Sunderland’s win at Lincoln City at the weekend could be the start of a brighter future for the Black Cats. The result, a 4-0 away win, and the performance that went with it was the best seen by fans for some time. It appears that new head coach Lee Johnson is already changing Sunderland for the better.
New Head Coach Lee Johnson is Already Changing Sunderland
The Attitude Under Former Manager Phil Parkinson
Former Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson didn’t always fill fans with confidence that he was the man to lead them to promotion. A reluctance to change and a failure to have a plan B often let his side down. Plus an attitude of hoping not to lose set in quickly during his tenure.
Prior to his sacking, Parkinson said: “Games are going to be tight. I think that because of the stature of our club, there can be a feeling we should be winning games three or four-nil, but the salary cap has levelled the playing field. I don’t think there’s enough understanding of that.”
A New Way of Thinking for Changing Sunderland
However, Lee Johnson, following his side’s thumping win at Sincil Bank, gave a refreshing response to the questions asked: “Listen, we ain’t going to [try and] draw any games in this division, I tell you that now.”
“There’s no way in a million years I’ll go into any game to draw. And we were lucky today, they had two one-on-ones in the first ten minutes.
“We have to risk that with the high press, but knowing we can score four should give the boys that feeling that if we do make that mistake, which we will at times because I’m asking them to be so on the front foot, then we can go and bang in three or four.”
Lee Johnson Addresses Lack of Pace and Creativity
Under Parkinson, Sunderland lacked the creativity at times to be unable to unlock the opposition defence. Pace and directness were also proving to be an issue, especially when Lynden Gooch picked up an injury.
One of Johnson’s first decisions was to recall forgotten man Aiden McGeady. The tricky winger had been out of favour throughout Parkinson’s reign. McGeady has the ability to create and score goals and could bring a dimension back to the team that has been missing since he was dropped over one year ago.
Youngster Jack Diamond has also been brought into the first-team. The forward is a direct player with pace who will run at the opposition’s defence. Following an impressive performance in the EFL Trophy in midweek, he began the game against Lincoln. The 20-year-old continued to impress by winning a penalty and scoring the third of Sunderland’s goals.
Change of Tactics
A change in tactics has also brought two wins from three games. Gone has the more defensive 5-4-1 formation and a more attacking 4-3-3 has been adopted. Johnson has admitted that he wants his team to be more attack-minded. However, this comes with an increased risk of conceding. Should the Black Cats continue to keep their goals to games ratio up under Johnson, they should score more than the opposition.
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