Le Bris facing Cats system and selection questions ahead of Cherries encounter

Régis Le Bris goes into the Bournemouth game with more structural and personnel questions than at any point this season.

- by James Copley

Regis Le Bris applauds the travelling Sunderland fans at Craven Cottage after a narrow defeat.

Sunderland have taken points from Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton using a back five, yet the performance at Fulham and the sizeable gaps that appeared between midfield and attack has reopened the debate about reverting to a 4-3-3.

It also raises a separate question. Did the experience at Old Trafford influence his thinking more than he let on?

Le Bris used a 4-3-3 away initially at Manchester United, and Sunderland were turned over tactically in the first half before he was forced to adjust the shape.

You do wonder if that afternoon has stayed with him, at least when facing stronger sides.

It should be noted that he did return to a 4-3-3 in the next match against Wolves at home, but they are by some distance the weakest team in the division.

It leaves the lingering query of whether Le Bris truly trusts that shape in different types of challenges.