Brighton midfielder Liam Bridcutt has handed in a transfer request as former boss Gus Poyet tries to take him to Sunderland. Sky sources understand the 24-year-old Scot has asked to leave the Championship club as the Black Cats continue to try and negotiate a double deal for him and winger Will Buckley. Poyet has refused to discuss his January targets in public, but the 46-year-old Uruguayan is known to admire a man he took to the Amex Stadium in August 2010. Whether or not former Chelsea trainee Bridcutt's move will persuade Brighton, who declined to comment on the matter on Tuesday evening, to part with one of their most prized assets remains to be seen. Poyet has already signed Fiorentina defender Marcos Alonso on loan for the remainder of the season, but hopes to bring in up to four more players before the end of the month. Sunderland currently sit bottom of the table - four points from safety - with just 14 points from their opening 20 games.
It's only a matter of time now... After Cattermole and Ki's performance tonight, he's got a wait before he gets in. Ki was outstanding especially, he was the best player on the pitch.
Ki was like a one man army in the first half, but dropped off a little in the second and looked physically drained towards the end. Not criticising him mind, he was shear class, but so were the whole back 4, Catts, even Larsson but a good shift in. To be fair, every man played his part.
Cattermole was supposed to be protecting the back 4 but allowed Giggs far too much room on the edge of our box as he did when the 40 year old hit the crossbar. He also lgave Januzaj too much room, in my opinion, and both players took turns at exploiting the space. Cattermole will need to improve on that, in the 2nd leg, when we'll be sitting a bit deeper. As for Bridcutt, I trust the manager so I'm sure he'll do well, at least he has a name we should be able to spell
I think you're spot on here mate. Thought Cattermole did OK last night but wasn't as dominant as I have seen. I think Bridcutt is being brought in to replace him. Larsson put in a typical Larsson performance - wasted set pieces (barring the first goal of course) and contributed very little else throughout the whole game. Ki was absolutely outstanding though. We need to sign him up ASAP.
I can understand when a winger loses a bit of pace or lack of confidence makes a striker's first touch poor ........... but how can someone be unable to deliver a half decent cross from a dead ball almost every time? If Seb can't manage it just let someone else have the ball .............. I'd rather have Bardsley take them and I'm not joking.
Agree with all on this. How you can constantly overhit or mishit dead balls is beyond me, esp when you do fcuk all else
He should be removed from dead ball duties. Bloody hopeless most of the time and is constantly wasting good chances. However Larsson put a bloody good shift in last night. However he is creating nothing and he should be?
Sorry but I thought Larsson was fantastic last night. His work rate and constant harrying and chasing Carrick prevented Man Utd from dictating play. He also provided a peach of a dead ball for our first goal? I saw Man Utd set pieces fail too and you don't get everyone right. I have been a very open critic of Seb in the past but last night, he was immense IMO.
Maybe last night it worked for him given the opposition but personally I want to see more from a Premiership footballer than just running and harrying. If he put his effort into crossing rather than just moaning all the time at the referee etc then he may be able to actually find someones head or get a shot on target. He did a job last night but once he has lost the ability on dead ball situations he is of little use. We can do better. Ki was unbeleivable and utd's possession near end of first half was when he went a bit quiet. Wonder if Swansea are watching because I can not see how he isnt in their first team. Shelvey FFS?
