September 2009 Archives
STEVE BRUCE says new recruit Paulo Da Silva will need time to adjust to life in the Premier League.
The Paraguay international skipper - rated as one of the best defenders in South America - joined the Black Cats over the summer and has been eased gently into action.
He played twice in the Carling Cup and then made a substitute appearance in the league win over Hull, before finally making his first Premier League start against Wolves at the weekend.
KENWYNE Jones may have underlined his credentials in the battle for places in Sunderland's forward line, but his international commitments may hinder the 24-year-old's chances of facing Liverpool when the Black Cats return to the Stadium of Light.
Jones has been named in Trinidad and Tobago's squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico.
As a talismanic figure in the T&T squad, Jones' call-up is no surprise, but it will cause Steve Bruce problems with an important test of his team's home form coming so quickly afterwards.
I don't get to see Sunderland play much these days. Living in London, a distinct lack of money and working as a freelance football reporter all hinder my chances of catching The Lads, home or away.
In fact, when I took my seat at the Wolves game on Sunday, it was my first game watching Sunderland from outside the press box since the Boxing Day draw against Blackburn Rovers last season.
I went to the game with someone who had never been to a football match before, and what a game to take her to. It certainly wasn't one for the purists; two own goals, two penalties, a deflected goal, an indirect free-kick and stray pass after stray pass, but it made for a scintillating watch for my football-virgin friend.
She was impressed by the atmosphere, the adrenaline and the passion. 'The noise,' she said 'when the first goal went in was amazing - I've never heard anything like it!'
To a longstanding fan - the atmosphere was average and the display was poor but to a newcomer, well, let's just say she's caught the football bug.
SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce has told Anton Ferdinand his time will come again.
The £8m defender was dropped after conceding a penalty with a reckless challenge in the 3-1 defeat at Burnley 10 days ago, with on-loan Ghana international John Mensah replacing him for the Carling Cup win over Birmingham last week and then keeping his place for Sunday's 5-2 win over Wolves.
Ferdinand was included on the bench for the Wolves game and made a brief substitute appearance at right-back - a position where Bruce believes the former West Ham man could have a long-term future - when another new signing, Paraguay skipper Paulo Da Silva, tired late in the game.
IN-FORM striker Darren Bent has vowed never to relinquish penalty duties for Sunderland again after his weekend ear-bashing from Steve Bruce.
The Black Cats boss was furious with his record signing for letting Kenwyne Jones roll home his team's second penalty in the 5-2 win over Wolves.
Bent insists that he did it to help his flourishing partnership with the Trinidad & Tobago forward.
STEVE BRUCE has vowed to put a stop to Darren Bent's penalty generosity.
The Sunderland boss was furious when leading scorer Bent allowed his strike partner Kenwyne Jones to take over his penalty-taking duties against Wolves at the Stadium of Light.
Bent had already won and converted one spot-kick in the first half, but when he was felled in the box again right at the start of the second, he handed the ball to Jones.
The Trinidad & Tobago hit man duly scored to put Sunderland 2-0 up, but that did little to appease Bruce.
STEVE Bruce hailed Darren Bent for rescuing shaky Sunderland against Wolves - before castigating the in-form England forward for surrendering his penalty duties to give Kenwyne Jones a goal.
Bruce was a relieved man after an out-of-sorts Black Cats maintained their place in the top 10 of the Premier League with a breathless 5-2 victory over Mick McCarthy's energetic side courtesy of goals from Bent, Kenwyne Jones and defender Michael Turner.
Although the Sunderland boss admitted his side's defending continues to give him sleepless nights, he was ecstatic with the cutting edge provided by record signing Bent and strike partner Jones.
DARREN BENT says Sunderland must learn the lessons of their Burnley defeat to avoid another slip-up against Wolves this weekend.
The Black Cats lost 3-1 despite dominating at Premier League newcomers Burnley last Saturday, with record signing Bent's fifth goal of the season providing scant consolation for Steve Bruce's men.
They face another newly-promoted side on Sunday, when former Wearside boss Mick McCarthy brings his Wolves to the Stadium of Light.
STEVE Bruce has revealed his vision for a revamped global scouting network that will enable Sunderland to cherry pick the best emerging talent from the North East to South America.
With the blessing of Black Cats chairman Niall Quinn, Bruce has shaken up Sunderland's talent-spotting division since taking over - handing former boss Ricky Sbragia an influential role and signaling his intention to look further afield for potential stars.
Sunderland's reach has already become global under Bruce, with assistant boss Eric Black helping the club to steal a march on the rest of the Premier League by nicking the best players from France's Ligue 1.
PATIENT Paulo Da Silva is happy to bide his time as he waits for a first Premier League start.
Black Cats boss Steve Bruce has hinted he might make changes to his defence for this weekend's home game against Wolves in the wake of a poor defensive showing in the 3-1 defeat at Burnley on Saturday.
Experienced Paraguay skipper Da Silva's eye-catching performance in Sunderland's midweek Carling Cup win against Birmingham - when he operated at right-back, although he can play anywhere in the back four - must put him in contention for a start.
Recent Comments
"europe ? dont think so !relagation fight on hands now i fear, long hard winter ahead , squad not up ..."
"Fulham up next !!! Is it going to be the start of some thing special for the Cats ? We are not that..."
"Its very much a case of onwards and upwards We keep the pressure on others who will fall by the ways..."
"Thanks John - I see what you mean about the rough and tumble aspect of Steve Bruce's side, but I thi..."
"I agree with a lot of what you say. Bruce seems to prefer sticking in the rough boys who pick up ye..."
"Cattermole is and will be a big miss, and Cana out leaves the side thin on the ground surely we shou..."
"Accepting it's rare to be awarded two penalties in one game - in fact it's rare to be awarded one at..."
"I look forward to seeing Mensah fit in the back four. We have not had a realy efective central defen..."
"is this stream going to work for the atletico game?..."
"HEY CANA. YOU ARE THE BEST ONE IN SUNDERLAND. I AM GIRL FROM ALBANIA, AM HAPPY TO HAVE U IN UK...."