From BBC website: Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has defended his decision to line up without a recognised striker in Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Arsenal. Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-Won were left out as Bruce opted for winger Stephane Sessegnon as a lone forward with Nicklas Bendtner ineligible. "I thought Sessegnon would cause them problems," Bruce told BBC Newcastle. "I pondered Ji, but he's been half-way around the world [with South Korea] and Connor has had a groin problem." Wickham and Ji were summer arrivals, the former costing an initial £8.1m when he joined from Ipswich Town in July. However the pair are yet to start a match between them, despite making contributions from the bench this term. SUNDERLAND'S PLIGHT ⢠Sunderland have only scored 10 goals, with Sebastian Larsson contributing three of those strikes ⢠Defensively Steve Bruce's side have conceded only 10 goals, with two clean sheets ⢠Strikers Bendtner, Ji, Sessegnon and Wickham have scored just two goals between them, with the latter two yet to open their account "We've got to be true to Connor, he's 18 years old," Bruce said. "When he gets his chance, for instance if he'd had his chance last time out [against West Brom] in a difficult atmosphere at a difficult stadium, we've got to remember he's only 18. "When he is ready I'll give him his chance, he's looked better today when he came on which is good because when we unleash him he'll be very good." The Wearsiders lie 17th in the Premier League after the 2-1 loss, their fourth in eight league games, with a 4-0 home win against Stoke the sole success. "We have to weather the storm," Bruce continued. "I know I've got a decent squad, an honest group of players, and if we stick with it then it will be OK." Discuss.
I heard yet again the other day that Whickham, according to Bruce, is "one for the future" thats why he isn't played. The guy went on to say that Bruce should play him because the future isn't looking too good for him. x
I would be p**sed off by now if I was Wickham. Could of went to Liverpool to sit on the bench and do nothing...
If he's not up to playing yet why is he on the bench FFS? Half our games Steve are at that difficult stadium with the difficult atmosphere so he is not up to playing home games then? okay so why not play him away from home or are those stadia too difficult as well?
Bruce's decisions still make absolutely no sense to me - we should have played at least one of our strikers from the start. The only way they will get experience is if they play. Lets face it the outcome couldnt have been any worse.
Why is he calling the Stadium a difficult place with a difficult atmosphere!! Ffs yet another pop at the fans who have no right to be upset at his abysmal 2011 record. It never used to be difficult Steve I don't remember any comments over difficult stadium when u first came. Truth is it isn't a difficult stadium unless you are woeful and losing if you can handle the heat get out the kitchen, whats that, you can't cos all the nice things are in the fridge! Try looking at where u are going wrong rather than having a pop at us!
Did anyone hear his comment about the Arsenal crowd when we equalised? saying that the crowd were a bit grumbly then going on to say that he was used to playing in front of a grumbling crowd.
Crap team selections and formations Crap defensive tactics Crap comments, such as the one's above directed at the fans Crap manager engineering his own sacking to pick up a wedge of cash, before sailing off into the sunset laughing all the way to the bank.
How come Rooney was big enough and old enough when he was 17 and Whickham is older and a foot taller but still has to be wrapped in cotton wool, come on Brucey, get real.
Agree with the comments from Blind Corner....only joking,but how can a blind man see what Brucie can't!!
Add to that Fabregas-Arsenal (17), Iker Casillas-Real Madrid (18), Gareth Bale-Spurs (18), Theo Walcott-Arsenal (17), Jack Wilshere-Arsenal (16), Rafael Da Silva-Man Utd (18), Aaron Ramsey-Arsenal (17) and I could go on...... His sub appearances tell me he's ready to start.
The comments about the difficult stadium etc really boil my piss. If it is difficult, it's only difficult because of the dross that's been served up by his team for the past 9 months,
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If he'd played 4-4-2, Ji and Connor up front, sess on the left and got tonked 5-0 and came out and said "well we came 2have a go however Arsenal were the better team on the day" I'd not have any problem with him at all. I was a stout BIB however his tactics, team selection and also which is starting 2piss me off even more his comments regarding the fans is quickly changing my mind. One of the main reasons I liked our previous managers such as Reid, McCarthy and Keane disregarding results/performances.etc. Was the fact that they called a spade a spade. If we'd played bad they said we played bad, it kindov struck a chord with myself as u felt like they were seeing the same things as u were seeing and not just coming out with standard managerial 101 phrases. Bruce for me is trying to distance himself from the responsibility and playing the innocent whilst shifting blame 2the fans for unwanted pressure. This may be working in the sense that the national media is throwing him a bit of sympathy but its alienating him from the people who pay his wages and can keep him in a job, the fans.
