New pair..have to bide their time....

So maybe not to many changed then.....if any.



WAYNE Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos will have to bide their time to be included in Sunderland’s starting line-up, admits Martin O’Neill.

The defensive pair moved to the Stadium of Light in deadline day loan deals, but have enjoyed limited involvement with the Black Cats so far – Bridge appearing for just eight minutes from the bench, while Kyrgiakos is yet to make his Sunderland bow.

The duo could have been involved in Sunderland’s midweek FA Cup success at Middlesbrough, but were ineligible as they completed their moves after the original game with the Teessiders.

Sunderland boss O’Neill could introduce the fresh legs of Bridge and Kyrgiakos against Arsenal tomorrow after the Black Cats completed a gruelling 30 minutes of extra-time at the Riverside.

But with Sunderland conceding just four times in 2012, O’Neill knows there is no rush to tinker with his defence.

O’Neill told the Echo: “They know that it is not automatic that they will be in the side.

“I’m delighted to have them here though and they know they will have to fight to force their way into the team, because we are doing okay at the moment.

“It’s a shame they weren’t available for the cup game in the week to be honest, because we could have done with their ability and experience.

“But they joined us after we had played Middlesbrough in the original tie, so that meant they were ineligible for the replay.

“With the games coming thick and fast at the moment, with the FA Cup running alongside the league, we will certainly need them.

“They will come into contention in the coming weeks regardless of what we do or don’t do this weekend.”

Former England international Bridge had found himself frozen out at parent club Manchester City while Kyrgiakos had endured a similarly miserable time at German side Wolsburg following his summer move from Liverpool.

“Wayne was saying that it is just good to be back and involved again,” said O’Neill.

“He’s got a few months here with us in which to prove himself to be the very good footballer that we know he is. And the same goes for Kyrgiakos.”

Sunderland head into tomorrow’s encounter with 33 points from 23 games, 22 of which have been picked up in O’Neill’s 10 Premier League matches in charge.

O’Neill added: “I’m delighted with the points tally. Obviously, I couldn’t have envisaged when I took over having 33 points at this stage – I don’t think anyone in their right mind would have predicted that.

“But we’re not getting carried away and I’m not going to start talking about raising our sights just yet.”

 

I think they were brought in as cover anyway Comm. Although I can see Bridge coming in before too long.

 

Id put both in against Arsenal, i thought Ricco and Turner were suspect against Boro

 

you need to pick the team for the right opponents, if he feels that these two (or just one) are better suited against a certain team then he'll play them, if they have worked hard in training that is.

 

I agree with Turner, but I thought Ricco had a good game.

 

Good job we are allowed to disagree!!

I thought Turner was better than Ricco (he can deal with centre forwards with limited pace).

Given the options Arsenal have - I would fear if we have Turner in the middle - just too slow but there needs to be a decision on what sort of a partnership Zeus could have formed with JOS...whats better a slow Turner with a decent rapour with JOS or a better centre half (IMO) without any game time together??? Good job we have a decent manager to decide

In terms of Bridge vs Ricco - I`d go for Bridge, allow McClean a bit more scope going forwards

 

haha disagreements fuel the whole forum, i thought Ricco was actually very bad against Boro and got caught out so many times......just compare that to Bardsley on the other side, no comparison im afraid. Im not bashing Ricco just need to play further forward not in defence, give McClean competition. Turner was really at fault for their goal and i fear he would get torn apart by Arsenal's speed. Put the Greek in, because if nothing else he would be a massive threat in their box on set pieces.

 

Difficult one this, I personally think Bridge would get terrorized by Wallcot or Chamberlins pace. He has been out of the game so long I think its going to take him time to get back to his best.

At Centre half its a case of not letting RVP get 1 or 1 with Turner or OShea. Arsenal play with 1 up normally which means 1 centre half marks and 1 sweeps. If they double up on RVP they should be ok. I think Bardo and Ricco are good enough to stop their wingers playing and our midfield should be a good match for theirs.

I think as others have said our manager will know how to play them and get the best out of what we have got. Going the other way Sess, McClean, Campbell, Larsson and Gardner should tear their defense apart.

It could be a high scoring game this one......

 

..

Just as long as it's not the high scoring game, like their last one.......

 

New lads in, Turner and Ricco out.

We need a proper defender up against Walcott.
RVP rips good defenders to shreds, Turner wouldn't stand a chance.

 

let's see how Ricco gets on against Walcott and the Ox. Could be interesting. Perhaps every time they attack Bardo can nip across...