Archive for February, 2010
Positive Noises Coming From The Club
Posted by: | CommentsSunderland Vs. Fulham
Bruce and the Sunderland players have been in good form this week, albeit off the field. They’ve been talking the talk but tomorrow it’s time for them to take to the pitch and end our sorry run of winless games. Haway lads, put a smile on our sour faces. I’ve forgotten what a win feels like.
At last, after months of injuries and needless suspensions we have a strong squad of players to choose from once more. And if we’re not confident going into tomorrow’s game then we have a serious problem. Fulham were in action during the week and earned a fantastic draw away from home against Shakhtar Donetsk, whilst the Sunderland side has had a week to rest and recuperate.
Zamora was injured during Fulham’s European tie and it’s possible that he might miss the game at the Stadium of Light (fingers crossed). I’ve never thought he was the best of players and he’s not the most popular but he has had a good season and is even being touted for a place in the England team! Surely Bent’s the better option but I don’t think we’d be surprised if he’s overlooked.
Cattermole will return to the first team after missing the game against Arsenal through suspension. He always makes a difference when he’s controlling the centre of midfield and hopefully he hits the ground running against Fulham.
Bruce is still confident we can finish the season on a high. Out of the remaining 11 games, 7 of them are at home. We have had to rely heavily on our home form this season so we should be positive that we have enough quality to get the wins we need to see us to safety.
Bruce believes we can earn consecutive victories, explaining: “Back-to-back victories at this stage of the season is massive and that’s what I’m asking of my players.”
“There’s absolutely no reason why we can’t do it. And if we do that, then everything starts to turn around very quickly again.”
Bruce added: “I am still quietly optimistic that we’re going to turn things and start climbing the table again.”
We are as well Brucie. I’m 100% behind you and I hope you can get us back to winning ways. It’s a big, big game tomorrow, the players and manager are under a lot of pressure to pick up the three points. I hope they embrace it and give us something to shout about.
Haway the lads.
Henderson Back Next Month
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Jordan Henderson expects to be back in action for the Manchester City home game next month.
Henderson has been out since he injured his ankle ligaments during the 1-1 draw at home to Wigan.
Jordan commented: “The physios haven’t mentioned any exact game I could be back for, but I have looked at the fixtures and I would like to get playing again perhaps for the Man City home game.
“I got a foot injury when I was on loan at Coventry about this time last season and it finished my season, so I’m pleased this one is not as serious.
“I won’t rush myself and will be guided by the physios, but if I can get back a week or so earlier than they think, I will be very pleased. I can walk on the ankle okay now and I might start some light jogging before the weekend and take it from there.”
Will Bruce Stay Or Go?
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It was 14 league games ago that Sunderland recorded their last Premiership win of the season.
In the last 13 games, we’ve managed to pick up only 6 points. That’s 6 points out of a possible 39! It’s relegation form and I think Sunday’s home game against Fulham will be make or break time for Steve Bruce.
Fulham are a side who have not won away in the league so far and if we have any chance of rescuing our God-awful season, this is the time to do it. It really is a must win game, after failing to beat both Wigan and Stoke at home, we can’t afford to drop points in this one. We’re facing a side that have a shocking away record and if we can’t beat Fulham on Sunday then who can we beat?
The team look unorganised and have done so for months, Bruce appears to be unable to change things around when we find ourselves behind and when we concede a goal, we might as well forfeit the game as there’s never a way back.
Personally, I was pleased when Bruce was appointed. I’m still behind him and desperately want him to succeed but it’s got to come to a point when enough is enough. I know in theory managers should be given time to mould their side and build their squad but in this day and age, teams can’t afford to be relegated. And if managers do not hit the ground running and get the results in quickly then they must be replaced. For the first time in years we’ve really been given some optimism, we’ve had the money to spend and we’ve invested in what are considered to be “quality” players. However, we’re playing the same poor football that we saw last season and the results of late are comparable to the two seasons we finished at the foot of the table.
