Hhmm, decisions eh Steve, why not just play two of them, and have a go at winning the game... Or at least pick one, and put Sess on the wing. SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce goes into tomorrowâs game against Arsenal admitting he has THREE players in mind for the role of lone striker at the Emirates tomorrow.The job would automatically have gone to in-form forward Nicklas Bendtner, had he been allowed to play against his parent club. But with the Dane ruled out Bruce says heâs weighing up the prospective merits of Ji, Connor Wickham and Stephane Sessegnon. He told the Echo: âYou would think that with one striker ruled out it would make my selection decision much easier but actually Iâm going to have a difficult decision to make because thereâs good cases for all of them. âJi was impressive in the international game I saw him in earlier this week. âHeâs got height and he also has pace and movement but heâs also just flown back from playing on the other side of the world and thatâs very draining â I know that myself, and I wasnât even playing out there! âConnor is an obvious choice because of his physical presence but heâs still very raw and heâs coming back from injury, he only returned to training this week. And then thereâs Stephane. âHeâs not the obvious choice because of his size but we played him there last season in some of the last few games and he was outstanding. âHe also got three goals in those last five games and his work rate in that position is tremendous, so Iâve got a lot to think about before I decide which way to go.â Though strikers are on his mind, defence will be the key against the Londoners, who are capable of scoring from any angle and numerous positions when they are on song. And on that score, the Sunderland manager is pleased that Michael Turner will be available again this weekend after his return from long-term injury in the last game, against West Brom. The manager said: âIt was a tough opening 10 minutes for Michael in that game and he was unlucky to see a deflected ball leaving him with a sprint with Shane Long for what turned out to be an Albion goal. âBut he got better and better as the game went on and he was excellent second-half, much more like the Michael Turner we know, and itâs good to have him available again this weekend. âWe were short on numbers in defence going into the Albion game and it said everything about Michaelâs character that he wanted to play even though he could have done with a bit more time out to get himself totally right. âIt will take him a run of games before we see him back to his very best. âBut his physical presence and his quality in the air are fantastic assets for us and heâs going to be an important defender in a game where it will be absolutely vital that we defend well
In the 35 years i've been watching Sunderland, i've never known a more negative manager, i'm finally starting to agree with cest and for the 1st time since bruce arrived, i want him out. If we start with 1 up front (even with Bendtner unavailable) when clearly this is Arsenal's weakest defence in years then Bruce wants shooting with ****ing ****
I do understand his formation, and I think it's the right idea. Arsenal are weaker than they have been in a while, but they're still one of the toughest teams to beat outside of the top 4, especially at home at the Emirates. Because they're at home, and because they're strongest by far in attack, they're going to go with quite a strong attacking formation, so I don't think you guys have any choice but to go 4-5-1 and try to control the midfield to nullify Arsenal's passing. After all, attacking Arsenal's weak defence and bagging some goals is all well and good, but it's futile if Arsenal are hammering in more. My only gripe would be the mere notion that he's choosing from one of these three players which is evidence that Bruce still hasn't realised that Sessegnon isn't a bloody striker and DEFINITELY isn't a lone striker. If I were a mackem I'd like to see Sessegnon in the hole behind Ji-Dong, forming a centre midfield trio.
What do you mean 'if you were a mackem'. You post and talk about us more than any Sunderland fan. You are a closet mackem.
I support Newcastle. I'm a mag. The fact that I'd rather you guys lost tomorrow whilst we won tomorrow sort of makes that clear, wouldn't you say? No major disrespect of course, but that's just how the rivalry goes.
Sometimes ...in fact it seems...most times.... people talk in terms of numbers before a game 442 451 etc etc...I`d like to think that the pre maatch stuff is pure deception on SBs part....I`d like to think it is but I dont really know ...I think all supporters really want a manager to be of the type that puts an arm around someones shoulder and hey presto they play out of their skin a la Clough/Shankly/Ferguson /Redknap Theres a case to say SB doesnt do this...in fact our two famous splitters would seem to say hes lacking in this department.....As for tomorrow I`d settle on the following specific instructions for these three as follows: Sess / Arteta Whickam/ Meerstalker (?) ) Destroy your opponents day...Stay on your feet....score Catts /Van Persie The rest : put it in the box and arrive in the box .....Be lucky...........Systems dont beat teams.....players beat systems....
