Regis Le Bris must have been left frustrated by his Sunderland side’s failure to go on and win the game against Lech Poznan in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Black Cats needed a reaction after their 2-0 loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend, but they were unable to claim all three points in Poland.
Sunderland had 25 shots on goal and created 2.97 xG worth of chances throughout the 90 minutes, yet they were only able to score the one goal on the night.
One of the players who contributed to the club’s lack of ruthlessness in the final third was summer signing Malick Fofana, who started on the left flank.
Why Sunderland must drop Malick Fofana
The Belgian winger claimed that he wanted to bring “joy” to the supporters after his deadline day move from Lyon for a club-record fee of £31m, as they beat Crystal Palace to his signature.
Unfortunately, he has evoked more frustration than joy from those watching on from the stands in a Black Cats shirt so far, as was the case against Lech Poznan on Thursday.
Le Bris gave the former Ligue 1 star the full 90 minutes to show what he could do in the final third, including a stint at striker towards the end of the match, but he did not do enough with his opportunity.
|
Vs Lech Poznan |
Malick Fofana |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
90 |
|
Shots |
6 |
|
Goals |
0 |
|
Accurate crosses |
0/3 |
|
Big chances created |
0 |
|
Assists |
0 |
|
Duels won |
2/7 |
In those 90 minutes, Fofana did not contribute to any goals, did not create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates, and he failed to score from any of his six shots on goal, hitting the post once.
Le Bris should now drop the winger, who has yet to score or assist a goal since his big-money move to the club, for the club’s clash with Leeds United at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland’s new Jack Clarke must replace Malick Fofana
Sunderland once had an exciting left-sided attacker in Jack Clarke, who scored 26 goals in his last two seasons on Wearside, and Le Bris has his own version of the Englishman playing in the wrong position.
Timur Tutierov has started the club’s last three matches in all competitions after injuries to Wilson Isidor and Brian Brobbey created a space in the centre-forward position, but that is not his natural role.
The Ukraine U21 international came up through the academy system as a left winger and has the potential to be a Clarke-esque figure for the Black Cats if he is given a run in his preferred position.
He has done a serviceable job as a number nine for Sunderland in recent matches, scoring the opening goal against Lech Poznan, but he could be even more effective out wide.
Clarke was such an exciting player for the club because he scored goals on a regular basis whilst cutting in from a wide position, as evidenced by 11 goals in the 2022/23 campaign and 15 goals in the 2023/24 season before his move to Ipswich Town.
Tutierov’s goal return as a winger at youth level for the Black Cats suggests that the potential is there for him to have a similar impact in the final third.
|
Timur Tutierov’s record at youth and senior level |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Appearances |
Goals + assists |
|
LW |
26 |
12 + 5 |
|
CF |
8 |
2 + 1 |
|
RW |
5 |
2 + 0 |
|
AM |
4 |
0 + 1 |
|
LM |
2 |
1 + 0 |
|
RM |
2 |
0 + 0 |
The Ukrainian forward has scored 13 goals in 28 appearances as a left winger or left midfielder in his career to date, whilst he has not been as prolific in central positions.
A return of two goals in 12 games as a striker or as a number ten suggests that he is best-suited to playing out wide rather than in a central role, which is why his current place in the team is the wrong one, despite his goal against Lech Poznan.
Now that he has his first senior goal under his belt, Tutierov could have the confidence in his ability in the first-team to thrive in his preferred position on the left flank.
Fofana’s dismal form for Sunderland suggests that the academy graduate could outperform him if he can bring his U21s goal threat over to the Premier League in the coming weeks and months.
Le Bris must now provide the attacker with a chance to play in his best position so that he can develop into the club’s new version of Clarke on the left wing, whilst allowing the manager to drop Fofana from the side.
