Fan Letters: "Luke O'Nien as a potential midfield solution, chapter seventy two!"

03/20/2025 02:00 AM

RR reader Bill Fisher feels that O'Nien's versatility could be utilised in the red and white engine room — what do you think? Email us: RokerReport@yahoo.co.uk

Dear Roker Report,

I just want to clarify my recent email about Luke O'Nien.

I may have given the impression that I didn't rate him as a centre back, but nothing could be further from the truth. My point was that he could be better for the team in midfield.

If you cast your mind back to the Peter Reid days, he inherited a very good centre back and turned him into a very effective midfielder. Kevin Ball was the player; he made the midfield his home and was a brilliant enforcer, winning tackles and starting attacks.

Luke could do a similar job but wherever he plays, he's the first name on the team sheet for me.

Bill Fisher

Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, Bill. Thank you for your letter.

The 'Play Luke O'Nien as a midfielder!' argument used to be quite common in the recent past, but given the emergence of the likes of Dan Neil and Jobe, as well as O'Nien's own improvement as a central defender, I don't see Régis Le Bris shifting O'Nien forwards anytime soon — despite his undoubted versatility.

If we're looking to freshen things up in midfield for the visit of Millwall, I'd be looking to Alan Browne — a player of vast experience and with solid leadership credentials — to come in and give us a little more edge there.

He's certainly capable of doing that, and these are the situations I feel he was signed for. Let's keep O'Nien in his defensive role and see what Browne can bring to the table!

Dear Roker Report,

I've been as disappointed as anyone with Sunderland's recent performances. Every fan has their opinion and the right to voice their disappointment, but booing the team?

I have a good friend who plays for Preston North End and he was astonished that our fans actually boo the team.

We finished sixteenth season and are nailed on for the top six this time. His conversations with Sunderland players after the game indicated that they too are disappointed with the booing episodes, and if opposing teams sense fan dissent, they feed on it and get a lift from it.

If this is the only way to express your disappointment, I suggest you find another way.

I think that recent performances are due to a distinct lack of experience in the team, having burned out our young guns who performed so well earlier in the season. We're at the business end of the season and we need solid experience to blend with the mavericks.

I personally don't feel we're ready to go up but if you get the chance, take it!

Either way (and probably with more struggles), let's get behind them. It can only help but booing can only hinder.

Stephen Jameson

Ed's Note [Phil]: Hi, Stephen. Thank you for getting in touch.

It's a tough one, isn't it?

The performance against Preston was fairly laboured and it wasn't until the visitors began to engage in all kinds of questionable antics that the Lads finally woke up and hit back with an equaliser, but I'm unsure as to whether the booing was fully justified.

As you say, fans have a right to express their views but I don't think the attitude of the players has been anything less than excellent for much of the season.

If they weren't putting the effort in and simply going through the motions, that's a different story, but I didn't see a lack of effort last Tuesday night — it was simply a frustrating evening and a game that we probably only deserved a point from.

I really hope that everyone's feeling fired up by the time we welcome Millwall to Wearside next week. We need to win that game in order to get some confidence back and I'm sure the players will be eager to put things right after Coventry.