Steve Bruce planning Sunderland clear-out
by Luke Edwards, The Journal
Apr 16 2011
SULLEY Muntari could become the highest profile victim of Sunderlandââ¬â¢s excruciating slump in form as Steve Bruce is ready to completely change his summer transfer plans.
Bruce had initially thought he would only have to make minor improvements to his first-team squad in the summer as the Black Cats hovered on the fringes of the European places at the start of February.
But a run of seven defeats in eight games and a crippling injury crisis has persuaded Bruce a more drastic overhaul is needed to ensure the Wearsiders do not suffer a repeat next term.
Muntariââ¬â¢s poor form has all but ended Sunderlandââ¬â¢s interest in turning the Ghana internationalââ¬â¢s loan move from Inter Milan into a permanent deal, while John Mensahââ¬â¢s inconsistency and continued physical frailty mean a third season on loan from Lyon looks unlikely.
Bruce will move for long-term target Charles Nââ¬â¢Zogbia as soon as the season ends, but he fears he will have to sign two new strikers because of another serious knee injury to Fraizer Campbell which could rule him out for up to a year.
With continuing doubts about Sunderlandââ¬â¢s ability to bring Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck back to the North East, either permanently or on another seasonââ¬â¢s loan, Bruce knows the goalposts have shifted dramatically in terms of what he needs to do recruitment-wise.
ââ¬ÅCertainly we will have to look in the summer and have a revamp,ââ¬Â said Bruce, who predicted he will put out the youngest side in Sunderlandââ¬â¢s Premier League history at Birmingham today.
ââ¬ÅCertainly if Fraizer Campbell does need surgery, we will have just one striker and will have to do a major revamp. A major rebuilding job is required again. Five six months ago, I was looking to just cherry pick.
ââ¬ÅIââ¬â¢m confident I will get the support from above. Hey, listen, you cannot keep asking the owner to keep piling millions and millions in, but I think he is a clever enough man to realise we have been unfortunate, really unfortunate.
ââ¬ÅWe spent a bit of money on Fraizer Campbell and he could be out for another year, which seems to happen to us. We also have five loan players and we have to address that for a start.
ââ¬ÅWe have not got the firepower in depth to cover when we have lost seven or eight players and we have lost seven or eight now for months.
ââ¬ÅIt is not just a thing that has happened in the last week, we have had long-term injuries to Craig Gordon, Titus Bramble, John Mensah, now Sulley Muntari and of course, Campbell, Michael Turner and Lee Cattermole is in there as well, Welbeck too.ââ¬Â One of Bruceââ¬â¢s biggest regrets is his inability to get Bramble and Turner playing together, as he feels they were the rock upon which the teamââ¬â¢s excellent start to the season was built.
He said: ââ¬ÅWe have lost that cutting edge up front. At the start of the season we had Darren Bent, Asamoah Gyan, Fraizer Campbell and Danny Welbeck and I donââ¬â¢t think Sunderland have had a better group of four than that.
ââ¬ÅWe could nick a goal even when we were not playing well and of course with Titus Bramble and Michael Turner at the back, we were rock solid.
ââ¬ÅTo start with Turner and Bramble, they have played just eight times together, which was in my mind, my number one partnership. They played eight times, we won three, drew four, lost one. They have not played together since.ââ¬Â To make matters worse, there are long-term worries about Bramble because of a knee cartilage problem, despite the defenderââ¬â¢s previous assertion he will play again this season.
Bruce said: ââ¬ÅIt is worrying news about Bramble. His knee is a big concern. Titus is a bit bandy and is putting all the strain on the outside cartilage which is where all the damage is. It has effectively been wearing away at the cartilage, creating a bone-on-bone situation which is particularly nasty. He is having an injection into his knee. Let us hope that does the trick.
Bramble added: ââ¬ÅIââ¬â¢ve just been told that Iââ¬â¢m unlikely to play again this season. I donââ¬â¢t need an operation, so thatââ¬â¢s a bonus. I will work hard and make sure Iââ¬â¢m right for the start of next season.ââ¬Â
by Luke Edwards, The Journal
Apr 16 2011
SULLEY Muntari could become the highest profile victim of Sunderlandââ¬â¢s excruciating slump in form as Steve Bruce is ready to completely change his summer transfer plans.