Well I am robably repeating myself, Sess is not a striker he is a winger, it is bad enough playing him in the hole, as a lone striker just plain stupid. Catts is a liability he should not play tomorrow, it was stupid to make him skipper Elmo is not very good. Rico is not a LB We do not have a LW Sess, Ji and Wickham should play tomorrow SB talking about who he plays where just shows how hopeless he is. I do want us to win and if we could go onto a 6 winning run I would be very happy. I think this is unlikely.. SB has to go sooner rather than later.
Sunderpitt. I agree with you, Sess, Ji and Wickham should play tomorrow. We are the underdogs and although a point would be a bloody good point were not gonna have a better chance of winning than at the mo whilst their defence is ****e. Unfortunately knowing brucie boy he will attempt to defend for 90mins on the off chance we can get a breakaway goal.
Knowing what Bruce has done in the past,he'll probably want to " park the proverbial bus" and come away with a draw.With our luck,he'll leave a bloody window open!!
Absolutely spot on. The great players are those who see beyond systems. Matthews, Finney, Shackleton, Best, Gascoigne were all "outrageous" guys because they had the brains to see through systems. Kevin Phillips didn't give a damn for your system. He just waded in there, got the ball, and f**king smacked it past the 'keeper - hey, what does your system say to that? Systems do NOT equal brains, and Bruce has it wrong. Tell those players to go out there and play like they did as 7 year-olds, i.e. play like you want to win. We'd be well up the table if only we did that.
chappaz i respect your views, always have but if we play 4-5-1 and go a goal down (which is probable), bruce won't change it. If we go 2-0 down (again, probable) bruce won't change it. He'll wait til we go 3-0 down then change it, we'll pull 1 back and the game will fizzle out. In his post match interview he'll bemoan the fact that we could have getting something out of the game if we had scored earlier and then praise Arsenal to a hilt, the man is clueless and his tactics beggar belief. Sadly this will probably happen and another day out on the piss will end up going tits up (again)
....when there's only 15-20 minutes left too. He's got an awful habit of standing there with a blank look on his face, waiting until 70 minutes have passed before he considers changing anything Gets on my bloody nerves
dorset i'm on here cos our lass is watching the x factor, taking it easy drinking my carling, saving myself for tomorrow, knowing for a fact what's going to happen, i wish i could forsee the bloody lottery numbers as easily. I'm going to have the same conversation countless times tomorrow, hope i'm wrong like but can't see it, sadly
Well yeah that's true. The starting tactic is the starting tactic, but changing tactics to suit the situation doesn't seem to be Bruce's cup of tea. I just think that if there's ANY away opponent you need to play 4-5-1 it's Arsenal. Even with their weak defence, they play a 4-3-3 and rely on short passes through the middle. I'd say that a midfield trio should help nullify that somewhat. It's what I'm hoping for tomorrow with Newcastle, and we'll be at home! I'd prefer a 4-5-1 with Ben Arfa to get more control of the midfield against the likes of Modric.
Exactly what I'm doing! Can't believe Chappaz is on here without any grief like.... There's usually at least two or three.
Some of the usual people have all had a pop up there already. Minor ones like. All the rest mustn't be online tonight, otherwise they would have too I imagine.
CB If youre there.....I admire Arsene Wenger...In the midst of his crisis he bought Arteta....When was the last time (for all our spending ) did we buy a brain?...If its true the team reflects the manager....well always be recruiting mechanics/technicians.....a brain in midfield never seems to be a prority....
Right with you, Dyavvy. And there are so many ways to do it. Shack, Best and Gazza just said 'I'll do whatever comes into my head at the time - and how are you donkeys going to predict it?' Matthews said 'I work to my own system - and it's so well worked out it'll beat your hair-brained sh*t any time'. Finney - surely one of the most complete players ever - said 'Adopt what system you like because I've got one to beat it anyway'. Jimmy Baxter took the geometrical view - 'you only have eleven players so, whatever system you adopt, there are bound to be gaps between you. I'll just pop it through the gap you leave, and you can't avoid it'. You're right, we haven't got anyone like that. Agree about Wenger. Hope he gets the sack - and comes here.