Yes, we’ve had injuries and suspensions but that’s something as a squad we’ve got to deal with. When you compare the Sunderland squad on paper to the teams around us (Stoke City, Wigan, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Wolves) we really should be clear of them. The sad fact is though, out of the 5 teams mentioned, we’ve only taken 9 points from them out of a possible 24.
I don’t believe Bruce is the sole blame. The players must stand up and acknowledge that they haven’t been good enough but it’s becoming clear that we still have players who are being selected that are lucky to be playing in the Premiership. George McCartney has been consistently poor all season. Yet there is no competition for his place. Malbranque has lost the plot. Bardsley relies on winning the ball and blasting it up the field at every opportunity without any thought of where the ball is going. Turner’s decision making is suspect. Kilgallon needs more time but the question must be asked, why did we sign him and what can he offer us that we already didn’t have? Lorik Cana is another player that has failed to impress. After starting the season so well, his form, much like the teams has gradually grown worse. Apart from the odd horrifically timed challenge, he has been hiding and for a captain it’s just not acceptable.
I hope with the majority of our players back from injury and suspension Bruce can bring some stability to the side and regain the form which saw us in the top half of the table. As supporters, all we can do is get behind the side and hope things change. But surely the powers above are beginning to question whether or not Bruce is the right man for the job. After all, Mark Hughes is available and I’m sure he won’t be out of a job for very long.
Leave Sunderland Football A Comment
Come on then…tell Sunderland Football what you think? Bruce in or out?
Sunderland Away To Arsenal
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Sunderland are actually unbeaten in their last 3 games against Arsenal (amazing!). It’s quite a record considering Arsenal batter most teams they come up against. Sunderland however, have not won for what seems like the past 2 seasons now. It’s difficult to remember what it feels like to actually win a game and we’re certainly up against it today, playing a top 4 club, challenging for the league and probably looking to notch up a cricket score. I forgot to mention it’s away from home and the last time we won awayw as against Bolton on the opening day!
We’ve been very unlucky with injuries this season and I thought the Cattermole sending off against Portsmouth was unfortunate. But that’s in the past and we’ve got to go into today’s game and try to turn the result in our favour.
Anton Ferdinand is back for the game and will go straight into the side after recovering from injury. But it is thought that he’ll actually adopt a central midfield roll. “Eh??” You’re probably thinking right now. We’ll have to wiat and see how that one turns out but in theory, it sounds like a distaster waiting to happen.
Bent will play on the left wing (Bruce is going with the experimental approach today *adopts praying position*), with Jones playing the lone role up front. Ricco has also regained match fitness and goes straight into the lineup.
The team to face Arsenal today is expected to be:
Sunderland: Gordon, Hutton, McCartney, Turner, Mensah, Bent, Campbell, Ferdinand, Cana (C), Richardson, Jones.
Subs: Carson, Bardsley, Da Silva, Kilgallon, Zenden, Malbranque, Benjani.
A win today would be a miracle of all miracles. It’s about time we had one. Haway the lads.
Same Old Sunderland, 1-1 Against Portsmouth
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A game which looked over as a contest after only 6 minutes was brought back to life by Sunderland ’s inability to kill off the opposition. Yet again! How many times over the years have Sunderland allowed the opposition to fight their way back into the game and steal a late point (or all three?)…too many to remember.
Last night was as frustrating as ever. After starting the game well and winning a penalty, Portsmouth went a man down and Bent dispatched the spot-kick. I thought we were really going to take the game to Pompey but our lack of confidence showed and we struggled to create opportunities going forward.
Even with ten men, Portsmouth looked like scoring, they battled well and looked dangerous on the attack. O’Hara in particular played very well. The sad thing is, it was probably one of the better Sunderland performances I’ve seen lately and I was convinced we were strong enough to beat even a resolute Pompey side.