Bruce had initially thought he would only have to make minor improvements to his first-team squad in the summer as the Black Cats hovered on the fringes of the European places at the start of February.
But a run of seven defeats in eight games and a crippling injury crisis has persuaded Bruce a more drastic overhaul is needed to ensure the Wearsiders do not suffer a repeat next term.
Muntariââ¬â¢s poor form has all but ended Sunderlandââ¬â¢s interest in turning the Ghana internationalââ¬â¢s loan move from Inter Milan into a permanent deal, while John Mensahââ¬â¢s inconsistency and continued physical frailty mean a third season on loan from Lyon looks unlikely.
Bruce will move for long-term target Charles Nââ¬â¢Zogbia as soon as the season ends, but he fears he will have to sign two new strikers because of another serious knee injury to Fraizer Campbell which could rule him out for up to a year.
With continuing doubts about Sunderlandââ¬â¢s ability to bring Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck back to the North East, either permanently or on another seasonââ¬â¢s loan, Bruce knows the goalposts have shifted dramatically in terms of what he needs to do recruitment-wise.
ââ¬ÅCertainly we will have to look in the summer and have a revamp,ââ¬Â said Bruce, who predicted he will put out the youngest side in Sunderlandââ¬â¢s Premier League history at Birmingham today.
ââ¬ÅCertainly if Fraizer Campbell does need surgery, we will have just one striker and will have to do a major revamp. A major rebuilding job is required again. Five six months ago, I was looking to just cherry pick.
ââ¬ÅIââ¬â¢m confident I will get the support from above. Hey, listen, you cannot keep asking the owner to keep piling millions and millions in, but I think he is a clever enough man to realise we have been unfortunate, really unfortunate.
ââ¬ÅWe spent a bit of money on Fraizer Campbell and he could be out for another year, which seems to happen to us. We also have five loan players and we have to address that for a start.
ââ¬ÅWe have not got the firepower in depth to cover when we have lost seven or eight players and we have lost seven or eight now for months.
ââ¬ÅIt is not just a thing that has happened in the last week, we have had long-term injuries to Craig Gordon, Titus Bramble, John Mensah, now Sulley Muntari and of course, Campbell, Michael Turner and Lee Cattermole is in there as well, Welbeck too.ââ¬Â One of Bruceââ¬â¢s biggest regrets is his inability to get Bramble and Turner playing together, as he feels they were the rock upon which the teamââ¬â¢s excellent start to the season was built.
He said: ââ¬ÅWe have lost that cutting edge up front. At the start of the season we had Darren Bent, Asamoah Gyan, Fraizer Campbell and Danny Welbeck and I donââ¬â¢t think Sunderland have had a better group of four than that.
ââ¬ÅWe could nick a goal even when we were not playing well and of course with Titus Bramble and Michael Turner at the back, we were rock solid.
ââ¬ÅTo start with Turner and Bramble, they have played just eight times together, which was in my mind, my number one partnership. They played eight times, we won three, drew four, lost one. They have not played together since.ââ¬Â To make matters worse, there are long-term worries about Bramble because of a knee cartilage problem, despite the defenderââ¬â¢s previous assertion he will play again this season.
Bruce said: ââ¬ÅIt is worrying news about Bramble. His knee is a big concern. Titus is a bit bandy and is putting all the strain on the outside cartilage which is where all the damage is. It has effectively been wearing away at the cartilage, creating a bone-on-bone situation which is particularly nasty. He is having an injection into his knee. Let us hope that does the trick.
Bramble added: ââ¬ÅIââ¬â¢ve just been told that Iââ¬â¢m unlikely to play again this season. I donââ¬â¢t need an operation, so thatââ¬â¢s a bonus. I will work hard and make sure Iââ¬â¢m right for the start of next season.ââ¬Â
