Sunderland started their League One campaign with a win against Charlton Athletic and Jack Ross fielded five of their new signings.
Sunderland have made a number of defensive signings this summer and Jack Ross fielded two League One debutants at the heart of the Black Cats’ defence against Charlton Athletic, with Glenn Loovens and Alim Ozturk getting the nod.
Both players arrived on Wearside with a lot of experience from their previous clubs, with Loovens having captained Sheffield Wednesday and Ozturk having played across Europe.
However, judging by the performance of 25-year-old Ozturk last weekend, Ross should start the next game with Jack Baldwin rather than the Turkish central defender.
Ozturk started the game against Charlton visibly nervous, with the defender struggling to keep up with play in the early stages of the game, and he was caught out in a high defensive line in an attack which resulted in a penalty.
The former Heart of Midlothian defender looked sluggish in his movement and did not get up to speed until the second half, when 42-year-old Ross changed his team’s formation to a back three.
The Alkmaar born player did seem to suit sitting deeper in a back three, alongside Loovens, who also relished his deeper role in the middle of defence.
However, despite the former Trabzonspor man’s improvement after the interval, it is clear that Sunderland will not be able to field both Ozturk and Loovens every week, with both men lacking any real pace.
The Black Cats are better off looking at new signing Baldwin as a replacement in their next game away to Luton Town, with the former Peterborough captain having slightly more pace and agility, as well as a clear ability to lead from the back.
Ross certainly has strength in depth in the centre-back position, with new boy Tom Flanagan also nearing a return from injury, as well as full-backs Adam Matthews and Denver Hume possessing the ability to play in the middle.
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