Trai Hume is being hung out to dry by Regis Le Bris, Sunderland’s defeat to Liverpool showed that
Trai Hume has had a lot of criticism at Sunderland this season, but he isn’t the one to blame.
Sunderland’s unbeaten home record came to an end against the reigning Premier League champions on Wednesday night, and to come away from that disappointed says a lot about the success they have had so far this season.
However, it was a generally toothless display from the Black Cats, who seemed to give the visitors far more respect than they did to the likes of Arsenal and Man City, both of whom they managed to get a result against.
Nilson Angulo’s full debut was a big talking point on the night, as was the performance of Hume, who certainly didn’t have a good time of it.
And that has led to plenty of criticism, a lot of which has been misplaced.
Regis Le Bris is the one to criticise for Trai Hume struggles
Regis Le Bris has done a superb job, and calling out some of his flaws does not take anything away from that. A spade will always be a spade.
But his decision to keep playing Hume in an unnatural position is doing the Northern Ireland international’s reputation on Wearside no good whatsoever.
When played at the back, Hume has shown time and time again that he is a quality Premier League defender, but asking him to play an attacking role in a side whose struggles have been in that area of the pitch is just opening him up to a lot of unfair criticism.
Many will say he did a job against Liverpool, but in reality, he was poor, and again, that is not a slight on him, but the role he is being asked to play.
He was wasteful in possession, offered very little threat in transition, but again showcased how effective he can be defensively.
Making it baffling that Le Bris keeps taking him away from there.
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Sunderland’s defeat to Liverpool may force change vs Fulham
Sunderland are back in action this weekend when they take on Oxford United in the FA Cup, but after that, a Premier League clash with Fulham beckons.
And if the Black Cats are to return to winning ways, then Hume either needs to be taken out of the team or used in his natural position. And when taking into account the quality often left on the bench, the former seems more reasonable.
Chemsdine Talbi has to start on the flank against the Cottagers, with Angulo on the opposite side.
If Sunderland are to rectify their attacking concerns, it would make sense to do so with attacking players, of which Hume clearly isnt one.
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