Régis Le Bris
Sunderland’s recent performance at the Stadium of Light has garnered significant attention, particularly from former Premier League manager Tim Sherwood. The team showcased a commendable display against Arsenal, drawing praise for their tactical execution and the positive influence of head coach Regis Le Bris. This comes after a proactive summer recruitment drive that saw 14 new players join the squad, significantly bolstering the team’s capabilities.
Tim Sherwood said: “They [Sunderland] didn’t go away anywhere, did they? When they attack, they attack with numbers. You saw the amount of bodies in the box. When they have a set piece, they wait until the action’s finished. They keep the ball alive, they keep it in the dangerous areas, they load the box up. They’re physical with the Arsenal players, they’re not scared at all. We’re talking about an Arsenal team that didn’t play bad. It’s not as if Arsenal played bad, it’s just that they never went anywhere. They didn’t go away. Normally, teams put their head down and think, ‘That’s it, now they’re going to go ahead, they’re going to win’. Never say die attitude. The fans’ support put the wind in their sails. When they get set-pieces, like I say, if they don’t win the first one, they win the second one, they keep it alive. Not a team in the world wants to be under pressure with six or seven bodies from the opposition in their box, challenging for every ball like their lives depend on it.”
Sherwood continued: “Not only that, when they get their self-level, Dan Ballard typifies what Sunderland are all about with that block in the last seconds of the game – puts his body on the line for the cause, for the team, for the badge. That’s exactly what you need if you want to stay in the Premier League. They’re staying in the Premier League, I’ve told you for a month now. There’s no danger they will go. Where can they actually finish? What they are at the moment is party poopers. And that’s great. To beat the big teams, who would have thought they could get a draw off Arsenal? No one’s getting anywhere near Arsenal. To score a goal against Arsenal is bad enough – they’ve scored two against them. So, yeah, it should be encouraging for the rest.”
Sherwood added: “But who’s going to be brave enough to be able to do that? Regis Le Bris has actually been brave enough to say, ‘You know what, guys, when we get the ball in the final third, we wait till the action’s over before we start worrying about them attacking us’.”
The pundit was then asked what he knew about Le Bris prior to the Frenchman arriving in England, responding: “Zero. Zero.” Quizzed on how impressed he is with the Sunderland boss now, he added: “Well, you can only judge him… what he’s done has been outstanding. I think their recruitment, head of recruitment, should be knighted as well. Incredible signings, what they’ve made. For me, Granit Xhaka is the signing of the summer.”
Sherwood’s comments highlight Sunderland’s strategic approach and resilience against top-tier teams like Arsenal. The team’s ability to maintain pressure and capitalize on set-pieces has been pivotal in their recent performances. Dan Ballard’s defensive heroics exemplify the commitment and determination within the squad, which Sherwood believes will secure their Premier League status. Furthermore, Regis Le Bris’s leadership and the club’s successful recruitment strategy, including the acquisition of Granit Xhaka, have been instrumental in Sunderland’s promising start to the season.
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