Bruce says players have to hit the ground running ....

SUNDERLAND manager Steve Bruce admits he will need about half his summer signings to adapt to life on Wearside ahead of schedule.

David Vaughan, John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Sebastian Larsson, Keiren Westwood, Craig Gardner, Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-Won have all been recruited by the Black Cats, while Ahmed Elmohamady’s loan has been made permanent.

There could be more to come, with Sunderland thought to be exploring the possibility of taking Manchester City winger Adam Johnson on loan.

Fortunately for them, all eight were signed before the players reported back for pre-season, maximising the time to integrate them into the squad, though some were granted late arrivals to get their domestic lives in order or, in the case of Wickham and Larsson, rest from post-season exertions.

Even so, Bruce (pictured left) says he cannot afford them all to feel their way in.

“We need four or five to hit the ground running,” he conceded. “That’s the problem when you make big changes. The good thing is they’ve been with us most of pre-season so they’re getting to know each other.

“We need a bit of time but in the Premier League we always claim for time and we don’t get it. I’m pleased with what we’ve done when I look at the club two years ago but I’ll let people make their own conclusions.

“The key is to not stand still and keep the club moving forward.”

In that respect, the Premier League fixture list has conspired against Sunderland. They open at Liverpool on August 13, and the first team at the Stadium of Light are Newcastle United.

They also travel to Swansea City in August – usually the worst time to take on a newly-promoted side – while Chelsea at home begins September’s schedule.

It is not only his new players Bruce needs to be concerned with. Having been without so many players through injury at the end of last season, plenty are more lacking in match sharpness than they should be six matches into an eight-game pre-season run.

Centre-backs Brown and Titus Bramble both looked rusty in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Burnley. Brown was making only his second Sunderland appearance, while Bramble conceded his second penalty of the warm-up period – converted by Jay Rodriguez for the only goal.

Having played for Ghana in June, club record signing Asamoah Gyan was another granted extended leave, and Bruce was pleased to see the striker get 45 minutes at Turf Moor.

“It was only Asa’s second game in four months and he’s had back-to-back (appearances, the other being in Kilmarnock in midweek) so he was lethargic-looking, which is understandable,” he said.

“The big aim is to get them all through pre-season and then pick a team which I know is capable of getting a result at Anfield and of course the week after when Newcastle come to town.”

Bruce is fortunate that nine of his ten summer signings (Arsenal development player Roarie Deacon was the other) have experience of English football, seven in the top-flight.

Korean Ji Dong-Won is the exception. The striker, who speaks little English, arrived expecting that it to take him “six months” to break into the side.

His performances, though, have been one of the big plusses of pre-season.

“Ji is fabulous, he doesn’t speak the language and hasn’t played in the Premier League but you could see his perpetual motion, he’s a good player and I’m hopeful he’ll be fine,” said Bruce.

“He’ll learn the language, he’s already picking it up so I’m sure come Christmas he’ll be fine.”

When asked if his business was done for the transfer window, Bruce’s response was a cagey: “You can never say never.

“We’re very pleased with what we’ve done and it we don’t do anything, then so be it.”

 

Will Ji Dong-Won become the Sunderland version of the Scouse Jan Molby - funny foreigner with a Mackem accent - can`t wait to hear him in due course!

 

.

What a load of ****e, we have to play everyone, how is playing Swansea in August worse than any other time?

Whine Whine ****ing Whine. Excuses.

 

erm tbf commachio, remember blackpool v wigan ? admittedly wigan arent the greatest time going but everyone thought wigan should murder blackpool, got beat 4-0 i believe ??

 

I like the last line when Brucey's answer was cagey in relation to all of his transfer business done.

 

Aye, for the past few weeks he's kept mentioning loan signings being brought in. Still haven't seen any so I'm guessing any activity from now on will be along those lines.

 

I gave to say commo, one mans load of ****e is another mans perfect sense, I'm in the second group but it seems Bruce can do no right and whatever he says someone will jump on.

 

So how can anyone explain this

I think we have a cracking start, time for some of the new lads to prove what they can do.

 

We,play Liverpool at the right time but its always tough at anfield
It doesn't matter when we play the mags.
Swansea away is like when we had burnley away Afew years back. Don't want to play a new promoted side away from home so early.
Chelsea and stoke are good back to back home games, unless chelsea are hammering everyone!

 

I thought we had bought experienced players bar one or two so they should hit the ground running or all that experience is worth jack, as for the Swansea game got to agree with commachio. Sounds like we are getting the excuses in early this time around, yes they will be up for it but, we have experienced players who should be able to cope with them without any great problems, or so we are being told.

 

Aye we have mate which I why I expect the majority of the experienced newbies to 'hit the ground' running as Bruce puts it. O'Shea, Brown and the new lads in midfield have all been around the block, seen it, done it, no reasons that they should struggle. I still think we're in for a cracking opener at Anfield with chances aplenty ... just hope whoever's upfront on the day can finish a few of them!

And on a side note, I don't really give a flying **** when we play Swansea, we should be confident of beating them but the way I'm reading this article it's the journo's words saying it's not a good time to play new teams in August, not Bruce's, therefore it's a bit harsh to say he's getting his excuses ready already!