Who is the first choice centre back partnership, at the start of the season Bramble and Turner looked brilliant together, Bramble hasnt quite looked the same without Turner if im honest so it has to be those two with Mensah on the bench??
I agree. Much as i love Mensah, a) We can't get a settled defence with him, and b) We lack something in the air. Having Turner back has become as important as having Catts back after the last 2 games in my eyes. Anyone know when Tina's due back??
I've heard end of this month, i have heard early March, would like to think he will be back for Liverpool
I like Turner and Mensah. I like what Titus has done but I just keep getting the feeling he is due a big mistake. To be fair to the lad tho, he hasn't done much wrong up to now. What I do know is that it will be a lovely dialemma to be in!
Any combination including Turner for me i guess after the last few games. We've missed his bottle and bravery, simple as.
With Turner and Bardsley in the back 4 we have bottle in abundance. I like Carragher at Liverpool for the same reason. All defences need some skill if possible but bottle is the key. Titus and Ned are both good defenders who can play the ball out, let them do it.
Ned - Turner - Bramble - Bardo Thats got to be our defense. Mensah's a bit of a head and heart situation. Yes, he's a legend and jumps like a salmon, but like Woodgate and King (examples) we cannot have a settled back 4. And that is the key to a solid defence.
Hands up time from me, although i've never questioned his ability to defend, i've often said we need a better footballer in there. Bollocks to that, we need a great defender, and Tina is unquestionably that. If i had a Sunderland idol it was Bally, i never slated him for the fact he wasn't Maradona, i loved the fact he went for a Ball, you knew he was getting wither it, or a lovely coloured gift from the referee. I eat my pie on this, Turner is massive for us.
"I like Turner and Mensah. I like what Titus has done but I just keep getting the feeling he is due a big mistake. To be fair to the lad tho, he hasn't done much wrong up to now. What I do know is that it will be a lovely dialemma to be in! " Like going to sleep on the corner against the Spuds you mean?
I think Turner and Bramble. It may be a lack of match fitness, but I don't think Mensah did much on Saturday. It's a shame, because I love the guy to bits, so I think that we should sign him (on th cheap, as he's crocked) and give him the op that will out him out for a year. A year is a worst case scenario, and I think that he could definitely do with playing every game without fear of injury. The player that he is, he deserves to be playing every week, but our defense needs some consistency.
