What Regis Le Bris appears to think is his strongest side – or close to it – played in Germany, with a second XI, including the likes of Dan Neil, Patrick Roberts and the fit-again Chris Rigg in action at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
Here are the talking points to emerge from the weekend games:
PECKING ORDER AND TEAM SELECTION CLUES
The weekend games offered us the clearest indication so far this summer of Le Bris’ selection thinking ahead of next week’s West Ham opener, and it would come as no surprise whatsoever if the XI that started at Augsburg was the team against the Hammers.
Assuming new signing Arthur Masuaku – who was unveiled to fans at the Stadium of Light on Sunday alongside Marc Guiu – isn’t deemed ready to start against the Hammers after missing pre-season, then Jenson Seelt is likely to keep his place in the side. He did his chances no harm in Germany.
And while the return of Anthony Patterson, Chris Rigg and Wilson Isidor against Rayo Vallecano was a real boost, all are likely to have to settle for a place on the bench next Saturday.
Enzo Le Fee is an interesting one and it will be fascinating to see how the midfield pecking order takes shape in the coming weeks. Le Fee played central on Sunday, despite the lack of a left winger in the side against Vallecano, with Alan Browne deputising on that side.
Saturday’s performance was promising and pleasing, a 1-0 win secured by Habib Diarra’s early goal and Robin Roefs’ penalty save.
But Sunderland were outplayed on Sunday, Vallecano – who finished eighth in La Liga last term – polished, impressive and deserved winners.
They took the lead on 20 minutes when Rigg was caught out and dispossessed on the edge of his own box, Jorge de Frutos taking full advantage and stroking home.
And the visitors doubled their lead early in the second half when substitute Aflsono Espino found the bottom corner. Isi Palazon scored the third on the hour mark.
DAN NEIL’S PERFORMANCE & WHAT NEXT FOR THOSE ‘ON FRINGES’?
A lot can change in football in a two-and-a-half months.
At the end of May, Dan Neil enjoyed what was far and away the best day of his career so far, leading his boyhood club out at Wembley and lifting the trophy after the Black Cats won promotion in the most dramatic circumstances.
But a summer of change followed. Neil has seen three midfielders arrive, all who started at Augsburg on Saturday, plus the confirmed capture of Le Fee, all while uncertainty over his contract situation has lingered on.
The 23-year-old is now in the final year of his current deal at the Stadium of Light, and unless there’s been productive talks and progress behind the scenes, it feels unlikely that the transfer deadline will pass without Neil’s future being resolved one way or the other.
Where does Neil stand in the current pecking order? The weekend selections suggest he’s set to be pushed out of the starting XI by the new recruits, but Neil’s performance on Sunday might well give Le Bris something to think about.
He was Sunderland’s best against Vallecano. On a difficult afternoon against superior opposition, he was tireless out of possession and tidy with the ball, trying to drive the home side on whenever he had the opportunity.
STRIKERS & MAYENDA FRUSTRATION
Fair play to Neil for his display, but other positives were hard to find on Sunday in terms of performances, though it was obviously a major boost to have Rigg and Isidor back in action.
Isidor was starved of service and didn’t get much of a sniff in front of goal, and with Guiu having not played in pre-season for the Black Cats, Eliezer Mayenda will almost certainly be the starting striker against the Hammers.
Mayenda’s new contract this week and the accompanying praise from Kristjaan Speakman highlighted just how valuable the Spaniard has now become to Sunderland, but he would have benefited from a pre-season goal and was frustrated to spurn a glorious opportunity when he missed a penalty at Augsburg on Saturday.
WHAT NEXT IN TRANSFER WINDOW?
The signing of Masuaku on Sunday morning strengthens the backline, but Sunderland are still prioritising a new central defender, though clearly time is not on their side if they want to have someone in before West Ham.
Masuaku’s arrival will allow Le Bris to move Reinildo into the centre if needed, but Seelt still feels like the most likely starter against the Hammers as things stand.
The Black Cats in talks with Getafe over the signing of Paraguay international Omar Alderete. The 28-year-old is expected to cost around £10m, though sources on Wearside claim talks aren’t quite as advanced as reports in Spain claim. Alderete is understood to be keen on the move.
Sunderland remain in the market for another wide attacker, and there are plenty of players who don’t feature in Le Bris’ thinking who the Black Cats want to offload. The likes of Ian Poveda, Abdoullah Ba, Hemir, Pierre Ekwah and others weren’t involved in either game over the weekend, as Sunderland continue their efforts to get them moves.
Milan Aleksic, who is likely to head out on loan, came off the bench for the final quarter on Saturday, but Ahmed Abdullahi, another player who will leave temporarily, wasn’t involved.
SATURDAY VS AUGSBURG: Roefs; Hume, Ballard, Seelt (J.Jones 83’), Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki (Tuterov 86), Diarra; Talbi, Adingra, Mayenda
SUNDAY VS VALLECANO: Sunderland: Patterson (Nna Noukeu, 68), Huggins, Lavery (J.Jones, 68), Triantis, H. Jones, Neil, Le Fée, Rigg (Aleksic, 68), Browne, Roberts, Isidor (Tutierov, 68)
SUBS NOT USED: Ogunsuyi, Bainbridge, Middlemas