Your questions answered after Sunderland 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday
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00:00Good afternoon. Welcome along to On The Whistle. Well, well, well. Sunderland are winning the
00:15league with 100 points. Listen, it's really nice for you all to be doing On The Whistle
00:19at the Stadium of Light with a big Sunderland winter tour bike because we haven't actually
00:23done very many. Sat with Jeff Brown. Thanks again, Jeff, for doing it last week off to
00:28Cardiff.
00:29Thanks, Jeff Brown.
00:30Loads of positives from that game, but we were also a bit like, hmm, this wasn't exactly
00:35like emphatic, front foot, exciting football. They got the job done and that's good, but
00:39I'm a little bit concerned about some of it. Well, today was just, it was by far the best
00:43performance since Tony Robert left, in my opinion. Obviously, there were some good wins
00:46under Mike Dodd, but they were played in a very different way. For me, this reminded
00:49me of the Southampton game about a year ago. It's the Sunderland that we were promised.
00:53It's the Sunderland that we were told the breeze could deliver. And what an unbelievably
00:57exciting afternoon to see it in full flow.
00:59Yeah, brilliant, emphatic. I was a little bit worried coming into the game just because
01:03Sheffield Wednesday have had a bit of hype. Danny Rowe, continuity, they've had a couple
01:07of good players. They've signed some players. They absolutely thrashed Plymouth. That was
01:10probably a little bit of a case of Plymouth being poor as well. When Alan Brown wasn't
01:14on the team sheet, I was a little bit concerned, but it didn't take long for those concerns
01:18to be sort of melted away. As we said, against Cardiff, it's the first home win for Regis
01:23Le Brief in the Championship, another clean sheet. So there's a lot of things he's ticked
01:27off in those first two league games that help the manager get up and running. A start is
01:33really, really important, especially when coming off the back of such a poor season
01:38last season. To get those two wins under his belt, home and away, clean sheets, it's massive.
01:42It is absolutely huge. It's a really good start in his career at Sunderland.
01:46And the performance today is so important to build on that. It's one thing to get results,
01:48but also to show the fans that there's something to get excited about. We talked so much about
01:53how it's not always Sunderland's fault, but it's not always easy. Sunderland don't maximise
01:58the stage of a night because it's too slow, the tempo's not right. In part, that's the
02:01opposition, the low blocks that take the time out of the game. But today, it was so refreshing
02:05to see Sunderland getting in the opposition's face. I mean, Barry Bannon's like, I know
02:09we joke, and the interviewer's always saying how amazing he is, and it sticks in our throats
02:13a little bit, but he's a good player, right?
02:14No, he is.
02:15But today, that midfield three were unbelievable. Their athleticism, their tenacity, how direct
02:20they were. And it was like, you're looking forward to the next game. And that's, I think,
02:24such a massive thing. And it was so nice to see that high press, because Sunderland have
02:27talked loads about being a high-pressing team. We haven't always seen it.
02:31No, absolutely not.
02:32And I know they're not going to do it in every game, because every opponent's different,
02:34and all that kind of stuff. But that was the biggest positive for me. And I thought, we'll
02:37go on to the questions in a bit. But that midfield three was insane.
02:40That midfield three?
02:41Neil ran the game, Job was so good, and Ray is a joke.
02:45It's ridiculous.
02:46It's unbelievable.
02:47That midfield three was absolutely fantastic. As I say, I was slightly worried when I didn't
02:51see Alan Brown's name on the team sheet, just that stability, continuity, experience.
02:55This sort of game is sort of meat and drink for him, isn't it?
02:59So, I wasn't necessarily worried about Chris Rigg coming in, per se. It was just, have we
03:03lost a little bit from Alan Brown? That didn't happen.
03:05I thought it was interesting that Job played the more reserved of the ten and eight-axis.
03:10Neil was obviously the six. Job was slotting in behind him and alongside him, but then
03:16Rigg played in that ten, so he was making the two in the 4-4-2 when Sunderland was defending.
