Read this MICHAEL Turner hopes his partnership with John OâShea can avoid Sunderlandâs central defensive curse after registering a fourth clean sheet in eight together. Sunderlandâs back-line proved an insurmountable barrier for Carling Cup winners Liverpool on Saturday as a first win in four Premier League outings moved Martin OâNeillâs men back into the top half of the table â just two points behind the Reds. Injuries and suspensions have seen the Black Cats deploy six different combinations at centre-half this season after first-choice pairing Turner and Titus Bramble were restricted to just eight outings together last time around. But after becoming Sunderlandâs longest-running double act this year, conceding just seven times in eight games â four of which were at West Brom, Turner believes his partnership with OâShea is beginning to blossom. Turner told the Echo: âItâs key for the team to get a clean sheet against a team like Liverpool. âJohnâs a great player to play alongside. Heâs very calm and a great influence to the other boys. âAs the weeks have gone by, weâve got more and more comfortable together. âEver since Iâve been at this football club, itâs been chop and change at centre-half. âI had a few games with Titus last year, but then I got injured. Itâs just one of those things that you have to deal with. âBut weâve had a run of games together now and hopefully we can keep it going.â ................................................................................................................... The question.. What is our strongest pairing in CD? Brown,./ O'Shea, Brown,/ Turner, O;Shea /Turner..... Or is there any room for Bramble, as for Kyriagos.......................?
Brown has been forgotten a little - and I mean that in a very good way as in we have not really missed him due to our current CD partnership being so bloody good! All in all who's best?? I have no idea but I'm very happy with the way they are playing at the moment - all of them - in fact the entire back 5 cannot be faulted and long may it continue
Partnership has to have O'Shea in there somewhere. Either O'Shea/Brown or O'Shea/Turner However, I cannot fault Bramble when he been able to play and Brown/Turner worked well.
It's a good question and a great question to ponder upon as a fan of Sunderland. I'm very happy with O'Shea, Brown, Turner and Killgallon as options whenever suspensions and injuries arise. I thought Killgallon had a very raw deal under Bruce and he proved himself to be a very good centre half under MON before he picked up his injury. It's one position that doesn't require any incoming players during the summer as we have very good quality in the middle of the defence.
Many of our CB's have came out and praised O'shea as a partner, so that speaks volumes about him personally. Turner is okay when hes had a run of abut 5/6 (compared to about 2/3 for most other CB's) but before he hits that mark he makes me worry. All games after that he seems calmer and abit more self assured, and it calms me down. Other than when he heads the ball UP rather than OUT when balls come into our box.
I have often been critical of Turner in the past but to be totally honest, the lad looks in fantastic form recently. He has been a rock alongside an equally impressive john o shea. Our defensive record this season, WBA apart, has been nothing short of superb imo and we have some excellent options now as well. Brown, Bridge, Killgallon and Paddy the Greek all desperate to play. I reckon a striker and a right back to cover Bardsley will do nicely this summer. Not 11 out and 11 in. This squad has lots of potential.
Central Defenders: Brown, O'Shea, Kilgallon, Turner, Bramble screams strength in depth to me - long may it continue. We have cover in positions all over the pitch now - everyone was saying how we'd miss Cattermole and Sessegnon - we played very well without them and the players in the side stepped into the breach very well - our squad is getting stronger - this time last season we had the same points and were mid slump - but also mid injury crisis - this season I think the crisis would be averted due to our strength and depth
