In his 14 months in charge at the Stadium of Light, O’Neill has largely deployed a 4-4-1-1 system with Stephane Sessegnon operating in the hole behind the lone striker.
But, having signed Danny Graham, the fans are looking for a more adventurous attacking formation, linking Graham with Steven Fletcher.
Martin O’Neill: “I’ve no fixed way of thinking this is the perfect way to play.
“I changed things at Celtic and did the same at Leicester.
“It’s as much to do with the personnel as anything else.
“We went to Wigan and played three in the middle of the pitch with two wide players for the first time.
“Tactically, I didn’t want to be outnumbered by Wigan in there because they’d caused us plenty of problems in the early part of the game there in January last year, and the same here earlier this season, although I don’t concern myself with everything the opposition do.
“But because we got the result, you say that it worked.
“In this modern day, I honestly believe that the second striker – whether you call him a number 10 or forward-thinking midfielder – his natural position is to drop in.
“Whether he helps out as much defensively for some teams, and crosses the halfway line to defend is another thing.
“But (Carlos) Tevez and (Sergio) Aguero play together as two out-and-out forwards, and one drops off.
“Interestingly, I actually think Fletcher could play that position, even though he’s enjoyed playing up there as the centre-forward, and getting hold of it.
“He could be a link man. It’s a thought.
“We needed to bolster the squad, and get someone in to try to help and get a few goals, and Danny is capable of doing that, as he’s proved.”
Source: Sunderland-Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
