Archive for January, 2010
Bolton Game Called Off – Blessing In Disguise?
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Had the game not been called off, Sunderland would be going into the match against Bolton Wanderers tomorrow with an injury ravaged side. Granted, we did gain a valuable point away to Blackburn in our last Premier League outing with nine first players missing. However, tomorrow was going to be another difficult task with Bruce facing similar injury problems.
We should take it as a blessing. Bruce is planning to strengthen the squad during the transfer window and we should be considerably better prepared when we replay the game. Bolton Wanderers are a side we’ve already beaten this season and a team we would expect to beat again with the fixture being at the Stadium of Light.
The short break will give our players the chance to regain their fitness ahead of a tough trip to Stamford Bridge next week. It’s normally a game we would write off but after nearly beating Man Utd at Old Trafford earlier on this season and beating Arsenal and Liverpool at home we really should go into the game thinking we could actually get something out of it. Oh, and Essien and Drogba are missing as they are both playing in the African cup of nations which can only help our cause (ok, albeit a little bit. Yeah ok, it probably has no relevance at all).
On the transfer front, Sunderland have been linked with several players this week including: Guy Demel (Hamburg’s right-back) Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke striker) Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough winger) David Bentley (Spurs outcast) and Younes Kaboul (the Pompey blasphemer). All I’m sure you would agree would be a welcome improvement on our current side.
Kuranyi On His Way To Wearside?
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Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi has apparently been on Wearside this week to hold talks over a possible transfer.
The 6ft 3in German International has scored a total of 61 goals in 145 games during his time at Schalke as well as 19 goals in 52 appearances for Germany before falling out with coach Joachim Löw. Kuranyi was left out of the German squad in a game against Russia in the October of 2008. After watching the first half in the stands he left the ground and failed to return to the team hotel. In response to Kuranyi’s antics, Löw vowed that he would never select him in the squad again. And he hasn’t.
Kuranyi is possibly the man to replace Kenwyne Jones should he move to Birmingham City. However the official Schalke website suggests otherwise.
Being questioned over the transfer speculation he said: “I try not to get involved in it (transfer talk) too much,”
“I want to have success with Schalke. We are in a very good situation at the moment.”
“I have already had success here for three-and-a-half years and have also experienced difficult situations, but I feel good here and I am of course committed heart and soul to Schalke.”
I think we can take it all with a pinch of salt really. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in a Sunderland shirt against Chelsea next week regardless of his recent comments.
Here’s footage of Kevin Kuranyi in action:
Sunderland To Play Portsmouth Or Coventry City In FA Cup
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Sunderland have been drawn to play either Portsmouth or Coventry City away from home in the 4th round of the FA Cup.
The game will be played on the weekend of the 23rd and 24th of January.
It’s not a bad draw all things considered. Of course it would have been nice to have another home tie but we should feel confident against either Pompey or Coventry City.
Sunderland Ease Past Barrow Town
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Sunderland breezed past Barrow Town with a 3-0 home victory at the Stadium of Light today.
Steed Malbranque made it one-nil after calmly placing the ball past the Barrow keeper. Frazier Campbell added to the lead, heading the ball into the back of the net with a deft touch. Campbell went on to score his second with another header from a perfectly timed Phil Bardsley cross. He casually headed the ball past the keeper to put the scoreline beyond the non-league side.
Sunderland dominated the game and it could have been a lot more but from a good performance from the Barrow Town goalkeeper.
Barrow Town put up a good fight but it seemed Sunderland were always operating in first gear and if needed they could have stepped it up a notch or two.
Barrow Town travelled well, with over 7,000 away fans cramming in to the away stand. It was a fantastic turn out and helped add to a good atmosphere on a very cold, wintery day at the Stadium of Light. Unfortunately for the away side they didn’t have too much to shout about. It was a routine performance from Sunderland who progress to the next stage of the FA cup.
Who do you want in the next round? Feel free to leave your comments.
Newcastle or Middlesbrough at home perhaps?
Best of luck to Barrow Town for their forthcoming season.
