It’s fair to say last Saturday wasn’t our day, and nor was it Joe Gelhardt’s, who was hooked at halftime after getting everything wrong.
Joffy has had a rough start to life at Sunderland, having been asked to do things he wouldn’t usually do on the pitch and it comes as no surprise that things aren’t working out for him or us. Saturday was the worst of them all, every touch went astray, and he was unable to make any effect on the game, which prompted Mowbray to send the lads out without any striker at all after subbing off Gelhardt.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing Jack Clarke up top and maybe having Jewi on the left for something different. As long as things are kept on the ground I reckon he can score a lot, he can hold the ball up pretty well too, almost too well as he often runs himself into a cul-de-sac as a result of not letting go. Regardless, he's shown this season and last the finishing is there, and maybe if he had some chances that Gelhardt has had this season I reckon he'd have put more in the back of the net.
Another option up top could be one of the even younger lads, we love giving youth an opportunity, and with nothing to play for now by the looks of it we could look at giving the academy lads a look in. Just last night we had plenty of seniors playing in an Under-21 fixture against Stoke which they won 4-1 and in that game 19 year old Harry Gardiner grabbed two goals, taking his tally this season to six goals in ten games. He’s also scored in each of his last four games too, so it could be worth giving the in-form lad a shot.
Then of course, as always, there is the wildcard option. Mr Sunderland himself, Luke O’Nien. He began his career as a striker, and has already pleaded his case to be put up top this season, claiming he can grab us 15 goals and honestly I wouldn’t put it past him, there’s nothing he can’t do.
