Alex Neil admits he has chopped and changed his team more than he would have liked since taking over at Sunderland - and says the Black Cats are one 'pillar' short of a consistent line-up. After taking over in February, with no opportunity to trade players in the transfer window, Neil has tailored both shape and personnel to the opposition on a game-by-game basis.
He has frequently used a back five, with three centre-backs, and revealed that he has employed that system more times in his ten games in charge of Sunderland than he had in the previous decade of his managerial career. But next season Neil feels Sunderland need a more settled core group, and the summer transfer window will enable him to refresh his squad and bring in the players that will allow him to play his preferred back four system.
"I think you'd just like the key pillars of your team to be consistent, going forward," said Neil. "I think we are one pillar short, in terms of consistency.
