This “monster” could be unleashed in a new role by Sunderland boss Michael Beale.
Sunderland fans received an early Christmas surprise when the board revealed on Monday afternoon that Michael Beale would be the club’s new head coach.
Following Tony Mowbray’s sacking, caretaker manager Mike Dodds guided the club to consecutive victories over West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United before standing down following a 1-0 setback away at Bristol City.
With games coming thick and fast, Beale won’t have much time to settle in, but his first priority will be to get the promotion hopefuls fire up top once more.
Sunderland’s offensive statistics this season
Under Tony Mowbray, the Black Cats were the fourth-highest goal scorers in the Championship and eventually ended in the last playoff slot, qualifying by having a better goal difference than Blackburn Rovers.
Sunderland had three players with 10 or more goals in all competitions: Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo, Ross Stewart, and Jack Clarke. However, the Tyne and Wear team is now placed 12th in England’s second division for goals.
The team’s goal-scoring performances have substantially declined. Clarke has 10 goals this season and is one goal away from matching his tally from last season, however he is greatly relied on by the squad, having scored 31% of Sunderland’s goals so far.
Sunderland, meanwhile, has five centre-forwards on their roster: Nazariy Rusyn, Mason Burstow, Hemir Semedo, Eliezer Mayenda, and Jewison Bennette. Only Rusyn is over the age of 20, although he has yet to score a goal this season.
Clarke’s season could be jeopardized if he suffers an injury or is sold, after being linked with a £15 million transfer away from the club in January. Beale must find a solution to the team’s goal-scoring problems.
This season’s stats for Jobe Bellingham
Sunderland’s offensive problems could be solved by placing star midfielder Jobe Bellingham up top, according to Beale. This isn’t a new job for the teenager, who has played in this position five times in his career, two of which were with Birmingham City’s U18s.
Despite this, Bellingham is Sunderland’s joint-second-highest goalscorer this season, having scored four times from midfield with only 22 shots, several of which were poacher’s goals within the penalty area. His performances this season have earned him plaudits from ex-teammate Troy Deeney, who described him as a “absolute monster.”
Jobe has an eye for goal and is potentially wasted in a deeper position, similar to his brother Jude Bellingham, who moved to Real Madrid for a stunning £88.5 million during the summer transfer window.
Jude had been a decent goalscorer throughout his childhood, mostly playing in a midfield two or three. However, famous coach Carlo Ancelotti chose to play the Englishman as a number ten who approaches the box with crashing runs from deep and is teamed with split strikers who create space for these moves.
The senior Bellingham has become one of the most prolific goal scorers in international football, presently dominating the La Liga scoring charts.
While it’s important not to draw parallels between Jobe and his sibling, there are many similarities in their styles of play. Given that the £6.5k-per-week Sunderland gem has experience playing up top, Beale could alleviate the team’s goalscoring woes by giving Jobe a run of games up top to prove his prolificacy as a striker.
The tactical strategy, which has helped Jude and Ancelotti in Madrid, could potentially spare the Black Cats a few million pounds ahead of the January transfer window.
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