The Return Of Sunderland’s Wide Men — A Welcome Boost?

Alex Charlton says…

For me, Traoré is the player that stands out the most. He was a signing I was unsure about but I think he’s offered us some real quality out wide when fit. Not only can he create openings in and around the penalty area, he’s defensively disciplined, which is where Angulo is lacking. From the little I’ve seen of him, Angulo is incredibly raw, but he’s quick and can beat a man, which is something we’ve been missing for a long time. I do think he can make an impact but I get the feeling he’ll be used as an impact substitute. I remember the game against Fulham well and he wasn’t great defensively and beaten far too easily in a tackle, so that’s an area I would like to see him improve. He does offer us something different however, and can inject the pace we need. As for Chemsdine Talbi, he’s a player I’ve really wanted to see more of. When he’s been fit and available, he’s often been on the bench — which I’ve found frustrating given his quality. We know he’s got the ability to hurt teams and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him slot back in if he’s fully fit. He’s creative and has popped up with some big goals against top opposition, so I feel he could be a real difference-maker. Either way, it’s obvious that we’ve been struggling out wide. It’s hard to fault the recruitment as our January signings have been out injured for a long time and I’m sure we’ll see much more of Angulo and next season. If we have all fit and available, there’s some decent options for us, and they all offer something different.