“Le Bris Should Make the Game-Changing Decision: Drop Neil and Unleash Sunderland’s Next Superstar
After a strong start to his tenure at Sunderland, Regis Le Bris is beginning to face challenges, particularly following two consecutive away defeats. While the team currently sits second in the Championship standings, the recent 2-1 loss to Watford raised concerns among supporters, especially as several key players underperformed.
Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg had lackluster games in midfield, but Dan Neil’s performance drew particular scrutiny after he committed a late foul that resulted in a penalty for Watford. Following the match, Neil received a disappointing 4/10 rating from Roker Report writer Andy Tomlinson, leaving questions about who might replace him.
### Neil’s Struggles Against Watford
Neil has not had the best season so far, with his red card against Burnley in late August already causing frustration. His recent display against Watford only added to the disappointment, as he lost possession 11 times and won only 3 out of 11 duels.
### Potential Replacements for Neil
Le Bris has limited options in midfield, especially with Alan Browne missing the Watford match due to fitness issues. However, Browne may return, providing a more experienced choice. Alternatively, the young and talented Tom Watson could be a wildcard option. While Watson played on the left wing, his versatility allows him to operate in central midfield, as shown in his performances in Premier League 2 this season.
Le Bris has enjoyed success by using young players like Rigg and Bellingham in midfield, and Watson could complement them well in the upcoming match against the Rams, considering Rigg is only a year younger than Watson.
While it’s possible that Neil could keep his starting position despite his recent errors, Le Bris might consider making a bold move by starting Watson, particularly if he wants to shake things up in response to Neil’s underwhelming performance.
