Results tagged “Steve Bruce” from SAFC Banter - Join the debate with Sunderland fans, staff writers and club legends
STEVE Bruce admits Sunderland's current form is "unsustainable" as he challenged his players to show the mental strength to get the club out of a relegation fight.
Another difficult afternoon for the Black Cats saw them toil for a point against struggling Wigan and lose outstanding performer Jordan Henderson to an ankle ligament injury that is likely to rule him out until April.
It was hardly the sort of performance that Bruce was looking for ahead of another must-win game at Portsmouth tomorrow, and he admits that this is the worst run of form he has ever experienced as a manager.
STEVE Bruce insists Kieran Richardson still has a future at Sunderland after dismissing claims he clashed with the midfielder at half-time during the insipid defeat at Everton.
Weekend reports had suggested the pair were involved in a heated exchange after Richardson was substituted on 24 minutes during the 2-0 reverse at Goodison Park.
Bruce admits he fell out "with a few players" during the interval of the Merseyside horror show but said Richardson - who could be missing until mid-February with what the Sunderland boss branded a "nasty" calf injury - was not involved.
STEVE BRUCE says his 'leap of faith' on transfer deadline day has paid dividends.
The Black Cats boss allowed frontmen Daryl Murphy and David Healy to join Ipswich on loan, without knowing for sure that he had landed Manchester City striker Benjani.
Sunderland were frustrated on Monday by technical problems which prevented them lodging all the paperwork for the Benjani loan deal before the 5pm deadline.
STEVE BRUCE insists Benjani is NOT a ready-made replacement for Kenwyne Jones.
Sunderland finally sealed a four-month loan deal for the Manchester City striker, after the Premier League accepted their explanation - that club computers crashed - for failing to provide necessary paperwork before Monday's transfer window deadline.
But while Jones continues to be linked with a big-money move to Liverpool, Bruce said: "You can seen a lot of similarities between the style of Kenwyne and Benjani.
SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce was able to breathe a big sigh of relief last night as the Premier League finally agreed to allow Benjani's protracted move to Wearside to go through.
The Black Cats faced an anxious wait yesterday after they failed to get all of the necessary paperwork to the Premier League and the Football Association before the 5pm deadline because of a meltdown in the club's computer and communications network.
In normal circumstances that would have forced Sunderland - who had already agreed to let David Healy and Daryl Murphy go out on loan to Ipswich Town - to pull the plug on the transfer, but the Premier League were eventually convinced the excuse was valid.
SUNDERLAND'S extended their winless run in the Premier League into double figures with another disappointing performance in a goalless draw with Stoke City last night - although there was more positive news in the transfer market.
Bruce's side were unlucky not to be given a second-half penalty but while there was plenty of effort on show too much of it was misguided as Sunderland failed to take advantage of a home game against the team with the worst away record in the top flight.
Bruce said: "I couldn't fault the effort and the endeavour, we've kept a clean sheet, but we forgot how to do the other things going forward, that's frustrating. We got too caught up in the physical side.
SUNDERLAND'S back-to-back home games against Stoke and Wigan next month "will define our season," according to Steve Bruce.
The Black Cats started the campaign in good form but have since hit the rocks. They have not won a league game since November and have taken just three points from the last 27 available.
Sunderland now face Stoke at the Stadium of Light on Monday, with Bruce's old club Wigan due on Wearside a week on Saturday.
STEVE Bruce has told Sunderland their next two games will define their season.
The Black Cats' miserable away run was extended to 11 Premier League matches without a win as Everton hit them with two early goals at Goodison Park last night.
But their next two matches are at home - to Stoke City and Wigan Athletic - and Bruce warned a sequence of one win in 13 games cannot be allowed to worsen. A sloppy and disjointed start from the visitors allowed Tim Cahill and Landon Donovan to find the net in the first 20 minutes - and Sunderland never recovered.
Television replays suggested Cahill was in an offside position when he glanced in the opener, but Sunderland Bruce was more alarmed at the space both the Australian and his provider, Marouane Fellaini, were afforded.
FOR the second time in a matter of days Steve Bruce has held talks with Kenwyne Jones, telling his unsettled striker to sort himself out - and quickly.
Sunderland travel to Everton in the Premier League this evening with the Black Cats manager worrying which Jones will be available.
As Bruce admitted, the Trinidad and Tobago international was way off the pace at Portsmouth on Saturday. He put that down to speculation about a move to Liverpool.
But having tried desperately to draw a line under the affair, Bruce has now put the onus on Jones to start earning his wages again.
Results tagged “Steve Bruce” from Journal Live - Luke Who's Talking
I've always liked Kenwyne Jones, both as a player and a person, but he has lost his way, head turned by interest from rival clubs, head messed up by Steve Bruce's handling of the speculation which surrounds him.
The whole sorry saga is a shambles. Jones has been a shadow of the player he should be and at times he has looked as though he is going through the motions as a Sunderland player.
That isn't acceptable in any way shape or form, but he is reacting to events going on around him. A confused sulk would be the best way to describe his behaviour.
