Brown refused payoff

Head coach Di Canio suggested after today’s game that Sunderland were prepared to offer Brown a financial settlement on the remaining two years of his contract at the Stadium of Light.

But the former England international was not ready to hang up his boots and has so far managed to participate in Sunderland’s pre-season programme unscathed.

“The club had a conservation with him, but with his strong character, he said ‘I feel a footballer, I want to stay here and prove it’,” said Di Canio today.

“Because I’m an intelligent manager, I didn’t have any preclusion to anyone doing that.

“He was the perfect professional to have in a squad and what a player, he hasn’t stopped for one minute in a training session.

“My pre-season is very tough, but he hasn’t had any problems.”

 

That's fine

 

Good. Love Brown me.

 

Class player, if he can stay fit this season it will be like a new top draw signing. You have to say considering how long he has been out he looks in great shape.

 

A great player who has now saved our club a fortune...what would a top-quality centre-half cost???Our centre-back pairing is class!!

 

He's was running at christmas but pulled up again as soon as he was introduced to ballwork. I reckon he's kept to running since and only started kicking a ball again when the lads returned to training. MoN must have tried to rush him back at christmas like. Great to have him back.

 

Im not sure who our first choice pairings going to be? We've now got 5 Centre backs. Cuellars obviously 5th choice now but Roberge looks quality and Diakite when fit is a machine. Hes 6ft4, 17 stone and he can run 100m in under 12 secs

 

If he can stay fit, it will be like a marque signing.

Most ability I've ever seen in a Sunderland centre half.

 

I said crunchie and JOS the other day and not many agreed.

I'm just glad its looking good for CB's.

 

Steve Bold was better but he is class

 

Emerson Thome was good

 

Don't agree mate.

Bould was a top player for us and done a great job. For technical ability, pace, reading the game and general all round ability, it has to be Wes Brown.

 

Dave Watson gets my vote

 

He was immense today against Spurs, for me motm by a yard mile. If he can remain injury free and continue to play like that it will enhance our season no end.

 

I wasn't around to see him mate.

 

Shows good moral standings imo.... he may feel he still owes it to the fans to show his worth. He could easily have taken the pay off and gone to another club. When he does play he is still quality, reads the game so well and as proven today chips in with the odd goal

 

So lads, where does this leave JoS? Can he keep the armband? Will he play every game? Can JoS and Brown play together against pace?

 

Seems a dedicated lad which is only great for us.

 

Think we have options now.

We can tailor the defence accorfing to opposition which can only be a good thing.

Haway the lads

 

Ha ha, leads me nicely to my next question, one I'm stumped on. Which regular starter should get the armband when JoS doesn't play? Brown could but as you say, now it can be tailored there could be games when neither play.