Mike Dodds emphasizes the importance of embracing the daunting task of competing against top-tier teams in the Championship, despite the absence of Jack Clarke. Dodds affirms his commitment to maintaining an aggressive playing style. Sunderland is entering a pivotal week in their pursuit of securing a playoff spot, with upcoming matches against Norwich City, Leicester City, and Southampton. While acknowledging Clarke’s significant impact with his 15 goals this season, Dodds views his absence as an opportunity for the team to demonstrate their determination to eventually reach the Premier League.
Dodds acknowledges the high quality of the upcoming opponents, highlighting their distinct playing styles. He recognizes the challenge this presents for Sunderland, as the quick succession of games limits their preparation time. However, Dodds expresses confidence in his team’s ability to effectively communicate the necessary information to the players in order to navigate these challenges successfully.
Dodds acknowledges that the upcoming teams all possess competent coaches and share a common desire to maintain possession of the ball, although they employ different approaches to achieve this. Dodds emphasizes that Sunderland’s ultimate goal is to regain their position in the Premier League. He believes that achieving this goal will not come easily and therefore, it is vital for the team to confront these challenges directly. Dodds believes that if they shy away from such formidable challenges, they do not deserve to compete in the Premier League. These challenges must be confronted head-on.
Furthermore, Dodds expresses the importance of establishing a distinct identity for Sunderland in each game—a defining characteristic that represents the team’s style and approach.
Dodds asserts that Sunderland cannot afford to be passive in any of the upcoming games. He clarifies that in the Leeds game, although they denied space to the opposition, they maintained an aggressive approach whenever the ball entered certain areas of the pitch. Dodds acknowledges that conceding some territory may be necessary, but he emphasizes that a passive approach is not in line with Sunderland’s identity. He takes responsibility for ensuring that the team maintains a consistent style of play throughout the remaining 12 games, regardless of Clarke’s absence. Dodds expresses enthusiasm for the challenge, noting that even the most experienced coach would find it difficult to cope with the loss of a player of Clarke’s caliber. However, he reassures that he will leave no stone unturned in finding a solution to ensure that Sunderland approaches every game with the mindset of securing victory.
Additionally, Dodds mentions that Sunderland currently trails Norwich by five points in the league table.
