Spurs vs Sunderland - injury crisis?
When Steve Bruce decided to sell Carlos Edwards and Grant Leadbitter in the summer, it was met with understanding. They were two fringe players who were integral, certainly the former, but could not make to step up to the Premier League. The eye-raising transfer however came when Teemu Tainio left on loan to Birmingham.
Fans were happy, and critics impressed, with Bruce's decisions to bring in Lee Cattermole and Lorik Cana but it was plain to see from the off that both players would pick up suspensions and injuries, due to the very nature of their game. Without Tainio, Jordan Henderson was the only serious option for a replacement.
Tomorrow sees Sunderland travel to White Hart Lane without their first choice midfield. In fact, they will be without Bolo Zenden, Jon Mensah and Kenwyne Jones as well, with Fraizer Campbell remaining doubtful. It is at this point that one must question Bruce's decision to let the Finn leave, especially on loan.
Bruce doesn't appear to have enough players let alone enough quality to play a five-man midfield, especially with his apparent dislike of George McCartney meaning Kieran Richardson is playing as a left back.
So, who will play? Let's start from the back. Gordon, Bardsley, Turner are all starters, surely. The midfield injury problems may see the return of McCartney at left back, with one from Ferdinand, Nosworthy and Da Silva playing alongside Turner.
Richardson then will join Malbranque, Reid and Henderson in midfield. Bent will be playing against his old club, and he may be joined by Campbell, another ex-Spurs player if he can get fit in time. If not, then perhaps Daryl Murphy will play on the left of midfield or alongside Bent. Or maybe David Healy will get his first league start of the season. A long shot could be Roy O'Donovan who got a hatrick for the reserves in midweek.
Spurs meanwhile will welcome back Jermaine Defoe and Jonathan Woodgate - what will likely be the only two changes to the side that lost at Arsenal last weekend.
Bruce certainly has some options, and it will be very interesting to see what his team selection will be. What do you think?
Older/Newer
« Steve Bruce stands by Herita Ilunga comments | Michael Turner out to beat idols Spurs again »
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Spurs vs Sunderland - injury crisis?. TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.sunderlandbanter.co.uk/cgi-bin/mt421/mt-tb.cgi/159946
I agree with a lot of what you say. Bruce seems to prefer sticking in the rough boys who pick up yellow cards and are then unavailable for key matches - what part of the strategy is that? Bruce seems to want players in his own image but the game has changed since then. Moreover, whilst he's made some good signings (Cana and Catts in particular) I'm not sure the others represent value or significant improvements over what we already had. Turner hasn't been so bad but he hasn't been great either, I think his failings will prevail over the season and he'll be better judged at the end of it. For now though he blocks ok but then hoofs the ball down the field without any further skill or thought. At least Nosworthy can do a bit of both and Ferdinand of course is a master at directing the ball and creating something - why he's been left on the bench these past couple of games is beyond me. If Bruce can't decide who to play between him and Turner then he should alternate them. Or maybe he has to save face by playing those he bought, rather than those already at the club. Some people say ship out Ferdinand and Nos and replace them with better CBs in January or in the Summer but what decent centre back is going to want to come to Sunderland only to sit on the bench, and then what do we do with those we already have - ship them out too? All the top European and premiership teams have CBs who can play the ball, not just stop it. Until we embrace a combination then we simply won't progress. We'll see - Bruce too will be judged and his favouritism will be out there for all to see, hopefully not at the expense of the club.
Thanks John - I see what you mean about the rough and tumble aspect of Steve Bruce's side, but I think this is for the better. For too long Sunderland have been weak in the middle, with Gordon/Fulop, Turner/Da Silva et al, Cattermole and Cana and Bent and Jones up front, there is a cracking spine of a team that can be built upon.
I must say though, I have liked what I've seen of Turner so far. He's a threat at set pieces and he defends resolutely, very commanding. Look at the way he stopped Jenas in the game last weekend. Granted, he's a non-nonsense style player, but that is what's needed.
Ferdinand, on the other hand, lacks concentration. He has a tendency to take his eye off the ball and let it slip by. When playing well, he looks England-class but more often than not, he day dreams. He's still learning though, and Rio didn't become the defender he is today - or rather, was last season - until later in his career, Anton still has time.