Sunderland seem to be determined to build their own mini-version of Manchester United at the Stadium of Light. Phil Bardsley tells Stuart Rayner he wants to see the mentality to go with it IF it carries on much more like this, Sunderland Football Club is in danger of becoming a Manchester United tribute act. âMan United Liteâ is one of the less complimentary labels stuck on the Black Cats but the influence of the Premier Leagueâs most successful football team is writ large over the Stadium of Light these days. The last three managers have all been Old Trafford employees. In the last couple of seasons alone Paul McShane, Liam Miller, Danny Higginbotham, Kieran Richardson, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, David Healy, Fraizer Campbell and Phil Bardsley have all played for Sunderland having worn the Red Devil on their chest. This summer, John OâShea and Wes Brown have been added to the list. Yorke and Cole enjoyed impressive careers at the Theatre of Dreams, but by the time they reached Wearside reality had struck. Two feared centre-forwards in their pomp, the goals had dried up. Cole never scored for Sunderland, Yorke had been converted to a holding midfielder. The rest arrived as unfulfilled talents, eager to belatedly make their stamp on the game. Sunderland are hoping their new defensive recruits are different. Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to accept the Black Catsâ bid for two players who did not make the bench in the European Cup final, and the fear must be that the pair are, like Cole and Yorke were, past it. Their birth certificates, however, say otherwise. The versatile OâShea is 30, Brown 31. Both should have some miles in them yet and both, as far as Bardsley is concerned have plenty left to give â on the field as well as off it. For all his injury problems, Brown would still be a contender for Englandâs right-back berth had he not been one of a depressingly long line to say, âThanks, but no thanksâ to Fabio Capello. At times last season OâShea was leading the race to replace Gary Neville in the Red Devilsâ ranks. Bardsley knows the pair better than most. As well as having played alongside them, the Mancunian also watched them from the terraces. If he is excited about the arrival, it is probably a good sign. âTheyâre very good players with bags of experience,â he says. âJohn has been at Man United for a long time and won trophies. âTheyâre good lads as well, good to have around the place. âYou can notice the difference with them in the dressing room straight away. Theyâve got bags of experience, havenât they? âIn the games theyâve played already theyâve been demanding and vocal. Thatâs the sort of stuff you need.â The Manchester United mentality is something most clubs would love to replicate. Ferguson rarely has the most talented squad in the Premier League at his disposal â Arsène Wenger normally sees to that â but more often than not it is him doing the gleeful lap of honour in May. Considering they could field a back four made up entirely of Manchester United academy graduates in Bardsley, Brown, OâShea and Richardson on the opening day at Liverpool (though Titus Bramble and Michael Turner will have a thing or too to say in that regard), Sunderland should be better placed than anyone to ape it. They appeared to be cracking it under Roy Keane, when they demonstrated a United-esque propensity for late goals, but it never came to more than that. Conscious of that, Bardsley is wary of talking that side of Sunderlandâs game up too soon. âIt would be nice to say that having all these ex-Man United players gives us a bit of a mental edge, but now weâve got to take it onto the pitch and do it for Sunderland,â he stresses. OâShea and Brown pose a threat to Bardsley, though he is used to that. He started last season frozen out, seemingly ready to become the next former Red Devil sold by the Wearsiders after failing to live up to early promise. But the 26-year-old of boxing stock is nothing if not a fighter and responded to the loan arrival of Nedum Onuoha to play in his favoured right-back slot by elbowing Richardson out of the picture at left-back. He did so well there, easily Sunderlandâs player of the season, it started an international career with Scotland. The versatility of Brown and in particular OâShea make it all the harder to predict where Bardsley will feature at the start of the season. The man himself is none the wiser. âIâm not sure, to be honest,â he admits. âI just hope I can start the season and play from the beginning. Iâm not sure what the managerâs plans are in terms of positions, but I thought I did well last year, and Iâm looking to do the same again. âAs long as youâre playing thatâs all that matters. I just want to get my fitness levels as high as I did last year, thatâs the most important. âThe way the team has developed, and the style of play, it comes with fitness as well. Iâm getting up and down the pitch and Iâm enjoying the game.â ... McShane played for Man U?? Bloody hell, I bet a scout got sacked for that when he slipped through the net!
yeah i had a look at it 7 games no goals so he went to forrest i think and never scored in 11 so the ended his contract and he retired.. shame like cause he was awsome in his day!
Yep another one we got past his best and just trying to top up his pension Bruce beware keep away from Charlton Law and Stiles
That list just confirms that not all players who play for Man U are world beaters. And the one's that were at one time fade away. Mind getting a player from them at the top of his game is difficult and expensive.