03:20I thought the discipline Rigg showed actually to do that was outstanding. As you say, it
03:25was an absolute joke. That passed the clerk for my endless second. The touchdown, oh my
03:30God. You know, Barry Bannon, as we mentioned, is an experienced Championship operator. Give
03:35him time on the ball and he will hurt you. We've seen that over the years. He's done
03:38it for Sunderland. He didn't get any time on the ball today. I think Chris Rigg, Dan
03:42Neil and Joe Bellingham just out-muscled him, out-tacticed him, out-desired him. He
03:47was a bit alone in that midfield as well. I think Rowe possibly got his tactics slightly
03:51wrong, but I thought the way they dealt with that today was magnificent.
03:55I thought that was where Sunderland won the game in midfield. There were a few comments
03:58about Joel being named in the leadership group ahead of the Cardiff game. I think you see
04:02today, I get it, but his maturity and his tactical discipline is unbelievable for his
04:09age. I think today was maybe a little bit of a shame. As you say, because Brown wasn't
04:12playing, he had to take on a bit more of a disciplined role, a bit more of a deeper role.
04:15I think he showed what he's all about. We should get into the questions because we've
04:18been up four minutes, but we're excited and people won't forgive us because we did so
04:21many sad on the whistles. Remember the last time we were here with Sheffield? What an
04:26awful game. Blackburn Rovers, bloody hell.
04:30Has any SAFC coach ever tactically outclassed an opponent so well on their first game at
04:35the SOL?
04:36I don't want to bring the mood down, Ethan, but the answer is Phil Parkinson. Phil Parkinson,
04:41I think it was 5-0 against Trammey, was his first game at the SOL. Sunderland were absolutely
04:45brilliant. Will Greig, I think, had a really good game and everyone was going. Phil Parkinson
04:49knows how to get the best out of Will Greig. That's going to turn things around. Maybe
04:53there's a little bit of a lesson there that we shouldn't get too carried away, but we
04:57should also give, like I say, last week I was a bit like, this was good, but the general
05:01performance I was a little bit concerned about. I didn't really see La Brice's stamp on it.
05:04This week was the complete opposite of that. You could see exactly how he'd set the team
05:08up. I think he caught roll-out. I don't think he expected that level of intensity and that
05:12level of quality in the pressing. He'll earn his crust now because teams will be ready
05:16for it. There's time, Sunderland play here, teams will be ready for it and he's got to
05:20find different solutions, but that was a huge home debut for La Brice.
05:25I think what we always say in this job, which I find very difficult clearly because I'm
05:29a mad man, but you can't get too high and you can't get too low. I would stress that
05:33the two performances, Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday, whilst very different, both very
05:37positive and hugely encouraging, but you do just have to temper it a little bit. I don't
05:42want to put a negative stamp on things because I'm generally very happy. I thought it was
05:45fantastic. Brilliant for my end to get those two goals we'll come on to. But Sunderland
05:50will still need a striker. It will though. And you were going to say that, you know you
05:56were going to. We don't, honestly. Just putting it out there. Yes, well done you. Sunderland
06:02need a striker. What an amazing analysis. 10 out of 10. Chris Liddell says, great start,
06:07well played lads. Anyone think there was a bit of venger about La Brice? Not suggesting
06:10he's lacked the level of coach, but his calmness. Chris, I did say that after he went into his
06:15first press conference. Actually, it's documented you did say that. Just his demeanour. I agree
06:20and like, it was almost comical when the Roker end were repeatedly singing him for the wave.
06:25He was not having that. You are not getting away from La Brice. When he was introduced
06:30actually at the start of the game and he was giving a big welcome to La Brice and he was
06:33just stood there. He was asked about that in the press, wasn't he? And I don't think
06:37even in the question he didn't really understand what was going on. You are not getting away
06:41from La Brice. But yes, I really like his temperament because sometimes it's going to
06:44frustrate us a little bit because Sunderland will lose a game and he won't be particularly
06:47emotional and he'll just be really measured. And at the same time though, when they win
06:53he's not going to get carried away and he certainly wasn't. And I think that is important
06:56because it is an emotional club. We get emotional, fans get emotional. I think to have a leader
07:00who doesn't really get sucked into that is going to be really, really important. So I
07:03agree in terms of, I said there was something quite studious about him, something quite
07:07professorial. You aren't getting away from Regis La Brice, unfortunately. No, you're
07:11not. But I think the thing that we've noticed about La Brice in his short summer time is
07:15he's just so dialled in, isn't he? He's so focused on what happens on that football pitch.
