Mike Dodds has identified what Sunderland really need to ‘work on’ in the summer transfer window.
Sunderland fell to their 20th defeat of the season yesterday, as Duncan Watmore netted the only goal of the game against his former team.
It felt like a step backwards for the Black Cats though, who had picked up five clean sheets in their last six games and also headed into the clash off the back of a gutsy 1-0 win over West Brom.
It was the same old at the Stadium of Light though, with Mike Dodds‘ side dominating possession but failing to create clear cut chances. Meanwhile, The Lions needed only one shot on target to claim all three points and secure their place in the second tier for next season.
The Black Cats already have seven more losses than their tally from last term, though they have actually conceded less goals.
Unsurprisingly, their problem has been at the opposite end of the pitch, with Sunderland scoring a whopping 16 goals more during the 2022-23 campaign.
Amad Diallo, Ross Stewart, Ellis Simms and Jack Clarke scored 39 goals between them last season, while the Wearside club now only have the latter to rely on.
Sunderland need to ‘work on’ one thing this summer
It has been a constant issue for the team this term and Mike Dodds has now admitted it is something the club must ‘work on’ this summer.
Speaking to the media after the game (as per journalist Phil Smith), Dodds said: “”I can’t sit here and say it’s not frustrating. It’s obvious that it’s an area the club need to do some work on in the summer.”
The striker issue is something that both Michael Beale and Tony Mowbray previously addressed too, but something that Kristjaan Speakman clearly didn’t think was enough of an issue to do anything about.
Can Kristjaan Speakman make amends?
The fans can see it and so can all three of the managers, so it clearly doesn’t take a genius to work out where the problem lies.
At this point, supporters are just waiting for the season to be over so we can start again this summer and have a real crack at it next time, but that would require Speakman to have learnt his lesson.
If Sunderland don’t go into that transfer window all guns blazing, searching for a proven goalscorer with double figures, then we are already in big trouble.
We can’t do what we have done every other window and faff about until all the decent strikers have been snapped up, then complain that we can’t afford anyone else.
There is so much pressure on the club to get it right this summer and they know that if they don’t, then there will be thousands of fans pushing them towards the exit door.