GIVEN the events of this week, itâs hard to see Titus Bramble being involved in Saturdayâs game against West Brom. And that being the case, boss Steve Bruce has some difficult decisions to make over his team selection when it comes to defence. Sunderland have not particularly shone at either end of the pitch this season â averaging only a goal a game in their seven Premier League matches so far and with only one clean sheet from those fixtures. But Bruce would have felt that his defence was at least taking shape with fit-again John OâShea looking to regain his match sharpness alongside former Manchester United team-mate Wes Brown in an uncompromising back-four featuring centre-half Bramble and left-back Phil Bardsley. Those plans though have been thrown into total disarray with the early-season four-match suspension of Phil Bardsley and now the troubles Bramble has found himself in legally this week. Bardsley serves the third match of his four-match ban this weekend and with Bramble almost certain to be absent, Bruce will look to re-jig his back four for the fourth time in eight games. With Bardsley and Bramble out, the obvious option would be to move John OâShea to centre-half alongside Wes Brown and drop right-sided Ahmed Elmohamady into the right-back position that OâShea has occupied this season. A simpler option would be to make a straight swap and bring Michael Turner in for Bramble, leaving OâShea at right-back. That move would have the benefit of making least change to the defence, but thereâs a big question mark over Turnerâs fitness and match sharpness and with West Brom boasting a particularly mobile and pacey strikeforce in Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long, Bruce might decide against exposing a defender he rates so highly but accepts is still battling to regain his best form. Even in the current situation, out of favour central defensive duo Nyron Nosworthy and Matt Kilgallon are unlikely to be considered. The most radical move would be to offer a debut to promising young centre-half Louis Laing and again leave OâShea at right-back. But this would be the most high-risk strategy of all. Great things are hoped for in the future for the 18-year-old ball-playing centre-half, but with the club struggling for form is this any time for a novice? The final decision will come down to the manager, who best knows the form and fitness of every one of his players, as well as the strategy he wishes to employ against opponents who are dangerous on their day but have so far failed to sparkle and currently lie in the bottom three. The only thing that can be said for certain is that the selection decision the manager faces when it comes to his back four is not an easy one and one he could really have done without, given his current woes Not an easy one for Bruce this..........
Not just up **** creek, we're also sitting in a native American water vessel , with no visible means of propultion.
Sounds like the movie Deliverance....hope Bruce is up to playing Burt Reynolds part, and not the one who shouts "squeal like a pig"
I like, Elmo--------O'shea--------Brown------Richardson We are only playing West Brom and they play with small guys upfront and nippy wingers so pace at the fullback positions would be a good idea. Also Elmo can overlap Seb and Ricco can get forward on the left, we need to use our width a lot more to get in behind and create those chances to get the goals!
http://www.safc.com/news/20110929/club-statement_2256213_2467009? Club spokesperson: "Sunderland AFC has confirmed that Titus Bramble has been suspended from duties, pending the outcome of a club investigation. "The player will not attend team training or be available for selection for matches during this period. "The club is unable to make any further comment on the matter at present."
I reckon O'Shea has to move to left back. You can't have Richardson there any longer, its killing you. Its worth a goal a game. Everyone is targetting it now, the lad hasn't got a clue how to play there. With someone like Odemwingie lurking I think you can ill afford such a weak link. Plus you could do with him either down the left or central. Do you lads not have any young left backs coming through the youth system?
This is the perfect excuse, the perfect excuse Bruce could have ever hoped for to re-direct all questions aimed at his managemental capacity. Hypothetical post match interview comments from Brucie as follows. (Approx 3-4 months time from now). "Yes I agree, we were doing well until we lost Titus, we had 5 points from 6 games and were on target for a seasonal haul of about 35 points but as you can see by recent results, we cannot expect to perform at the same level when we don't have enough players to slot into vacant positions". Erm, I'll go and put the kettle on....
http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/09/29/titus-bramble-suspended-by-sunderland/ Looks like he certainly won't be playing this weekend as he's been suspended pending the outcome of the investigations...
When I read that, the thought of Joker playing a banjo came straight to mind..[video=youtube;Uzae_SqbmDE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzae_SqbmDE&feature=player_detailpage[/video]
This weeks events have put the black clouds over my sunny sky, was hoping and still am hoping for a resurgence of confidence amongst the lads, but we are starting to thin out again, so maybe Bruce will have no option but to field his younger players. This is going to be a very hard and manager defining day for Bruce, I wish him well, cos I aint got a clue.
