Indisciplined And Rash: Why David Moyes And Sunderland Might Regret Not Signing Emmanuel Adebayo This Season.

Indisciplined And Rash, Why David Moyes And Sunderland  Might Regret Not Signing Free Agent Emmanuel Adebayo  This Season.

By Ewah Chika.

Six goals in seven Premier League games is a poor return for any club fighting for Premier League survival, yet that is exactly where David Moyes and Sunderland find themselves presently. The North East club are not only poor in finding the back of the net, they are also a calamity at the back shipping 13 goals so far this season in the league . Though it is difficult to pinpoint whether their problem lie in attack or defence , one glaring thing is the lack of attacking firepower lacking at the club with Jermain Defoe and attacking left-back  Patrick Van Aanholt having scored the club's six  goals so far this season (Defoe on four and Van Aanholt on two).
This is the reason, some fans are not optimistic the club will survive relegation this season especially after it was revealed David Moyes rejected the offer of signing experienced Togolese captain and free agent Emmanuel Adebayo last month. Although abysmal last season for Crystal Palace, the forward possesses top flight experience which Sunderland clearly lack having  played for the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham.

The main problem with the signing of Adebayo isn't with his form or lack of quality but rather with his poor disciplinary record and attitude which has seen him clash with previous managers Roberto Mancini, Andre Villas Boas and Mauricio Pochettino during his time in England. This is likely the same reason Lyon objected to sign him last week after both parties were reported to be in advanced talks.

Meanwhile, Sunderland have laboured to score goals this season and languishing in the foot of the table , hence the need for reinforcement In attack with Jermain Defoe shouldering the burden of goalscoring while the likes of Victor Anichebe (lacking match fitness) and Steven Piernaar have all been signed on the free this season with little or no success recorded yet. It should be noted that the Togolese meanwhile formed a formidable and deadly partnership with Defoe during their time in Tottenham under Harry Rednapp. Although the  forward is already 32 having lost a yard of pace which saw him struggle in Crystal Palace last season scoring a lone goal in 15 league games for the Selhurst Park side, he has the aerial strength and hold-up play required to compliment Defoe's pace and top notch finishing in attack.

Adebayo also has the experience after scoring over 97 Premier League goals for top teams like Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal after joining from Monaco. The Togolese is likely to play further high in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation with Defoe slightly positioned behind him feeding off his knock downs, saving his energy to run at opposition defenders. They pair were deadly when paired in Tottenham scoring 29 goals (Adebayo 12 and Defor 16) out of the total 45 scored by Tottenham in that period. In all, Tottenham won 21 of the games the pair played, drawing four and losing four.

Adebayo might have failed in Palace but it is clear that Pardew's style did not suit him as he was often isolated in attack, with the likes of Yannick Bolasie and Wilfred Zaha too individualistic and selfish coupled with their inability to float crosses from the wings rather preferring to cut inside and shot or send low crosses to the striker which does not suit him.

Sunderland have escaped relegation towards the end of the season for four  straight seasons with the likes of Paolo Di Canio, Guus Poyet, Dick Advocaat and then Sam Allardycee with no guarantee that they will be fifth time lucky this season. Sunderland's lack of back up to Defoe was so evident in the League Cup  game against Queens Park Rangers, as 18-year-old Swedish striker Joel Asoro started (Defoe was injured) doing little to impress and showing signs that he is still a work in progress and not yet a finished product.

David Moyes might have his reasons for passing up the chance to sign Adebayo but come end of season in May, it had better the right decision considering their poor form of present .