Steve Bruce won't let the return of Darren Bent distract him from his preparations ahead of Saturday's game against Aston Villa. Much has been written and said regarding Bent's first trip back to the Stadium of Light since his January move to the Midlands. But Bruce prefers not to look back as he attempts to plot a path towards back-to-back victories following last week's win at Bolton. "The important thing for us is to focus on beating Aston Villa," Bruce said. "We've got a game to win to really get our season on track. "We could go to Manchester United in the top half of the table with a quarter of the season gone, which was our aim." While Sunderland bounced back from defeat at Arsenal with a win at the Reebok Stadium last time out, so Villa will be looking to do so this weekend following a derby defeat to West Brom. "Villa had a good start to the season in terms of not being beaten, but all of a sudden they've gone and lost their last two," Bruce added. "We know they'll be going all-out to bounce back, and that's what the Premier League is. They are a good team who have good players, but so do we." Spirits are high in the Sunderland camp and Bruce is more than happy with his side's response to a tough start to the season. Now the SoL supremo is hoping to break back into the top half of the Barclays Premier League ahead of next week's away trip to his former club, Manchester United. "I enjoy working with the players I've got here - they're a terrific group who want to do the job, want to work hard and want Sunderland to do well," he said. "It's not been easy with the start and lots of new faces, but now they are coming to terms with what's required. "We did particularly well against Villa last season so let's hope that continues. It'll be tough, but we want back to back wins - that's what we're aiming for."
Talk is very cheap...its what happens on the field that really counts. Todate, Bruce has been found wanting tactically on many occasions, Bruce will win those "Bruce Out" fans...including myself, by performances and results. He is a lucky man to still have a job given his stats'....lets hope Ellis Shorts faith in him is well founded.
When he says the wrong things he is slated, when he gets it right............he is slated. Well not by me, well said Brucie, lets go get them.
We are an 'average' premier team at best, hoping to do better. Such teams only win about 30% of their games which is where we are at the moment. 30% overall of course - over the course of a season I would like us to be doing better, but I also remember the last 50+ years as a supporter, yearning for top tier football - which we have, and are progressing albeit slowly. I would not like to be relegated (again) but of course we can never say it will never happen again. I recall Sid Collings saying that in 1964! However, Short has to protect his investment and I'm sure if were are propping up the table in January then action will be taken. But, I don't think that will happen. We have 6 home games coming up and a chance to put some points on the board.
I think when Bruce said the things which upset some of our fans, it was his back was firmly against the wall, and he was under an awful lot of pressure. I feel as if the Bolton victory has slightly eased that pressure, but a defeat against Villa would bring it all back again...I only hope he sticks with two up front, which I firmly believe suits our syle of play...
I am a BoB, but am willing (hoping) to convert. Even then, he is only in place until we are ready for another leap forward (in my opinion) as I cannot see him pushing us towards the top. Hope I'm wrong. Not proud and will apologise if needed. x
I Agree with the above. SBs team performances show that he is a below average manager. To show we (or at east most of us) are all wrong about him, Sunderland needs amazing results for the rest of the season with a couple of super signings in January. If theses events come about, miracles do happen, leopards do change their spots and I will apologise to anybody I have to about being wrong about Bruce!
If we really do have a high league finish say 6th, which is the best I suspect we could/hope to do, I do not mind who I apologise to!
Bruce needs to get the team playing like a top 10 team, which does not mean "fantastic" results, but good steady results beating the teams around us with maybe a surprise or two thrown in (beating a a couple of top 6 teams for example). If we cant attract the right players in January, or asking prices are too high the I am not going to blame Bruce for that. We need a striker, and possibly sell Catts (if Meyler can still cut it) and buy a creative centre midfielder (or another free role player to cover/challenge Sess). However, if we are quoted silly money for the quality of player we need, I dont want us to get robbed.
Back to back wins is the next step for us and Bruce in my opinion that is what is holding us back the fact we can't put a decent run of results together. Tickets for Man Utd are inbound so lets go for 3 in a row which I can't remember since we came to the PL under Keane.
Sorry Dan, but I don't think we have a team, or even a squad, that , with a lot of luck, can finish 10th. We need a couple of big players. Not just one, two - perhaps three. That will lift us into the top 10. We aren't there yet, just cos of 1 season. We need players to f*****g CLAG! We need Tueart, Hughes, Todd, Suggett, Watson. etc. etc. To only get top 8. xxx
Well we beat the Villa twice last season so why not again this Saturday, so let go out and do it come on get behind the lads and put two wins together before we really upset SAF by getting a result at Old Trafford. KTF.
Quite right. There has been a deluge of guff spouted out in the media from Bruce. Pathetic excuses and bullet-dodging nonsense. He needs to concentrate on getting his tactics right rather than his PR
