Sam Allardyce is tackling a bonfire of the vanities at Sunderland, where his players are being forced to confront their imperfections as they face the realities of life at the bottom of the Premier League.
“I’m not sure all the players have actually identified their own strengths and weaknesses,” said Dick Advocaat’s successor as he prepared for Saturday’s home game against Southampton. “Sometimes players don’t like to hear what their weaknesses are but they have to take it on the chin and not let those weaknesses get exploited by the opposition.
“Can we always afford to play it out from the back? No. I want the players to understand that because, against a high-pressing team, they’ll sometimes find themselves two- and three-nil down before they can even adjust. If you’re good enough to play out from the back against a high-pressing team, fine; if you’re not, then don’t do it.”
Allardyce is setting his squad “homework” as part of an effort to escape the relegation zone. This involves statistical data relating to a player’s performance and information about future opponents being sent directly to first-teamers’ phones or tablets.
“I think if a player can digest his own statistical information away from the football club, in his own time, when he’s not under any pressure, without a coach standing over him, it can help him,” said Sunderland’s manager. “I tell the players they can use as much or as little information as they feel is right for them. I can say: ‘I’ve given you the information. My responsibility’s over now. I’ve given everything I can to help you become a better player. It’s up to you now. Hopefully you’re going to accept that responsibility by using that information to help me.’”
Allardyce has also provided each player with individual physical programmes they are expected to follow before and after training but he accepts many of Sunderland’s problems are psychological.
Certain players struggle to perform in front of 40,000-plus crowds at the Stadium of Light, where Sunderland have won one Premier League game this season, having recorded only four home league victories in the last campaign.
“There’s a fear factor,” Allardyce acknowledged. “Some of the players can feel slightly intimidated by the size of the crowd here and how it reacts sometimes. It’s a scenario where, if you give the crowd all you’ve got, they’ll support you. But if you don’t give them all you’ve got, they’ll see that and they’ll boo you. When they don’t get what they’re paying for they get on the player’s back and some of the players can’t cope with that. They crumble mentally. The fear factor comes in. It’s what’s going to happen.
“You’ve got to overcome it by being psychologically brave enough to accept that. The mental strength required is massive. To succeed at this level mental ability is far more important than physical ability because it’s a huge, constant pressure you have to get used to. But this squad is mentally fragile; players can be very fragile about how much criticism they can take.”
