A winner takes risks. And, why it may be a little premature to describe Moyes as a ‘winner’, he must be credited for taking his chances on Victor Anichebe.
Victor Anichebe may have alleviated some of the pressure on David Moyes after inspiring Sunderland to their first win of the season, but the under-fire manager has admitted to The Chronicle that striker’s signing was a gamble brought about by a lack of alternatives.
The 28-year-old learned his trade under Moyes with Everton but his career has been frequently stalled by a series of injuries and reported confidence issues, meaning his natural physical attributes and impressive hold-up play have never quite been reflected in his goal tally.
However, Anichebe showcased his seldom seen qualities with a matchwinning brilliance against Bournemouth on Saturday, the Nigerian international slamming home an equaliser after expertly swivelling past Simon Francis before rampaging into the box to win a penalty and allow Jermain Defoe to secure Sunderland’s long-awaited first Premier League win of 2016/17.
West Brom released Anichebe in the summer, meaning Sunderland were able to pick him up on a free outside of the transfer window, though Moyes has admitted that signing him was a last resort and, due to his injury record, a gamble – albeit one he is starting to justify.
“Maybe a little because of his injury problems [Anichebe was a gamble],” Moyes told The Chronicle.
“We’d have liked to have added another striker [in the transfer window] but it wasn’t meant to be. Victor was an option I always had in the back of my mind, someone who could give us a presence and hold the ball up.
“He’s a big striker to go, at times, alongside Jermain. His goalscoring record wasn’t what I was bringing him for because I had Jermain.
“I felt though if I had someone as a presence alongside him that would help and give us an alternative, someone we can bring off the bench, someone who can do a job.”
Often derided throughout his career for a moderate goal output, Anichebe’s ability has often been underappreciated by armchair pundits the land over.
However, as Saturday’s outstanding individual performance proved, there are few better in the Premier League at holding off defenders and bringing his fellow attackers into play.
But, what Sunderland need more than anything, is goals. Time will tell if Anichebe can provide them at a reliable rate.
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