Top half an achievement for Sunderland - Phil Bardsley Page last updated at 13:23 GMT, Thursday, 20 October 2011 14:23 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Bardsley picked up his 10th cap for Scotland in the 3-1 European Championship qualifying defeat by Spain earlier this month Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley says a top 10 Premier League finish would be a "massive achievement", regardless of expectations at the Stadium of Light. The Wearsiders ended last season in the top half, but despite a summer of squad strengthening have started the season with one win in eight games. "People have to be realistic, we're not going to finish in the Champions League," Bardsley told BBC Newcastle. "Let's just finish in the top 10 again. That would be a massive achievement." The pre-season overhaul of Steve Bruce's squad saw money spent on Ipswich Town teenager Connor Wickham, Birmingham City midfielder Craig Gardner, Chunnam Dragons forward Ji Dong Won and Manchester United defender John O'Shea, while Wes Brown, David Vaughan and Sebastian Larsson were added on free transfers. In return, the Black Cats lost Jordan Henderson to Liverpool for £20m, while Asamoah Gyan was loaned to United Arab Emirates club Al-Ain for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile Bardsley's dismissal at Chelsea ruled him out of four games, although that was offset by a brace of appearances for the Scotland national team. In addition the former Manchester United full-back has remained a part of the first-team squad at Sunderland, warming up with the team before matches to keep up his fitness. "It's off my own back. I just wanted to make sure I stayed fit and focused as possible, trying to be part of the team even though I can't play," Bardsley added. "It was nice to go and actually get some work done before the lads go out to play, and hopefully that has stood me in good stead for when I come back. "I enjoy it [with Scotland] I know a lot of the faces anyway because of the teams that I played for. Everyone's fantastic and it's nice to go there and get some game time. "It's a great set-up and environment, and I'm grateful for the chance to play on the international stage."
What a total lack of ambition our club has. They should be watching the Fulham game tonight and believing that could be us. "People have to be realistic, we're not going to finish in the Champions League," We don't expect to be in the Champions League Phil, but we expect to be winning more games than 4 in 24. Some of the things the players and Bruce are coming out with now are really pissing me off.
I think they are trying to divert pressure away from themselves. In my view there is no reason at all that 7th place should not have been our aim at the start of the season.
The players are now trotted out on a daily basis to toe the club line, tell everyone Bruce is a genius and down play all our hopes and dreams for this season now. It's gone too far for me now. I just wish someone at the club would come out and say sorry for being **** for the last 9 months and acknowledge that we have to pull our fingers out.
I think Cest has got a point..Ive never bloody known so much comment in the papers from Bruce and the players as we have experienced in the last 6 months. Kinda makes you wonder wether its a deliberate ploy by the club or wether the discipline at the club is so bad its being allowed to happen.I know for certain that many other clubs have strict club policy on press comment and release...Everton for example, the players cant fart near a journalist without permission from the club and if they do speak its closely monitored by the club. All written into their contracts you see !
