Tony Gillan: Sunderland simply can't defend and their tactics are proving weird and ineffectual

A fortnight ago we asked why they defend corners with all 11 players; regardless of what the score is; and why they don’t at least attempt to play attacking football when boring football is not bagging many points.

Last week, following a scarcely believable display of negativity at Gillingham that led to another defeat without scoring, we wondered if it would actually have been possible to be even more negative at home to Blackpool.

Go forward lads, because two clean sheets in the last 23 league games tells us that they simply can’t defend.

This was evidenced by Blackpool’s goal, when highly specialised advice such as “Just boot it man!” went regrettably unheeded. Perhaps that type of technical jargon only served to blind them with science.

It is difficult to convey to people who saw Sunderland play Blackpool, but not Gillingham or Burton Albion, that it was actually an improvement.

However, they still played five at the back in a home fixture against Blackpool.

One of the three centre-backs was actually a left-back, naturally. But needs must: pretending for the sake of argument that this five at the back nonsense is needed.

It is deeply worrying that Sunderland, for whatever reason, seem to imagine that this is the sort of thing that will get them out of this league – at the right end of it.

Tellingly, the visitors’ manager, Simon Grayson, seemed pretty chuffed with the draw and must therefore have been pleased too with Sunderland’s weird and largely ineffectual tactics.

Or maybe he was just happy to make the post-match press conference this time, as it was more than he achieved during his previous visit to the Stadium of Light.

Anyway, Sunderland were slightly more attacking than at Gillingham, so pop-a-my-cork. Anyone who has ever watched Patton: Lust For Glory can readily imagine the pre-match inspirational speeches.

“Let’s get out there and be SLIGHTLY MORE ATTACKING!! RRRRR!!”

They did in fairness play a pair of full-backs in O’Nien and Hume who can actually move forward. That was something. Still, I hate to quibble, but full-backs are also allowed to attack when there are only four defenders in a team.

Allowed to attack too, perfectly within the laws of the game, are central midfielders and wingers. Why, even strikers are permitted to have the occasional pop at goal.

There is now a 12-day gap between fixtures. Next up is the Boxing Day visit of Bolton Wanderers, bottom of the table with one away win all season. So expect to see another packed Sunderland defence.

Eventually they will win while employing as few attacking players as possible. The law of averages will see to that and the crowd will cheer when it happens: assuming the crowd is still awake to witness it.

That would still provide no vindication whatsoever for persevering with mainly nonsensical tactics and selection.

(Speaking of selection, what blinding talent did anyone see on Saturday that has prevented Dylan McGeouch from playing a second of league football since October 5?).

So we ask yet again, please may we see more (some?) attacking intent, fewer defenders and both players and ball to move quicker.

No one is expecting immediate glory, but not being almost wilfully turgid would be a start.

Oh, and merry Christmas.