Click still to come for Cats strikers

Jan 17 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

They’ve scored goals, but even Djibril Cissé and Kenwyne Jones admit they are yet to click together. Mark Douglas reports on the curious case of Sunderland’s front two

THE partnership of Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cissé is nothing if not prolific.

The goals – 11 of them so far in 10 starts together – have flowed almost as readily as the nagging doubts for a partnership that flits alarmingly between devastatingly lethal and woefully disjointed.

In theory, the pairing should be a potent mix of Cissé’s raw speed and Jones’ awesome power.

Opposition teams should find them unplayable – Cissé’s speed preventing rivals from defending too far up the field while Jones’ aerial ability stops them from defending deeply.

But the individual assets that both possess have not, thus far, complemented the other player. Too often they are going for the same ball or stranded yards apart from each other, while Cissé’s erratic positioning has left Jones looking isolated on too many occasions.

Never was that more apparent than in the first half at the Riverside as the Black Cats went looking for a crucial derby win last weekend.

During a first half of precious little attacking endeavour from the home side, Sunderland barely provided an attacking threat against a Boro side there for the taking after a long run without a victory. It was only when Andy Reid entered the fray that Cissé and Jones belatedly kicked into gear – and it took the addition of a third striker in David Healy to conjure up the opening which led to Sunderland equalising. That might sound remarkable considering the sheer number of important goals contributed in recent weeks but Sbragia, Cissé and Jones all acknowledge the strike rate is merely masking the problems that lurk beneath the surface.

All parties accept that work must be done to correct the kinks in a partnership that, whatever it’s virtues, does not count instant understanding as a major asset.

The manager admitted to “concern” at the way the two are operating yesterday – but made it abundantly clear that he will give them time to allow their partnership to mature.

That includes swatting away a bid from Tottenham for Jones, despite the North Londoners upping their offer to include occasional England striker Darren Bent.

“There is a concern about the partnership between Jones and Cissé. But the biggest concern would be if they weren’t scoring goals – they are, though, and that gives them a bit of breathing space,” Sbragia said.

“We spend a lot of time working with them on the training field but we know that it is not going to happen overnight. They are two individuals and it could take six months, it could take a year – it might click against Aston Villa.

“They train together, they are kept together as a unit, just to try to get an understanding. Some partnerships work from day one, some take much longer. The concern I would have is if they are not scoring. But they are so long may it continue.

“It’s when it dries up from the front two that we would have a concern. In general, my message to them has been to keep it going.”

Whatever his reservations about the link up between his first-choice strikers, Sbragia has bigger worries about the lack of goals from other areas.

The midfield and defence have provided just six goals this season, with Kieran Richardson the only non-forward to have scored more than once.

“To be honest, a bigger concern for me is I could do with the other lads pitching in.

“I could just do with a couple of centre-backs, midfielders scoring goals,” Sbragia admitted.

Still, Cissé himself appreciates the importance of developing a better understanding with his strike partner – and following in the footsteps of revered strike pairings of the past like Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips and Marco Gabbiadini and Eric Gates, who garnered 176 and 117 goals respectively between them in their time together with the Black Cats. He has sought the counsel of Dwight Yorke, who formed such a fearsome partnership with Andy Cole in his Old Trafford days, about how to improve his understanding with Jones.

“The partnership with Kenwyne is progressing but I think we can do more,” he said.

“It’s true that we have scored goals but we don’t link up a lot at the moment.

“We can improve on that. I do not know why that is but don’t forget it is less than six months that we have played together. I talked to Yorkie about his partnership with Andy Cole and he said it takes time to have a great partnership. It is quite good what we have done so far. But it can get better.”

If they do build a long-term partnership, it will buck the trend of playing with one up front that has become fashionable in the top flight.

Of the top five clubs in the Premier League – today’s opponents Aston Villa warrant a mention for their excellent recent form – few rely on the kind of strike duo that used to be a necessity to win titles. Playing one up front and five midfielders adept at rushing forward when the ball is in their possession is in vogue with foreign coaches, and Everton have swept up the division on the back of a formation which includes no orthodox strikers.

Manchester United stand alone in employing two strikers – but with an embarrassment of riches that includes Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez, Sir Alex Ferguson is simply taking a logical choice.

It is all a far cry from the days when current Sunderland coach Yorke prowled pitches in tandem with Cole, or Blackburn smashed their way to the title with Chris Sutton and Alan Shearer plundering goals all over the country.