07:20It's almost like La Brice is there and everything else is just happening around him and he's
07:23just not bothered because he's concentrating on that ball, where that defender is, what
07:28Thurgood's doing, what Clarke's doing and that's just what he's concerned about. Which
07:33is a great strength in a way because sometimes this football club can be a tad over emotional.
07:38And I think there were times where we'd sit here and feel like we needed a bit more from
07:44him and stuff but I do agree with that. So let's go on to the next question. A couple
07:48of people asked this actually but we'll go with Josh says, will Rigby be keeping Brown
07:51out of the XI for Burnley and other games if he continues to play like he did? I think
07:54this is such an interesting question. I actually asked La Brice about it and he completely
07:58swerved it which is fair enough. There will be games when sometimes. Brown was really
08:03good against Cardiff. We all said that's exactly what we hoped to get from Alan Brown. Used
08:09the ball well, picked up good positions, experienced Kenny but can you drop Chris Rig
08:14after that game? I don't know if you can. That was a proper break out. He got our man
08:18in a match. Second game in a row actually because he did it. He could have gone to anyone
08:21in that midfield I would say but he was. But given that it was his first league start this
08:25season. Possibly could have gone to Clarke as well. Possibly, yeah. But I just think
08:29he's amazing. I think the desire, the quality. We spoke in pre-season didn't we about how
08:35it was possibly his shirt to lose. He then comes and plays against Cardiff. He comes
08:39on from the bench. Brown starts. You could forgive him for getting a little bit miffed,
08:44a little bit annoyed. Nah, turns up against Preston. Probably the best player on the pitch
08:48despite Sunderland losing the game. Then he gets the nod today and guess what? He turns
08:53in another high quality performance. Doesn't soak, doesn't get on with it. The desire is
08:56still there. Sunderland falling up, he's chasing balls into the corner. He's all over Barry
09:00Bannon like a rash. I just think he is so talented, don't get me wrong. But as with
09:05a lot of players at Sunderland, it's actually his mentality which is the most impressive
09:08thing. I actually think Brown will probably play against Burnley because it's a completely
09:12different game. It's a completely different opposition. We've seen what Burnley have done
09:15in their first two games. You might need Brown for that game. I think he will. And you might
09:19need Joe further up the pitch for his athleticism to help you get up the pitch in the press.
09:23But it kind of doesn't matter. We're going to see loads of rakes. That's a performance
09:27that says I am now a 13 player. We're going to see him start loads of games. I think as
09:31well what Riggs got on his side, and I asked Lebris about this after Preston, is that Lebris
09:35sees him. He can play in the midfield next to Neil. He can play off the right-hand side
09:39as a replacement for Roberts. And now we've seen him also play as a second striker, smash
09:43number 10. So he is going to play games and it's clear that he's trusted in those positions.
09:47Perhaps maybe not alongside Neil as much yet. I think he'll get there. But that's his strength.
09:51He's got three positions he can essentially play in.
09:55Tony asks, what's more important, signing a striker or holding on to Jack Clark?
09:59It's a trick question. For me at the moment, it's still
10:03holding on to Jack Clark. I think you've got it. Because I think that we all know
10:07that Sunderland need a striker. And if they don't get a striker,
10:11they're probably not going to finish in the top six. And obviously Tony knows that asking the question.
10:15But I just think that Sunderland can play without
10:19a top class striker and be fairly competitive. I still think
10:23that Clark, going from this team, takes so much away.
10:27I think that'll have a huge deprimental impact. Now the positive is, Roberts is back at his best.
10:31You know, Riggs emerging as an attacking threat. Job's done well. So I don't think
10:35Sunderland, at the moment, it's only two games. But at the moment, they're not as one-dimensional.
10:39They're not as dependent on Clark and that's exciting. But right now, I think losing Clark
10:43would be really detrimental. But obviously they need to try and do both.
10:47Is it too much to ask for both? Yeah, if you had to give me one, I think I would keep Clark and
10:51go with what you've got. Shall we talk about Meander? Loads of people are asking about Meander.