Results tagged “Steve Bruce” from SAFC Banter - Join the debate with Sunderland fans, staff writers and club legends
DAYS after Sunderland manager Steve Bruce expressed an interest in signing him, striker Salvador Cabañas is fighting for his life in an American hospital.
The Paraguay international was shot after an incident in a Mexico City bar yesterday.
Black Cats boss Bruce, who has a proven track record of signings from Central and South America, had been interesting in taking Paulo Da Silva's international team-mate on loan with a view to a permanent summer move.
Bruce was open about his interest in the 29-year-old, who has scored 18 goals in 24 matches for Club America this season, although played down the chances of it happening. The player's agent José María González claimed Sunderland had been in touch, and his client was interested.
STEVE BRUCE expects Sunderland's threadbare squad to be bolstered by the return of up to half a dozen first-teamers this weekend.
The Black Cats have been down to the bare bones for the last month, with a lengthy injury list leaving boss Bruce with a side which virtually selected itself.
However, the injury situation is finally easing, with goalkeeper Craig Gordon and midfielders Lee Cattermole, Kieran Richardson and Andy Reid all fit and in contention for Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Portsmouth.
STEVE BRUCE insists there have been no enquiries for any of his players in the January transfer window - including Trinidad and Tobago hitman Kenwyne Jones.
The Sunderland boss has hit out at the constant transfer talk which has linked players such as Jones, Kieran Richardson, Anton Ferdinand and Phil Bardsley with moves.
By far the most intense speculation has surrounded Jones, with Birmingham and Stoke understood to be interested.
SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce has reacted with fury to suggestions he is prepared to loan Kenwyne Jones to Liverpool.
Sources in Merseyside indicated that the two clubs had been in talks about a possible temporary switch for the Trinidad & Tobago hit-man for a fortnight - but Bruce has hit back by labelling the reports "ridiculous".
Sunderland might be prepared to sell the forward at the right price - if they can find a replacement - but the chances of a temporary switch are non-existent.
Results tagged “Steve Bruce” from Journal Live - Luke Who's Talking
When people like me write it is far too early to talk of a crisis, it normally means it is far too early talk about a crisis but things had better start improving quickly or it will be time to man the panic stations!
That is exactly the situation Sunderland and Steve Bruce find themselves in after the humiliating 7-2 defeat at Chelsea at the weekend, a scoreline which could easily have read 10-2 - or worse - and one which almost completely banishes the memory of that encouraging start to the season.
Results tagged “Steve Bruce” from SAFC Banter - Join the debate with Sunderland fans, staff writers and club legends
STEVE Bruce has promised there will be no knee-jerk reaction to Saturday's 7-2 humiliation at Chelsea - and definitely no bid for Liverpool winger Ryan Babel.
Flattering though it was to Sunderland, the Stamford Bridge scoreline highlighted their desperate need for reinforcements - particularly defensively.
The Black Cats are closing in on their first signing of 2010, expected to be Hamburg's Ivory Coast right-back Guy Demel - but Bruce was adamant neither the nature nor the scale of defeat would affect his plans for the January transfer window.
STEVE BRUCE will request a personal hearing for his FA misconduct charge this month in the hope of avoiding a touchline ban.
The Black Cats boss intends to plead his case in front of a disciplinary commission after being charged following his comments concerning referee Andre Marriner in the wake of Sunderland's 4-3 defeat at Manchester City before Christmas.
Bruce was furious with the official after he sent off defender Michael Turner in injury time for elbowing City's Gareth Barry as the pair challenged for a header - a challenge that Bruce was convinced was fair, with any contact between the pair accidental.
STEVE Bruce is hoping to put transfer business to one side this week and concentrate on reviving Sunderland's season with the players he already has.
Although the agent of Paraguay forward Salvador Cabañas is expecting progress on a move to Wearside in the coming days, Sunderland boss Bruce says that he is aiming to spend a quiet time at the Black Cats' Portuguese training camp.
Less than a fortnight into the transfer window, Bruce is bemused at the level of speculation surrounding Sunderland.
SUNDERLAND have jetted out to Portugal in a bid to beat the wintry weather and prepare for this weekend's trip to Chelsea.
Black Cats boss Steve Bruce has admitted proper training has been impossible since the snow arrived before Christmas, and has taken the decision to head abroad for warm weather training.
Bruce and his players flew out to the Algarve today, where the weather is a cool 14C - but still a far cry from the snowy and icy conditions that have gripped Wearside for the last three weeks.
Results tagged “Steve Bruce” from Journal Live - Luke Who's Talking
The writing has been on the wall for months. Even if Kenwyne Jones does not leave for Birmingham City during this January transfer window he will only be postponing his Sunderland departure.
Steve Bruce doesn't get Jones, he doesn't understand him and he struggles to accept it. What I mean is, Bruce likes him as player, or rather he likes the idea of him as a player, but he cannot work out what makes him tick and therefore he does not know how to get the best out of him. It infuriates him.
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Dave Riche - General Manager Dave Riche, who has been with Hinckley United for several years, is involved in the day to day running of the club facilities.
