GUS POYET insists he will have no hesitation in handing new Sunderland signing Liam Bridcutt a baptism of fire in tomorrowâs Tyne-Wear derby. Bridcutt today completed his £2.5million move to the Stadium of Light after a month-long pursuit of the defensive midfielder, who worked under Poyet at Brighton. The 24-year-old is in the squad to face Newcastle United at St Jamesâs Park tomorrow and Black Cats boss Poyet is prepared to include the Scotland international in his starting XI, with Lee Cattermole ruled out through injury, regardless of whether he joins Stoke City or not. Poyet said today: âLiam has one advantage compared with the rest of the squad, he knows us very well, knows how we play and understands the role perfectly. âThe only thing that can go against him is bad form. âBut if I go with Liam in the team, Iâm very relaxed because I know what he can do. He knows the role and does it confidently. âWhen you consider the price for him and how much we wanted him, heâs British, heâs young and I think it was a bargain for us. âHe is registered on time and he is in the squad for tomorrow. Iâve got no problems to play him.â Aside from Cattermole, Steven Fletcher is Poyetâs only other injury worry for tomorrowâs game, with the Scottish striker still struggling with an Achilles problem.
This 110% He's certainly got some balls to throw the kid in at the deep end, I hope he lives up to the hype. If he does it looks like we certainly have a got a bargain and a brilliant player as well.
mmmmmmmmmmmm Let him sit on the bench and soak in the atmos by all means, but a second-tier player coming raw and untried not only in the Prem but more importantly in this game, Well, it worries me. x
Undoubtedly risky mate, but what a way to 'big up' your new signing, he must be on cloud nine now. Not saying it's the right thing to do, but he must have the confidence in the kid to come out with that statement.
Im more than happy for him to start. Like Gus said he already knows the system that he wants him to play. We looked to lightweight on Wed night without Catts, and with him still injured I think we need a physical presence tomorow!
Be afraid, be very afraid:- NACHO Scocco is likely to start tomorrow’s Wear-Tyne derby on the bench, if he is given the all-clear to face Newcastle United. Scocco completed his move to the Stadium of Light yesterday after penning a two-and-a-half year deal with Sunderland for an undisclosed fee – thought to be around the £4million mark. Sunderland are still waiting on the Argentine forward’s international clearance to come through so they can register him ahead of today’s noon deadline for the 28-year-old to feature against the Magpies. But if Scocco is given the go-ahead, he is only likely to be among the substitutes, with Black Cats boss Gus Poyet unsure of whether the arrival from Brazilian club Internacional is sufficiently match-fit to be thrown straight into the starting XI. Poyet told the Echo: “It’s difficult to know whether he will be fit enough to play right away. “It depends on the game. “At the beginning, he might be on the bench and then we will see if we need him on the day. “But I suppose the derby would be a great game for him to make his debut – even if it is just for the last few minutes.” Poyet has earmarked Scocco to inject some much-needed goal-threat into Sunderland’s play, with only Norwich, Crystal Palace and Cardiff netting fewer than the Black Cats in the Premier League this season. “Scocco is a player who can make the difference in the final third,” added Poyet. “He has the ability to open up a game on his own, to conjure up a goal from nowhere, and he can give you that extra quality in a pass or a free-kick. “If he really adapts and links well with the players we have got here, he can make a big difference for us. “I am desperate for that to happen, because if it does it will be a great opportunity for him and for us.” Scocco had endured an unhappy six-month spell with Internacional after netting 30 times in 46 games in his homeland for Newell’s Old Boys last season. But, after watching Sunderland’s victory over Stoke City from the stands on Wednesday night, Scocco is excited at the prospect of beginning his Black Cats career under Poyet. “This is one the best leagues in the world and I think Gus Poyet’s idea of football and his project are very interesting,” Scocco told the Argentine media. “Everybody here at Sunderland welcomed me very nicely. I had my first training session yesterday. “I watched Sunderland against Stoke on Wednesday and I liked what I saw, especially in the first half. I’ll have to prove my worth.”
Of course I'm afraid. No Cabaye, Colocinni, Remy or Gouffran. You guys seem to have signed well, overall outlay can only have been £10m at most and at least a couple of boosts to the first team. After tomorrow I wish you guys best of luck and that extends especially to Bridcutt. Haven't decided if that includes the league cup final yet, bit torn on that one.
cheers mate. To be fair you lads have done well to get 36 points at this stage of the season. Your just going through the motions after tomorows game with not much else to play for. Im suprised Pardew didnt make the FA Cup a big priority?
37 points! If we win tomorrow our season is totally over (there's no way we're getting up into European places or getting relegated (if we have 40 points)) Yeah the FA cup was a killer, being put out at home to Cardiff is a disgrace. People say the board we're interested so Pardew underplayed it but we put out decent teams in the league cup and only got knocked out by Man City after extra time (when we had dominated the game). Truth is if you get a result against us tomorrow I'd happily swap positions with you guys, I spend more time reading your board recently as its actually pretty boring having a team with nothing to play for and half the season to go...
