Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia has urged strikers Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse to adapt to shake off the shackles placed on them by opposition teams.
The two frontmen have been tamed in recent weeks and have scored just once each in the club's last 11 games after being given special attention by defenders.
A debate over whether or not Jones and Cisse can play together is ongoing on Wearside, but Sbragia, who started with the Frenchman on the bench as he opted for a 4-5-1 formation at Bolton on Saturday, believes their problems have been compounded by the efforts of opponents to stop them playing.
He said: "What's happened, teams are closing down the width of the game. There's not a lot of space behind them, so they are finding it difficult to go behind, especially Djibril.
"He has to adapt his game a little bit more and he is finding that difficult. One of Djibril's major strengths is going forward. If you were playing against him, you would want him to be coming towards the ball.
"As a pair, they can probably get a little bit closer. Kenwyne did really well last year and when he came back from the injury, he was excellent. But he has not repeated that performance enough. It's a case of just persevering with them and getting on with it. You hope all the good things they did early-season will start coming back again."
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Malcolm, I'm not a Mag. I'm Sunderland through and through but I'll talk to Barcodes who are civilised. Believe it or not some Mags and Makems can be mates or even from the same family! Cameron might support the team up the road but it doesn't mean I should ignore him or want to kick his head in... d'ya get me?
MALCOLM D
It's called BANTER - how long you been a football supporter?
And i welcome it - in fact, i love it!
It is part and parcel of being a football supporter - always has been and always will be.
All my baiting is done in the most friendliest of terms, as most safc posters on here know.
What i do take exception to tho, is being called 'scum' - i have been called that several times on here and the NUFC pages by a few sad individuals. I choose to answer them once and then ignore them.
There are some sound safc posters on here who talk a lot of sense, and i would gladly buy a drink for them - yes, they give a dig now and then but hey that's all part of banter. Keep it clean, and don't take it too seriously . . . . .less of the 'scum' if you know what i mean!
It happens at EVERY SINGLE CLUB!
Don't believe me?
Go on the Arsenal page, you'll find abuse from Spurs fans and vice versa.
Liverpool and Man Utd.
Brum, WBA and Villa.
Lighten up and just join in the fun!
Cameron W
if iwere to go onto the N/castle site I would die a most agonising death and haunt this world forever more. As for the mackems on the N/castle pages ,well they are only getting theor own back for the years of deroisory comments made by N/castle fans , so now rhe boot is on the other foot so to speak, you and your fellow Magpies dont like it at all.
The Logic of these pages does sometimes baffle me as I have no interest in reading about your team I am red n white through and through as I'm sure your'e the opposite but after appreciating the right of freedom of speech, I would prefer to read about my team and fans comments on the S/land page,as to having to read through mindless drivel from North of the water.
MALCOLM D
Go to the NUFC pages mate; you'll find more mackems on there then on their own pages!!!!
Patrick, i think fulham are an ok side but come on, they ain't no Top-4 side and they travel terribly - if we approach the game in the same way, put in that same shift and us fans do our bit, then we will be fine i'm sure - oh and a bit of good fortune would be welcome too!
One thing Shearer has got to do, (and i am sure he will), is reinforce the message to the players that the job is far from over - we must not allow any complacency to creep in!! I honestly believe that's how safc have allowed themselves to be dragged back into it; they got too complacent!
Why are Newcastle fans having conversation on a S/land site???? Oh I forgot, they dont have a yeam to talk about haaaa hhaaaaaa
Cam, I half listened to it on the radio but I missed most of the second half cos a mate rang me up... well done... though it was only Boro remember. Different story against Fulham & Villa - you'll have to play well to get anything.
Did you enjoy it Patrick?
I did!!!!
Woohoo!!!!!
More of the same against Fulham please!!!
btw
the sissy boy is so infuriating!
Got all the tools to be a real world-class striker; just ain't got the attitude - i think apathetic just about sums him up.
He will be a fringe player at Spurs.. Why would they want him anyway? They have about 5 experienced fowards who are better then Cisse.
Sounds like Cisse will "adapt" to Tottenham next season. Anyway, who cares, the match of the season is about to start... this is going to be fun.
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