Dick Advocaat blasts Jamie Carragher for branding Sunderland's Patrick Van Aanholt 'lazy'

Sunderland lost their opening match of the season 4-2 at Leicester City

DICK ADVOCAAT has hit out at Jamie Carragher's scathing criticism of Sunderland full-back Patrick Van Aanholt's performance at Leicester last week.

 

But bizarrely, the Black Cats boss admits he agrees with every single word the Sky TV pundit said about his side's defensive horror show in their 4-2 defeat.

Carragher branded Van Aanholt "lazy", accusing him of walking rather than running back, and also repeated his prediction that Sunderland would be relegated.

But Advocaat said: "I think Carragher has to become a manager himself. He is like all those who think they know everything from there.

"I heard what he said and maybe it is good for Patrick but it is always easier from a studio. They would really like to be on the touchline but it is much more difficult there."

 

Advocaat will make changes for the visit of Norwich today with John O'Shea set to be recalled in place of either Seb Coates or Younes Kaboul.

Steven Fletcher will replace winger Adam Johnson, who is out for six weeks with a dislocated shoulder while there could be a debut for French international Yann M'Vila.

But Van Aanholt is unlikely to pay the price for his shoddy display with Advocaat confident his fellow Dutchman has what it takes to bounce back.

"He has everything to become a good left-back but last week, he showed everything that is not good," said Advocaat.

 

"I had already told Patrick and he already knew where he'd gone wrong.

"I always tell my full-backs the way we like to play is for them to attack but first they must take care of their direct opponent.

"If there is an opportunity to go forward, then go but it is always about the right moment and how many times."

Advocaat, the Premier League's oldest manager at 67 comes up against Canaries chief Alex Neil, the youngest at 34 and has warned the Scot, his side are hellbent on kick-starting their campaign.

"Norwich, like ourselves, are on zero points but there is no reason to be panicking about everything," he said. "But we need to get what happened last week out of our system.

"I still believe we are better than last season and there are still two more weeks in the transfer window."