I’m not entirely sure what Sunderland fans make of Steve Bruce at this point, there seemed to be some mixed views last season around the midway point and I wonder whether his detractors may have got got a bit more vocal since then.
They find themselves in the bottom half of the embryonic league table, but that shouldn’t really be of any interest to the majority of football fans, at this stage of the season performances are a much better barometer of success as opposed to position in the table, and it is these performances that have been mixed thus far.
A very creditable opening day draw at Anfield, a game which Sunderland could easily have won has been followed up by defeat to bitter rivals Newcastle, an early exit from the League Cup, and a nil – nil stalemate with Swansea this weekend. Defensively the team look ok, they have only shipped 3 goals but have only managed to score one, that being on the opening day of the season.
The problem for Bruce at Sunderland is that of raised expectations, understandably the clubs supporters had high hopes for the season after another big spending Summer that has seen some quality players recruited, goals however have not followed and that is the root of the problem. 10 signings have been made 2 of which, Connor Wickham and Ji Dong-Won are attacking players but according to todays gutter press it appears that more strikers could be on the way.
Sessegnon and Gyan have been the players given the role of goal scoring so far this season and having watched their game with Swansea I don’t really see there being too much of a long term problem, the players were getting into the right positions but they weren’t getting their shots on target, both players are of a good quality and I am sure the goals will come, the inescapable fact however is that they could probably do with one new forward, but being linked with 3 suggests massive overkill, essentially therefore we can safely assume most of these stories are little more than tabloid rumour mongering, but what if there is some truth in one of them?
The Mirror are reporting that Bruce is ready to break the clubs spending record on Freiburg striker Papiss Demba Cisse who has also attracted the attention of Tottenham and Blackburn. It is believed that the players agent was in London on Monday and met with Tottenham before travelling North to meet with Sunderland soon. The same article then claims that there will also be a loan move for Manchester United forgotten man Federico Macheda, the Italian striker scored a vital goal against Aston Villa a couple of years ago and has seemingly been dining out on it ever since whilst not exactly ripping up tree’s on the pitch.
The Sun also claim that they have a top quality scoop as well stating that the Sunderland hierarchy are ready to give Greek forward Georgios Samaras a return to the Premier League, this is probably the most ridiculous name of the 3. As someone that saw the Celtic striker up close for a while at Eastlands it is pretty safe to say that he is nowhere near good enough for the Premier League and I can’t imagine that anyone in the North East would think otherwise, surely some tabloid nonsense.
The Mackems don’t need a huge overhaul in terms of strikers, the addition of one new forward could probably aid them, but there is no need for wholesale change, Gyan is a quality player, but if bringing in one more can move Sessegnon wider then I can see the benefit. I suppose of the three Cisse is probably the best bet, he has scored a lot of goals in Germany, but competition for his signature could be strong. My underlying feeling though is that there is no need for any knee jerk reactions at the Stadium of Light, I don’t know what the expectations of board and owners are but I really believe that Steve Bruce can deliver a top 10 finish this season and I think he will do if given the opportunity.
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