By Chris Young Published on Friday 21 October 2011 11:30 NICKLAS Bendtner insists Sunderlandâs players share the sense of disappointment over an indifferent start to the season. But the Danish international has urged supporters to lay off under-fire boss Steve Bruce as the Black Cats prepare for tomorrowâs crunch encounter at fellow under-achievers Bolton Wanderers. Six points from the opening eight games have left Sunderland just a solitary place above the Premier League drop zone, with only goal difference separating them from the third bottom Trotters. Bruce has received stinging criticism as a consequence, but on-loan Arsenal hitman Bendtner believes it is still too early in the campaign to be calling for the managerâs head. Bendtner told the Echo: âI can understand people are getting frustrated, everyone wants to win and six points after eight games is not good enough. âWe feel the same within the team and the staff as well. âBut to be talking about sacking people so early on and not giving full support to the manager is not fair. Weâve got a good set-up here and Iâm sure it will turn around quickly.â While Bendtner has leapt to the defence of his manager, the 23-year-old admits tomorrowâs trip to the Reebok Stadium is something of a âmust-winâ game for Sunderland after just one victory all season. Bruceâs side have enjoyed bright spells in the majority of the games, the latter part of the first half in last weekendâs defeat at Arsenal being a prime example, yet have struggled for consistency over 90 minutes. âItâs almost a must-win game for us,â said the striker. âIt will be difficult against a side like Bolton, but we obviously have to do our best to get the three points. Iâve played before at Bolton and itâs not easy. âWe need to play on a consistent level and start winning games. No disrespect, but if you look at games like Swansea and Norwich, they should be games weâre winning. âWe havenât played well enough, itâs quite simple. âItâs not good enough to just play for patches in games, you need to consistently keep playing a high level throughout a match. We need to try to get that winning feeling because this is a team that should be confident in its own ability.â Bendtner returns to the fold tomorrow after he was ineligible for the defeat at the Emirates against his parent club. He is likely to partner full debutant Connor Wickham in attack, with Stephane Sessegnon, who led the line against the Gunners, expected to move to the flanks. âIt was unfortunate last weekend, but the rules are there that you canât play against your parent club which is fair enough,â added Bendtner. âIt would have been fun to play against my old team as well, but it wasnât to be.â
I think its fair to say that we've stuck by SB for quite some time now, but in spite of this, and other support in the form of financial backing etc., generally speaking, he has, it has to be said, failed to repay the compliment as it were. For his overall record includes some questionable tactics, team selections, as well as of course some rather lack-lustre at best team displays, including of course one or two embarassing cup exits. So all things considered, tomorrow's game at Bolton might well be his last chance to redeem himself, although even a win at The Reebok may not be enough to save his skin.
I accept that the players are just as dissapointed and frustrated as we are with our start to the season. I accept that the players are in a difficult position in that they can't really have a go Bruce. I can't accept that certain players are happy to either be consistently played out of position, not even given a chance, not playing a single striker.
Richardson signed his new contract with the agreement of playing, mainly, as a LB. Not sure about Sess
Bearing in mind his 13 year track record and what we have seen during 2011 with SAFC, if its to early to criticize the manager why is this a must win game? If all is rosy then surely we can afford to lose the next 3 or 4 games? If all is not rosy then criticism of the manager is justifed.
Reckon it's part of their contracts/loan agreements to be robotic and nice to Bruce at least once a month? The ****ing tea-lady will be getting rolled out next to say 'how he dosen't slurp his brew' or 'fart when she's in the office'. It's like a lib-dem election campaign at Safc at the mo and no doubt a Bruce/Baby photo will hit us next
What is even more worrying is that the same players who are losing games of football are coming out in support of their master of ceremonies. It really is an unusual situation... You get the feeling that the players who go public with these comments are not happy with fans that pay their wages... I sense another rebuild next summer...
I think the Arsenal match is a bit of a turning point for you guys. You played well in that match and could have had a point. I see you winning against a hapless Bolton tomorrow. Although if you were to get a new manager soon, I suspect you would shoot up the league although I find ES's loyalty to SB admirable. Not chopping and changing like us!!
I find ES's loyalty to SB admirable. Not chopping and changing like us!! We f.cking wont if we go down,but point taken.