Kenwyne Jones had a good game; it was like watching the Kenwyne Jones of old. He won everything in the air; he was causing the defenders all sorts of trouble. When he pulled off an exquisite 360 in the centre of the field, he left ex-Sunderland player Ben Haim for dead, only to be dragged to the floor by Ben Haim who managed to get away without a caution (he was later booked which should really have been a second yellow). By this stage the referee had completely lost the plot and it was clear he was trying in vain to even things up having sent off Ricardo Rocha for accidentally tripping Bent when through on goal. He nearly got that wrong, initially sending off Hassan Yebda only to realise it was the wrong player. What an idiot.
The second half was similar to the first, Sunderland choked up the pressure and welcomed Portsmouth to come at them which they duly obliged. It was looking more likely they were going to get an equaliser but Kilgallon come very close to putting the game to bed after striking the bar with a fantastic effort. Sunderland also had a disallowed goal which had went in off a Portsmouth defender. Bent was judged to be offside, which the replays proved to be the right decision.
In the 54th minute Lee Cattermole was sent off for a second booking in what seemed like as many minutes. The first was never a booking in the first place and the second although a little harsh was a silly challenge and knowing what the referee was like, it was uncalled for.
Sunderland later found themselves down to nine men. In a fit of madness David Meyler was sent off for an elbow on Steve Finnan in the 87th minute. He’d only been on the field for two minutes before being show his marching orders. Meyler had been brought on for an injured Andy Reid who went down holding his ham-string.
The referee – Kevin Friend has sent off four players this season. Three of them Sunderland players. He had a shocking game but Meyler’s sending off was a certainty.
When the fourth official revealed there were six minutes to be added on I think most fans hearts sank. We were on the back foot and defending for our lives by this stage. Portsmouth threw everything at us. And in the 96th minute Aruna Dindane equalised in the 96th to earn Portsmouth a draw. Typical.
We really are a soft touch at the moment. I hope the lads sort it out soon. And to think relegation battles were behind us.
Next up…Arsenal!
Sunderland Vs. Portsmouth Team Lineup
Posted by: | CommentsGordon, Hutton, McCartney, Turner, Kilgallon, Cana(c), Cattermole, Malbranque, Reid, Jones, Bent.
Substitutes for Sunderland: Liddle, Carson, Zenden, Meyler, Mwaruwari (Benjani), Da Silva, Bardsley.
Portsmouth Team
James, Finnan, Ben-Haim, Wilson, Rocha, Basinas, Diop, Yebda, O’Hara, Piquionne, Dindane.
Substitutes for Portsmouth: Owusu-Abeyie, Belhadj, Kanu, Mullins, Ashdown, Hughes, Webber.
Sunderland In Talks With Cristian Riveros
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Cristian Riveros, the 27 year old Cruz Azul player is in talks with Sunderland and Wigan Athletic.
His agent Jose Maria Gonzalez explained he has already entered negotiations with Sunderland as his current contract will expire this summer.
“We were waiting for Cruz Azul to improve their proposal for renewing the contract with Christian but as they didn’t do it we are already having negotiations with Sunderland and Wigan,” he told Mediotiempo.
“We are analysing his departure to European football.
“For the moment we aren’t anywhere near what I expected for Christian.
“I have already received a proposal but it’s not satisfying.
“I think that Christian is worth much more than what has been offered as he is a player of the national team.
“I have a lot of people from Europe that we are having conversations with and I hope that I can get a contract signed as soon as possible for Christian.
“My idea is to get resolved his future as soon as possible because otherwise he will arrive to South Africa being unsure about what will happen with him in the future.
“Christian doesn’t want to leave towards to a league in a random way, his priority is England and Spain.
“For the moment we have proposals from Sunderland and Wigan.”
Cristian Riveros is a midfielder and has scored 12 goals in 77 appearances for his current club Cruz Azul of Mexico. He has scored 8 goals in 43 games at International level for Paraguay.
Here is Christian Riveros in action for Paraguay:
