afternoon lads, just picked this one out of the Echo online. http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...underland_s_o_shea_faces_chelsea_ko_1_3743567
I almost expected, out of the two Man Utd lads, that Brown would have his injury problems but not O Shea. Its worrying that inside 2 months of signing him, he has been injured for 80% of the time. Hope its not a repetition of the last 2 seasons with the back 4 constantly mucked about? Makes the Anton sale (without any replacement) a bit of a concern now. Turner not near fitness, Bardo carrying a knock from the weekend, O Shea out (for how long we dont know really) and Bramble just back to fitness. Good job we have the ever dependable 'crock' in Wes Brown. Lol
Bad news this...I was really surprised when we decided to sell Anton when he was in the best form of his life...And it now looks like it could well come back to haunt us... This is just par for the course for Sunderland though eh!
RAW - do you think it was Bruces decison to sell Anton or a club decision to recoup some revenue? It seems a paltry amount 3m up front and 2m pa, as this only represents a couple of places in the league. If we struggle for cover and finish 12th or 13th say, it would cost us much more than going for 10th or higher?
Although it is only a hunch, I believe that he may well have expressed his wishes to move back down south, and with him being in the last year of his contract, the club has decided to recoup what they could before he could leave on a free. I don't believe that Bruce will have had too much say in the matter.
To be honest I thought signing both O'Shea and Brown was a mistake as they were/still are very injury prone Brown has surprised me the most by at least playing a few games (and a few more with a bit of luck). It goes back to giving these two 5 year contracts at 31 another mistake in my opinion, 3 years tops would have been adequate. At least I won my bet with my mate that one or both would not complete the first 5 games. Selling Anton was a strange decision as I thought he was playing well and did fine towards the end of last season, suppose we'll not find out the reasons for it (does Bruce have another daughter?) so we'll have to move on. It's a good job we bought all them midfielders for just such a scenario, still think SB will give 3 CBs a shot with wing backs after all it's all we've got left now.
thin k you are right MrRAW and Anton will know that one bad game and he would be out and either Turner or Bramble in, not saying its right but would expect it to be so. The last thing we need is the curse of the back 4, again.
When everyones fit (not easy at SAFC) then we do have cover. Turner, O Shea, Bramble, Brown, Bardsley and Laing (think Bruce really has big plans for this lad) as full time defenders, with Richardson and Muhammady as emergency full backs to support. Would have loved to have see Hutton (for 3m) and maybe Nedum on loan before deadline day but this was not to be.
Turner gives me particular cause for concern...He really has looked a shadow of his former self inthe games he has played since his injury..
I don’t think Turner was fit at all when he was rushed back to shore up the defence last year and his continued absence since around March/April is cause for real concern. I'm not even sure what the original injury was and what surgery he actually had. Can anyone enlighten me about his injury and his progress to the first team? Gabiadinni seems to think he is still a way off a comeback which is really worrying.
I'm really surprised no-one has mentioned Danny Collins situation from 2 transfer windows back. I don't think we need Anton. Gutted like most that O'Shea won't be playing against Chelsea but I think Bruce brought O'Shea back too early. No reserve games played, maybe one practice match. Bad decision making for me...... I think we'll be fine however, we have Stoke, Norwich and West Brom next which is a must get 9 points for me. Anything less is totally unacceptable. Sharpening Knifes ready for action....!!!!!
I can't believe a sane person would make a statement such as this...Who the hell do you think we are...Barcelona?
I don't see them as easy Syd, they are winnable and I do expect 9 points from them. Otherwise we'll be on 2 points after 7 games - now that's relegation fodder and I'm not having that.
