Sunderlandâs Louis Saha wants to form deadly duo with team-mate Steven Fletcher PARTNERSHIP AIM ... Sunderland's Louis Saha. By CHRIS YOUNG Published on Friday 26 October 2012 10:22 LOUIS Saha is confident he can form an effective partnership with Steven Fletcher, if Martin OâNeill opts to shake-up his front-line at Stoke City this weekend. Summer signing Saha is yet to start a Premier League game for Sunderland, but is in contention for tomorrowâs trip to the Britannia Stadium after a bright contribution from the bench in last weekendâs Wear-Tyne derby. Top scorer Fletcher is a shoo-in to remain in the starting line-up, but with supporting cast Stephane Sessegnon, Adam Johnson and James McClean all struggling for form, Sunderland boss OâNeill could hand Saha a chance alongside the Scotland striker. Former Manchester United and Everton frontman Saha will not try to pre-empt OâNeillâs decision, but insists he is ready to start a top-flight outing after arriving at the Stadium of Light without the benefits of a pre-season campaign. Saha said: âFletcher is a smart player so I donât think there would be any difficulty with a partnership. âBut the manager is more intelligent than me, he decides. âIâm not in a position to hassle or anything because Fletch is doing really well. Itâs only a matter of time that the team around him will click. âI was just behind the rest of the players fitness-wise in the summer. âBut Iâm just starting to level up now, so hopefully I can get more minutes. âAs Iâve always said, Iâm here to help the team make progress and Iâm going to do my thing when I get my opportunity. âItâs about the team and making sure everyone is focused on that. âAs a player you always want to play more games. But I understand the position. âIâm really looking forward to tomorrowâs game. Stoke is always a hard game to play, especially away. âIt would be great if I got a chance.â Sunderland have found the net just six times in their opening seven Premier League outings and face a Stoke side who have only conceded once at the Britannia this season. But Saha is confident Sunderlandâs attack will find their feet, stressing that the Black Catsâ summer signings need time to gel â Johnson, for example, starting just four league outings since his arrival from Manchester City. The 34-year-old added: âAny team needs understandings. Sometimes things click from the start and other times you need a few games. âFletcher is doing really well, and heâs maybe the only player whose doing really well at the moment. âAs a team, weâre defending well, weâre a good unit and itâs hard for other teams to beat us. âGoing forward is a different situation, but I think we still have to be positive. There are some great players here. âAnd weâve only had one defeat against the champions so I donât think weâre doing bad. âIâm sure we can still improve and thatâs what weâre looking for. The lads are working really hard for that.â Twitter: @shieldsgazsport
Good. (can't think of anything more to say in response to Saha's comments, being a bit thinked out on Friday afternoon!)
Every home game we should have 2 forwards, whether that's Saha, Wickham, Ji or Cambell with Fletch. You could then leave Sess, McLean, Seb etc on the bench to come on as an impact sub.
Instead of telling the press he should be telling his boss, who, imho, is becoming a bit Victor Meldrewish.
