STEVE Bruce is ready to ditch his 4-4-2 formation against Manchester United tomorrow, but insists Sunderland cannot afford to âshut up shopâ. The Black Cats boss has paired on-loan Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner and teenager Connor Wickham as an orthodox front two in the last two games and it has paid off, with Sunderland taking four points out of a possible six. But Bruce is expected to tinker with his system at Old Trafford tomorrow after persistently preaching the merits of a five-man midfield against the Premier Leagueâs powerhouses. Bendtner will lead the line as a lone striker, but Bruce has hinted that Wickham could also feature after seeing the 18-year-old thrive in a wide left role for Ipswich in the Carling Cup semi-final against Arsenal last season. Bruce believes Sunderland must pose an attacking threat against his old club or risk constant waves of pressure from the reigning Premier League champions. âThereâs a big debate over whether we should play 4-3-3, 4-5-1, 4-4-2 or whatever,â said Bruce. âYou can talk about tactics all you like, but however you play you have to make sure you perform to the best of your ability. âIf you do that, you have a chance regardless of the formation you play. âThe worst thing in my book is to just go there and accept that you are going to get beaten â and a lot of teams have done that over the years. âIf we go there and just try to shut up shop and defend for 90 minutes, Man U are used to that and they know how to break teams down. âWe have to try to cause them some problems, without being too open either. âItâs a balancing act. âI think you need an extra midfielder against the top clubs to prevent you being overrun, but last season I saw Connor play for Ipswich on the left wing against Arsenal and he got forward to support the lone striker. Itâs something Iâm considering.â Bruce has never beaten Ferguson in 18 attempts as a manager, while Sunderland have not triumphed at Old Trafford since 1968. But they were agonisingly close two years ago when Anton Ferdinandâs stoppage time own goal salvaged a point for United. Bruce added: âWe all know how difficult it is to get a result at Old Trafford â Iâve been trying for years! âAnd I know there is this stat that it has been 43 years since Sunderland last won there, but we were only a minute away in 2009. âWe have to go there and be positive. We canât go there and just say that historically we have never got anything at Old Trafford. âEverything is geared towards Man U â itâs Sir Alexâs 25th anniversary in charge and itâs their first league game at home since they lost 6-1 against City, so they will be hurting after that. âBut none of that matters. âThe one thing you have to do in these kind of games against the big clubs is show up, play well and have a real crack at it.â Midfielder David Vaughan remains doubtful with a groin problem. Sunderland are already without keeper Simon Mignolet and defender John OâShea, with Keiren Westwood and Phil Bardsley their replacements
but thats not what he said and I agree with Bruce. The idea of the same team but with Wickham left midfield then supporting Bendy sounds fine to me. Did not know Vaughan was injred so Catts or Gardner.
I have to say that for this game, I too would go with 5 in midfield as well. This 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 debate is a static one and it has to be flexible. My biggest criticism of Bruce is I dont think he is very flexible and tactically very poor imo. At home against the mags and WBA and also away at Norwich and Swansea in particular, he should have gone with 2 strikers - no doubts. He left it until the final hour v Bolton and Villa to do likewise and almost doubled our points for the season in 2 games. However, Man Utd are not Bolton or Villa and if we try to outplay them, we will suffer badly imo. Better that we have Bendtner playing and Connor on the bench to replce him when he tires and fill the midfield. That said, the selection of the midfield is vital. If Larsson is fit, he has to play right wing, Sess on the left and Colback, Vaughan and Gardener (to offer a goal threat) in the centre. Again, Catts could used to replace tired legs (of which there will plenty after a run out at Old Trafford) and the back 4 remains the same as the one that finished Saturdays match. Its not the system thats the problem, its the bloke using it that causes me so much angst. W can revert back to a 2 up front for the visit of Fulham imo, a week later.
It says Vaughan is a doubt Cest so looks like Catts could be back, reading his quotes it looks like.. WESTWOOD BARDO..TURNER..BROWN..RICHARDSON LARSSON..CODLBACK..SESS..GARDNER..WICKHAM BENDY
I'd settle for this Syd, except who is the new lad there 'Codlback' - is he a fishy sort of player related to Stickleback? Lol
Back to the future then?.....is this not the same formation we played last season with Welbeck playing on the left and getting forward?..we didn't do too bad then..here's hoping..
