The Black Cats manager thinks the notion of two strikers up front is “simplistic” and admits it makes him laugh whenever he hears it.
Sunderland manager Jack Ross has rubbished the notion of playing two strikers as “simplistic” and “nonsense”, and admits it makes him laugh whenever it’s brought up to him.
The Black Cats are the only side in the top four divisions to have scored in every league game this season but have only found the net more than once in one of their last nine outings, according to the Chronicle Live.
Ross has lined up the League One high flyers with two up top on a few occasions this term but his general front line deployment is an out-and-out striker supported by the likes of Aiden McGeady and Lynden Gooch from wide areas.
With strikers Will Grigg and Kazaiah Sterling having arrived at the Stadium of Light at the end of the January transfer window, there have been calls from some Sunderland fans on Twitter to switch to two up top:
Ross, however, admitted he was completely against the idea in conversation with the Chronicle Live, telling reporters: “It’s a nonsense statement that is thrown out by some people. The whole thing about two strikers makes me laugh whenever I hear it.
“If you’re playing two strikers and four midfielders, is that more attacking than playing a striker and two wingers? Because two wingers and and a striker, that’s three attackers in total. Some people might argue I’m wrong… but I just think [playing with two strikers] has become such an easy thing to say without any substance to it.”
Sunderland, who have scored 49 goals in League One this term, are next in action on Saturday afternoon, when they take on Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
