Football history is littered with great goalscorers but a scorer of great goals is not the same thing. And as I have argued before, Wilson Isidor doesn’t come across as a natural finisher, to me.
As an ex-Golden Boot winner myself – albeit in New Zealand’s National League, a country not renowned for its football – I understand the difference.
Don’t get me wrong, I was not on the same planet in terms of level, but I’d like to think the fundamentals are the same. There is no question Isidor has adapted well to the demands of the Championship and he has scored 12 times so it’s difficult to argue with that.
But time and again he has snatched at opportunities this season, has rushed efforts under pressure, and let’s be honest, he should have had a lot more than his current figure. He seems to be better the less time he has to think. Sometimes I think he even tries too hard.
Maybe he’s too emotional at times and we all know with the ruthless goalscorers of the past, cold and efficient is better than hot-headed and erratic. The two penalty misses against Sheffield United aside, there have been other moments when Isidor could have given Sunderland an easier ride and perhaps helped win them more points.
There is one aspect of his finishing that just isn’t up to scratch and that’s with his head. Not only is he casting blemishes on his own record, he is affecting others too.
For instance, Trai Hume must be wondering what he has to do to get an assist where Isidor is concerned. Against Hull City, in the 1-0 home defeat, Hume sent over a delicious cross and Isidor managed to head wide from six yards. The same opportunity in the next game, again from a Hume cross, saw Eliezer Mayenda do what Isidor should have done with an almost identical opportunity.
Then, on Tuesday night, with the score at 0-0 and at a crucial moment, not even Preston’s generosity in defence in allowing Isidor a free header, again from six yards, could prompt him to take advantage. It was a horrible miss. Going 1-0 up gives Sunderland such a big advantage and in the event, they ended up conceding and then chasing the game. In that respect I think opting for two up front and abandoning the regular 4-3-3 was ill-timed.
I guess Regis Le Bris feels he must have in-form Eliezer Mayenda in the team and he felt he should accommodate Isidor too after leaving him out twice. But while Mayenda buzzes about making things happen, Isidor found it more difficult to get into the game. That meant relinquishing more control in midfield while restricting the likes of Hume and Dennis Cirkin who love to get forward.
Overall there was a sense of what might have been. Yes it was great for Romaine Mundle to score a spectacular goal. But it is the bread-and-butter chances that need to be taken for Sunderland to realise their full potential.
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