Michael Beale has admitted that despite Sunderland's problems in front of goal, the best thing for the team is to play one of the actual strikers the club signed in the summer.
CAN'T BREAK TEAMS DOWN
“The defensive record is why we are where we are,” admitted Beale. “In the last 18 games, we’ve scored 18 goals, and that’s under three coaches. It’s been an ongoing issue. We’ve had an issue as a team where, when we have more possession and play against low blocks, we really struggle.
IMPROVE OVER TIME
“We’d won two in nine under Tony (Mowbray), before he left. We’ve won four in nine since he left, so it’s important we stay in and around where we are. Over time, we’ll add players or get players back who make us more fluid, and that's the key thing. We've got a style of play but at the moment, under the pressure, we've not always been able to show it in the best light.”
PLAYING A STRIKER IS IMPORTANT
“I don’t know about the time before I come here, but I have tried to integrate a number nine more, and in at least 50 per cent of the games, we’ve played with one. You could argue at times we've been more fluid without it, but if you look back at the history of this club and when it's been successful, it’s been about number nines. It's important we play one and that whoever has it is worthy of it.”
