor defense leading to the first goal and Chris Rigg giving away an unnecessary penalty for the second, finally sealing their fate.
And, while the result of 2-2 looked nice on Sunderland, it certainly flattered them, with Romaine Mundle’s goal taking a massive deflection and Jobe Bellingham delivering a moment of magic for the second.
According to Sofascore, Abdoullah Ba only made 12 accurate passes, won 2 out of 14 duels, had 0 shots on target, and finished 0 out of 5 dribbles.
The Frenchman, regarded by Michael Beale as a ‘great asset’ for Sunderland, started on the left of an offensive midfield trio, but Dodds may need to change that against QPR.
Dodds had chopped and modified the XI’s formation since his arrival.
But nothing seems to be working; with Sunderland continuing on the decline and showing no indications of improvement, further changes appear probable this weekend.
Sunderland undoubtedly needs more bite in attack, but injuries are restricting Dodds’ ability, and without Jack Clarke, Sunderland appears fragile.
Rigg appeared lost in the no.10 role against Southampton, therefore he may be better used on the flanks, or Callum Styles could be given an opportunity to start in a left wing position and demonstrate his abilities.
That would provide an opening behind the striker for Jobe Bellingham to move up the pitch, allowing Pierre Ekwah to return to the starting lineup beside Dan Neil.
It would be a more comfortable XI, and while it may not have worked at times this season, against a weak QPR team, a more familiar and grounded Sunderland XI may be enough to grind out a win.
Ba really isn’t contributing much to the squad right now, but Rigg, who started on the flank against Leicester City earlier this month, showed a lot of optimism with his dashes and forward thinking.
Dropping Ba might be the impetus he needs to find his form ahead of Sunderland’s vital run-in.
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