NafisaRegis Le Bris has pointed out a key issue within his Sunderland squad that became evident in their defeat to Hull City.
Sunderland fell to a disappointing loss at the Stadium of Light, marking the first home defeat under Le Bris. The performance lacked inspiration, with the team unable to overcome a struggling Hull side, effectively dealing a major blow to their automatic promotion hopes.
The decisive moment came from an error by Anthony Patterson, leading to the game’s only goal. While the Sunderland goalkeeper has faced criticism from supporters, the overall team display left much to be desired.
Following the match, Le Bris acknowledged the need for serious reflection on Patterson’s mistake but also highlighted another concern that contributed to the defeat—one that could have been addressed in the January transfer window by Kristjaan Speakman.
Le Bris Hints at Player Fatigue Amid Squad Depth Concerns
Sunderland’s squad size has been an ongoing issue, with the team using just 27 players this season—one of the lowest figures in the Championship. Of those, 10 have played no more than two matches.
Many fans have pointed out that some players appear fatigued, with growing calls for Chris Rigg to be given a rest. Le Bris himself has now voiced concerns about the squad’s physical condition.
Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, he admitted:
“It’s possible there’s some fatigue with some of our players.
“It was our 34th game today and we have had a small squad, so we can understand that we can have a low point in our dynamic. The players tried, but it wasn’t enough today for sure. We have to recover a little to build a good shape for the last stage of the season.”
Despite recognizing these issues, Le Bris made only three substitutions against Hull and chose not to introduce summer signings Ian Poveda and Milan Aleksic.
Speakman’s Transfer Strategy Leaves Sunderland Exposed
While Sunderland made high-quality additions in the January window—securing Enzo Le Fee from Roma and Jayden Danns from Liverpool—the squad still lacked depth.
Le Bris has had to navigate the season with a lean squad, a situation influenced by decisions made by both himself and Speakman. Although the manager is aware of the physical toll on his players, he opted to field an unchanged lineup from midweek.
Bringing in attacking talent was a priority, but the failure to bolster squad depth has had consequences, affecting player fitness and match performance. The effects were clear against Hull and could continue to trouble Sunderland unless Le Bris rotates his squad effectively.
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