Sunderland’s defenders truly led by example throughout the Black Cats’ dramatic playoff matches.
Without Daniel Ballard, Regis Le Bris’ side could have been eliminated from the Championship playoffs in the semi-finals, but the Northern Ireland international expertly connected with Enzo Le Fee’s corner kick delivery to secure Sunderland’s place at Wembley Stadium after defeating Coventry City.
At Wembley Stadium, the defenders had to dig deep once more, with Chris Mepham stepping up in Luke O’Nien’s injury absence by winning four duels and making 12 clearances to keep Sheffield United at bay.
However, with Mepham gone, Sunderland may aim to acquire some new centre-backs for the upcoming Premier League challenge, with O’Nien one player who may have to slip into the reserves despite being a devoted Wearside worker.
O’Nien’s heroics in Sunderland
This is the competitive nature of the beast, after all, and individuals who are deemed reliable in the Championship may not be cut out for the arduous transition to the Premier League.
O’Nien has only ever played EFL football in his long career, and the ex-Wycombe Wanderers defender’s no-nonsense mentality has made him a fan favourite at the Stadium of Light since day one.
Indeed, as Sunderland rose from League One obscurity to the brink of top-flight football, so did the quality of O’Nien’s performances, with the Black Cats veteran now having made 314 appearances for the Wearside giants, scoring 23 goals and assisting 16 times.
However, the versatile Sunderland veteran – who can also play in central midfield – is not without flaws, with a hefty 52 yellow card record whilst wearing a Black Cat jersey a huge issue, especially if a skilled player in the league above pulls out this hot-headedness in him.
Furthermore, his complete lack of expertise in the top tier could come back to haunt Le Bris and Co. As a result, if a deal for a Premier League-ready centre-back to join the ever-expanding squad is imminent, it must be pursued.
The “outstanding” PL talent who represents a significant O’Nien improvement
That is not to say that O’Nien will not continue to play a role in Sunderland’s efforts to stay afloat, as his captain-like fearlessness is a valuable asset around the building.
However, the Premier League can eat promoted sides whole when it comes to poor defensive displays, as shown in former playoff winners Southampton surrendering a league-high total of 86 goals last season, resulting in them ending rock bottom of the list.
This is where Liverpool behemoth Joe Gomez might come to the rescue, according to a recent Guardian story, with the newly promoted team competing with Newcastle, Aston Villa, Burnley, Leeds United, and other clubs to acquire the Reds defender.
The large number of names looking at the 28-year-old may make it difficult for Sunderland to secure his services, but if they do, they won’t be as concerned about their defensive options entering the elite league as they are right now.
| Gomez’s overall PL numbers | |
|---|---|
| Games played | 149 |
| Goals conceded | 106 |
| Tackles | 211 |
| Tackles won | 72% |
| Recoveries | 720 |
| Duels won | 590 |
| Aerial battles won | 253 |
| Passes per match | 53.79 |
| Wins | 99 |
| Clean sheets | 47 |
| Stats from the Premier League | |
A brief look at Gomez’s “outstanding” top-flight figures, as he was previously described by Reds colleague Virgil van Dijk, explains why Sunderland would be immediately at comfortable.
Notably, the London-born centre-back has only conceded 106 top-flight goals in 149 outings.
Much like O’Nien, the Liverpool number two can play in a variety of positions on the pitch if necessary, with Gomez capable of providing Le Bris protection in both left and right back positions, as well as defensive midfield.
With two Premier League titles next to his name, signing Gomez would demonstrate Sunderland’s commitment to moving up a division rather than settling for what they already have.
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