STEVE BRUCE DREAM TEAM OF OT OLD BOYS
ABOVE: Steve Bruce is hopeful of landing midfielder Darron Gibson Jordan Henderson could go on and maybe fill a role there when Steven *Gerrard eventually hangs his boots up, so I think Kenny is looking at the long term as well Gary Pallister
12th June 2011 By Clive HetheringtonYour Shout ( 0 )
GARY PALLISTER chuckles at any talk of his old pal Steve Bruce turning Sunderland into âMackem Unitedâ.
Black Cats boss Bruce has around £16million from the sale of *Jordan *Henderson to Liverpool plus unspent cash from Darren Bentâs £24m move to Aston Villa in January.
And he has had a £12m bid accepted for Manchester *United trio Wes Brown, John OâShea and *Darron Gibson.
Bruce is hopeful of landing midfielder Gibson but knows it could be harder to lure the defensive duo.
If he gets all three, though, it will boost the number of United old boys playing at the Stadium of Light to six.
Midfielder Kieran Richardson and full-back Phil Bardsley moved to *Wearside during the reign of Bruceâs *fellow ex-United skipper Roy Keane.
And Bruce made striker *Fraizer *Campbell his first Sunderland signing two years ago. He would also love to persuade United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to let front-runner Danny Welbeck spend a second season on loan.
United defender Jonny Evans, who has been twice on loan at Sunderland, is *another possible target.
But Pallister, Bruceâs one-time centre-back partner at Old Trafford, insists he is right to search for much-needed new blood among Unitedâs fringe players.
He said: âIt would be good *business. Brucie knows those lads have been well-groomed at United and will have a winning mentality *instilled in them.
âWith players going back after being on loan last season, he needs a few to fill the void quickly.
âThey donât usually get it wrong with players at Man United and if you can steal players from that club or get a good deal, youâre doing good business.
âI donât know whether Steve can afford to have so many players on loan like last season. He will want to build a
team that will last.
âObviously, they canât offer *European football. Itâs a shame.
âBut for their nightmare with injuries, Iâm sure Sunderland would have finished higher than tenth last season.
âSteve is a top-class *manager and heâs doing a great job. It was always going to be difficult for him there because of his Newcastle roots.
âBut he knows what you need to do â make sure you stay in the top flight.ââ
Pallister has no doubt that Hendersonâs move to Anfield was right for all *concerned.
And he reckons Kop boss Kenny *Dalglish sees the England midfielder, who will be 21 on Friday, as a potential long-term replacement for Steven *Gerrard.
He said: âItâs a good buy for Liverpool â heâs a terrifically talented player. I donât know for sure whether Man United were in for him, so I donât know whether it was a coup for Liverpool or not.
âI think theyâre investing in the future, as they did with the signing of Andy *Carroll from Newcastle. I think thatâs the way Kenny is going, looking for young English players.
âJordan Henderson could go on and maybe fill a role there when Steven *Gerrard eventually hangs his boots up, so I think Kenny is looking at the long term as well.ââ
ABOVE: Steve Bruce is hopeful of landing midfielder Darron Gibson Jordan Henderson could go on and maybe fill a role there when Steven *Gerrard eventually hangs his boots up, so I think Kenny is looking at the long term as well Gary Pallister
12th June 2011 By Clive HetheringtonYour Shout ( 0 )
GARY PALLISTER chuckles at any talk of his old pal Steve Bruce turning Sunderland into âMackem Unitedâ.
Black Cats boss Bruce has around £16million from the sale of *Jordan *Henderson to Liverpool plus unspent cash from Darren Bentâs £24m move to Aston Villa in January.
And he has had a £12m bid accepted for Manchester *United trio Wes Brown, John OâShea and *Darron Gibson.
Bruce is hopeful of landing midfielder Gibson but knows it could be harder to lure the defensive duo.
If he gets all three, though, it will boost the number of United old boys playing at the Stadium of Light to six.
Midfielder Kieran Richardson and full-back Phil Bardsley moved to *Wearside during the reign of Bruceâs *fellow ex-United skipper Roy Keane.
And Bruce made striker *Fraizer *Campbell his first Sunderland signing two years ago. He would also love to persuade United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to let front-runner Danny Welbeck spend a second season on loan.
United defender Jonny Evans, who has been twice on loan at Sunderland, is *another possible target.
But Pallister, Bruceâs one-time centre-back partner at Old Trafford, insists he is right to search for much-needed new blood among Unitedâs fringe players.
He said: âIt would be good *business. Brucie knows those lads have been well-groomed at United and will have a winning mentality *instilled in them.
âWith players going back after being on loan last season, he needs a few to fill the void quickly.
âThey donât usually get it wrong with players at Man United and if you can steal players from that club or get a good deal, youâre doing good business.
âI donât know whether Steve can afford to have so many players on loan like last season. He will want to build a
team that will last.
âObviously, they canât offer *European football. Itâs a shame.
âBut for their nightmare with injuries, Iâm sure Sunderland would have finished higher than tenth last season.
âSteve is a top-class *manager and heâs doing a great job. It was always going to be difficult for him there because of his Newcastle roots.
âBut he knows what you need to do â make sure you stay in the top flight.ââ
Pallister has no doubt that Hendersonâs move to Anfield was right for all *concerned.
And he reckons Kop boss Kenny *Dalglish sees the England midfielder, who will be 21 on Friday, as a potential long-term replacement for Steven *Gerrard.
He said: âItâs a good buy for Liverpool â heâs a terrifically talented player. I donât know for sure whether Man United were in for him, so I donât know whether it was a coup for Liverpool or not.
âI think theyâre investing in the future, as they did with the signing of Andy *Carroll from Newcastle. I think thatâs the way Kenny is going, looking for young English players.
âJordan Henderson could go on and maybe fill a role there when Steven *Gerrard eventually hangs his boots up, so I think Kenny is looking at the long term as well.ââ