10:55He did brilliantly and I thought it was really interesting to hear and listen to LaBriece talk about him there. He was so revealing
10:59about how LaBriece sees the game. He spoke about Meander and basically
11:03talked about his journey from coming back from Hames on loan, where he barely played, and getting in
11:07to start a line-up. And he said it's all about wanting to learn. He asked me every day about what
11:11he needs to improve. He talks to his teammates about what he can do better and what they can do
11:15for Hames. Constantly looking at his clips, constantly talking. And he said today was his reward.
11:19And I think he was so obviously sending a message to the squad there
11:23in terms of, I've got no favourites. If you
11:27learn and listen, you will get in the team. And I think it's a big early win for LaBriece
11:31because that is pure development. Obviously it's down to Meander.
11:35He's gone and done it. But the fact that he has gone to the head of the queue in a space of a couple
11:39of months, which we would never have predicted. We would have thought Bruce would have started.
11:43I think it's revealing in how LaBriece wants to go about things. I think that's a big, big early win for LaBriece.
11:47Against Cardiff City after the game, after Meander missed that chance, he was
11:51overheard as saying that was going to keep him up at night. And I think that's how much it
11:55means to him. And I think what's hugely impressive is that LaBriece has
11:59stuck with him, yes. But he's also come in with the mindset of, right, I'm going to prove.
12:03And that first goal, it's a quality finish. It's superb
12:07off the left foot. It's fantastic. But the second goal, as you mentioned to me
12:11when we were upstairs covering the game, that one's almost more pleasing in a way
12:15because he's made that run. It's the desire. I thought he put himself about
12:19a great deal as well. Not every game will be that open and he might not have as much joy
12:23as he does in every Championship game because of some mean Championship defences
12:27and some experienced players and he might struggle. But LaBriece has acknowledged that.
12:31He's said that he's not going to be able to do it for the majority of the Championship season, his first
12:35choice. But a huge step forward in his career. I mean, he's been at the club a year, over a year
12:39actually. He signed, I think, 23rd of July last year and he's had to wait all that time for his first
12:43Sunderland goal. Hasn't had that many appearances for him, so it was bizarre.
12:47At 19, to experience that, to experience the stadium, the love of the crowd, having worked
12:51so hard for him. I think it's an amazing story. I think that second goal,
12:55nobody scored that since Ross Stewart's left. That was the big thing for me. The first goal was a lovely
12:59hit, brilliant. But we know there are players in the squad who can produce that kind of goal. That one,
13:03second one, Joe, we know has the instinct for it, but he's obviously not going to play that. So that was why
13:07I made that comment to you about being so encouraged. We'll just end with one point from Daniel who says
13:11I think it's a good place to end because we're not getting carried away.
13:21I think the answer to that is, I think some of them are. I think the Mundell, he's not there yet,
13:25but he's made real strides. I've watched every game he's played since pre-season. He's a different
13:29animal at the moment and I'm quite excited about him. I think you can see how he's going to make an impact.
13:33Roosen, I actually think he's doing all right as an impact sub. He's causing problems, he's energetic.
13:39So I think there are players within that group who are ready to come in and make an impact.
13:43But I think we still need some additions. You need a striker. The winger situation depends a lot on Clark.
13:49Also full-back. I think that's the position on the pitch where there's the biggest drop-off.
13:53If Hulme got injured, everything has to change and that's not a great place to be.
13:57There's been a slight bit of panic and I do understand it because obviously someone lost against
14:01Preston and it was a much-changed XI. We've seen that XI maybe not cope too well against Bradford City
14:07in pre-season. But that XI or the XIs that play together, obviously a couple of players have left now,
14:12but they were never going to play together in a league game. You'd be very surprised if Sunderland
14:16start XI for a league game was that heavily rotated. I think individually some of these players,
14:21like Adil, like Roosen, as you've seen, can come in and step into a first-team environment where the
14:26squads or the start XIs are relatively settled. I think that is a possibility. However, as you say,
14:31you would want a couple more in the transfer window.
14:33But it's all good. So we're finishing on a positive note. Thank you so much for watching.
14:37Thanks for sending your questions in. That has been very enjoyable.
14:40The best on the whistle we've done for a long time.
14:42Who knew that we could do enjoyable on the whistle?
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14:47Keep an eye out for future games. Send your questions in.
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14:55Podcast on Monday. We'll do this all again.
14:57We'll see you then. Thanks very much.
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