Long road ahead for rusty returnees FITNESS BOOST ... Titus Bramble. Published on Saturday 16 July 2011 13:08 STEVE Bruce admits Michael Turner and Titus Bramble have a long way to go to regain full fitness â but is delighted just to see the central defence partnership back on the pitch again. The duo played the full 90 minutes against York City midweek in what was Sunderlandâs first warm-up game of the pre-season. It was a massive boost for Bruce, who saw injuries rob Sunderland of two of their key players for most of the second half of last season. He told the Gazette: âMichael and Titus are a long way off being at their best â a long, long way off. âThey were as rusty, as you would expect them to be in their run-out this week, and they couldnât have got away with playing against Premier League opposition the way they played against York. âBut Iâm just glad to get them both back on the pitch and getting through a game. âThey both had serious knee injuries last season and, if Iâm honest, I wondered whether or not those injuries might roll over into next season. âYou always tend to fear the worst, but the good news is that theyâve both come through no problem, and itâs now just a question of building them up.â Turnerâs game against York was only his sixth competitive match of 2011, while Bramble, pictured, suffered a second half of last season blighted by a knee problem and missed the last couple of months of the season. Bruce added: âTitus and Michael were our first-choice pairing as centre-halves last season, considering that John Mensah wasnât available to play all that often. âThey were brilliant when we were flying in the early stages of the season and keeping clean sheets. âIf you look at the stats, you could see there was a clear improvement in points picked up when those two were playing together, and if we have them both fit and raring to go at the start of the season, it will really stand us in good stead. âI really rate the both of them and I donât think they really got the credit they deserved last season â Michael was a rock at the back before that injury in November, while Titus was a contender for Player of the Season before he got sidelined early in the New Year. âIâll be absolutely delighted if we have them both fit and sharp for the start of the season. If they stay fit and avoid injuries this time around, it will really stand us in good stead.â
I can't fault Turners commitment but he wouldn't be in my starting eleven. He gives the ball away far too often with the lazy lump forward and we often get punished for it. I also think he is part of the reason we defend so deep because he is very slow.
I think this is one of the toughest choice's SB will have this season. At the start of last season Titus n turner were immense in defence for us, until injuries crippled us. With the addition of the Man U. lads, who knows how we'll line up when everyone's fit.
A fair assessment Ken. I would add that he is very good in the air, both defensively and in attack (set pieces), but yes, he is painfully slow and has poor distribution.
with the choice we have at the back it will be fun guessing who will be our first choice back 4. Could the article by Bruce be his way of preparing Titus and Turner for the drop.
Yeah, my back 4 would be Brown - Oshea - Titus - Bardsley Not a lot of pace in there, but to be honest (with the exception of nedum on loan) we've never really been blessed with pacey defenders. As a side note even if we had to play the academy kids due to another crippling injury crisis, and Richardson was still fully fit, he still wouldn't get a game at left back.
I like the look of that back 4, we just have to hope that Wes can stay fit for the start of the season!
Yeah, but the thing is Ricco's not a left back, he may be quick, but he's also ****e in that position. If I HAD to have him in my team, I'd make him the water boy, (or maybe he could be in charge of keeping the magic sponge wet) Sorry don't just rate him.
Thank you vaux, was beginning to think I was the only one who thought he was a crap LB. Everyone else seems obsessed with putting him in there just don't get it, he is a midfielder if anything so if we have to play him try him on the LW.
Every year, I read the same thing about him, 'he'll come good this year', 'he'll make the lb slot his own' etc. etc. and every year he does **** all. correction maybe scores a good goal once a season, that raises peoples hopes he'll come good. (Murphy anyone?) As a LB? No ****ing way. As a LW? not for me. Not too sure what he brings to the squad to be honest.
I like the look of that too.... A nice experienced back four that wouldn't give too much change to anyone.
He seemed happy playing just behing the lone striker. The impression I get from Ricco that if he's asked to play somewhere he's not happy with then the game seems to drift by him.
