It has been revealed to Sunderland manager Mike Dodds what his team’s “biggest issue” was during the loss to Swansea City.
Michael Beale was fired by Sunderland last week, and Dodds took over as manager until the end of the campaign.
The 37-year-old is in command for the third time in interim management. Following Tony Mowbray’s dismissal earlier in the season, he led Leeds United and West Brom to a pair of thrilling victories.
Additionally, Dodds altered the lineup and game plan for the Swansea game following back-to-back losses that put an end to the Beale era.
However, the adjustments were ineffective, as Sunderland lost 2-1 against Swansea City at the Stadium of Light.
Phil Smith pinpoints Callum Styles-Leo Hjelde link as weak spot
Dan Ballard faced a suspension during the match against Swansea City. In his absence, Jenson Seelt was included in the starting XI, but he had difficulties dealing with the pace of Swansea’s attack. The Swans dominated in the first 45 minutes, and the scoreline could have easily been more in their favor.
Journalist Phil Smith, however, points out that the issue for Sunderland wasn’t solely on the side where Seelt played but rather on the opposite end of the back-five formation. Callum Styles began at left wing-back, and Leo Hjelde occupied the left centre-back position, and it seems that this combination contributed to Sunderland’s challenges during the game.
In comments made on The Road Podcast, Phil Smith elaborated on the issues during the match, emphasizing that the main problem may not have been on Dan Ballard’s side but potentially on the opposite flank. According to Smith, the combination of Callum Styles and Leo Hjelde on that side seemed to lack chemistry, although he clarified that it’s not a criticism but an acknowledgment that developing such cohesion takes time. Styles was tasked with a hybrid role, drifting in-field during possession, and since Sunderland struggled with ball control, this left ample space for Swansea to exploit in their attacks.
A new-look for Sunderland, but at the wrong time
It is commendable that Dodds took a risk by altering the formation for the Swansea match, and that he changed it again at halftime when it was no longer effective.
Sunderland entered the game amidst a period of poor form, prompting the need for changes. However, the tactical experiment didn’t yield positive results, especially for Callum Styles, who had a challenging afternoon.
Styles, making his debut for the club, faced a significant task of not only navigating the left flank but also engaging in both attacking and defensive duties, all after spending a month on the sidelines. For Leo Hjelde, adapting to a new defensive setup and playing alongside a new teammate in front of him would have been a considerable adjustment, particularly after his solid performances in earlier matches.
As Phil Smith noted, neither player had particularly poor performances; it was more about the new-look side trying out a different formation, with Styles and Hjelde being among the newest additions to the team. The challenges they faced were likely part of the learning curve for the team as they adjusted to the changes.
Dodds may be more willing to experiment with different setups in the closing games as a top six finish appears increasingly improbable; this weekend’s trip to Norwich City is scheduled.