Pre-season anywhere, and they opted for Germany, all in all a pretty good choice as explained by SB. ASIA, America and Africa were all mooted as possible pre-season destinations for Sunderland. Yet surely none of those options would have offered the hassle-free 10 days the Black Cats have enjoyed in Germany, with the tour reaching its conclusion today. For proof, you only have to glance up the road at the visa problems and harrowing schedule of 10 flights in 10 days which Newcastle have faced on the other side of the Atlantic. John OâSheaâs slight hamstring injury aside, it has been plain sailing for Sunderland in their preparations at the made-to-measure Barsinghausen base. The pitches, gymnasium, swimming pool and culinary requirements have all been befitting of a facility which houses the German national team. Even the three friendly games have suited Sunderlandâs purposes by pitting the Black Cats against three physical sides, not unlike those Steve Bruceâs men will encounter when the Premier League gets under way in three weeks. For Bruce, it justifies the decision to end the clubâs flirtation with Portugal, where Sunderland spent the previous two years since his arrival at the Stadium of Light. Bruce told the Echo: âThere were offers to fly to here, there and everywhere. âBut to be fair to the people who employ me, they said to me âdo what you wantâ. âIt couldnât be any better â everything about Germany is always top-class so itâs been a good trip. âItâs not as hot as Portugal, but certainly the games have been tougher. âThat was the one area I looked at and thought âtheyâre tough for two weeks inâ. âBut we got a good workout against Hannover and todayâs game (against Borussia Monchengladbach) is difficult as well against another big club. âItâs all about the preparation and Iâm delighted with how itâs gone. âItâs been excellent in terms of the heat and the training facilities. âItâs vitally important the preparation for the new season is right and Iâm a bit of a stickler for that.â The experience for Sunderland has not been entirely positive. OâShea faces a race against time to be fit for the new season after tweaking his hamstring against Arminia Bielefeld last weekend, fellow new signings Wes Brown and Keiren Westwood remain on a light schedule and Asamoah Gyan only returned to full training on Thursday. But at least Sunderlandâs long-term injury victims have been given chance to get up to speed, with Michael Turner, Titus Bramble, Lee Cattermole and Kieran Richardson coming through the intense period unscathed. âThe big thing for me was to get Cattermole, Richardson, Turner and Bramble through pre-season after being out for four or five months,â said Bruce. âWe needed to get them added to the squad again. âThey all came back early and up to now, they all look very fit. âAll the players trained in a 35-minute game yesterday morning and theyâre bright and bubbly. âWeâve got a couple of niggles, but weâre on par hopefully to hit the ground running, which we need to do.â Off-the-field, there has been an element of cabin fever developing in the sleepy German village, with the outside excursions limited to golf and an afternoon in Hannover. But that has provided the ideal environment for Sunderlandâs fresh faces to integrate with their new team-mates, particularly South Korean striker Ji Dong-won, who has not even had a translator for company. Ji has impressed Bruce both in training and in the games, with the Sunderland boss confident the 20-year-old can make an impact in the Premier League. âOf the new boys, I think Ji is the one whoâs really caught my eye,â added Bruce. Maybe if the club suceeds and grows, then later it will be a time for them to go further afield, but for now Germany seems the perfect choice.
very good idea going to germany im pleased we have had a practical pre season and not a shirt selling tour in a far flung land playing god awful teams. well done bruce!
“Of the new boys, I think Ji is the one who’s really caught my eye,” added Bruce. This got me all excited
Aye, I have to agree. Germany has been an excellent choice. Similar climate, no long flights, no big city distractions & three good work outs for the lads.
good choice from Brucie I see were they are at is the place the German national team uses so its obviously a state of the art facility and seems like its in the middle of no-were so the lads are fully focused on the job they are there to do would love to see us in a tournament though, the amsterdam one couple of season's back was quality
The German birds are very foreward too. Spent many a happy night on Hamburg's Reeperbahn. Where else in the world could you sit in a bar, drinking finest quality ale from a litre stien, watching a live sex show whilst getting gobbled by the bar maid? And they say the Germans have no sense of humour!
