Bruce's errors this week...

[kermode]

Dropping Steed is the most obvious one. He was one of our better performers last week and didn't deserve to be dropped. By replacing him with Sessegnon he essentially made a like for like change. It didn't alter the balance of the team one iota.

Bruce also put a very inexperienced team today. The lack of experience in our squad could relegate us. When things aren't going well, younger players need to be withdrawn from the firing line. What does Bruce do? Leaves two of our most experienced players in Zenden and Steed on the bench. A ludicrous decision.

Finally, the balance of the team still wasn't addressed. Obviously there was no Richardson to come in a left back but he could have played Zenden there or even in front of Bardsley. He didn't. We were lopsided and the deliveries into the box were woeful.

[SheSellsSeaShells]

Originally Posted by kermode

Dropping Steed is the most obvious one. He was one of our better performers last week and didn't deserve to be dropped. By replacing him with Sessegnon he essentially made a like for like change. It didn't alter the balance of the team one iota.

Bruce also put a very inexperienced team today. The lack of experience in our squad could relegate us. When things aren't going well, younger players need to be withdrawn from the firing line. What does Bruce do? Leaves two of our most experienced players in Zenden and Steed on the bench. A ludicrous decision.

Finally, the balance of the team still wasn't addressed. Obviously there was no Richardson to come in a left back but he could have played Zenden there or even in front of Bardsley. He didn't. We were lopsided and the deliveries into the box were woeful.

Steed has played 57 matches for Sunderland. 1 goal. Case closed.

[Lanchesterredandwhite]

Originally Posted by SheSellsSeaShells

Steed has played 57 matches for Sunderland. 1 goal. Case closed.

Err, the 4 midfielders he did select have 2 career league goals for SAFC between them.

[SheSellsSeaShells]

Originally Posted by Lanchesterredandwhite

Err, the 4 midfielders he did select have 2 career league goals for SAFC between them.

I cant stand them either....read my earlier posts. Goalscoring midfielders is underrated in safc...

Originally Posted by kermode

You think selecting three under 25s and a player who has been in the Premier League since January was a better idea?

Yes.
Steed is done.

[kermode]

Originally Posted by SheSellsSeaShells

Steed has played 57 matches for Sunderland. 1 goal. Case closed.

You think selecting three under 25s and a player who has been in the Premier League since January was a better idea?

[TartanMackem]

Originally Posted by kermode

You think selecting three under 25s and a player who has been in the Premier League since January was a better idea?

Today was the first time in about 4 or 5 games where our midfield wasn't completely overrun.

[kermode]

Originally Posted by TartanMackem

Today was the first time in about 4 or 5 games where our midfield wasn't completely overrun.

Thought Henderson and Cattermole were decent and Sessegnon did some useful things further up the pitch. Colback was a passenger.

Bruce is blaming having to put an inexperienced side out. Why blame inexperience when you have experience sitting on the bench?

[TartanMackem]

Originally Posted by kermode

Thought Henderson and Cattermole were decent and Sessegnon did some useful things further up the pitch. Colback was a passenger.

Bruce is blaming having to put an inexperienced side out. Why blame inexperience when you have experience sitting on the bench?

Colback wasn't particularly good, but he covered a fair bit of ground. Sess, Henderson and malbranque is defensively weak if all three are on the pitch. Malbranque and Cattermole are slow as well.

[kermode]

Originally Posted by TartanMackem

Colback wasn't particularly good, but he covered a fair bit of ground. Sess, Henderson and malbranque is defensively weak if all three are on the pitch. Malbranque and Cattermole are slow as well.

Could have even played Colback but had Malbranque in for say Welbeck. I just can't understand why he felt the need to drop our best player last week to replace him with a like for like alternative.

I don't buy Bruce's excuses. If inexperience was to blame, then its his fault for selecting an inexperienced team when there were alternatives available.

Originally Posted by mickey

Why? I seem to remember that the experience was rather useful for Elliott, Rowell and Arnott.

Remind me what happened that season...

[Dexter]

Welbeck clearly wasn't fit and shouldn't have been starting.

For me Malbranque should have retained his place on the left with Sessegnon playing behind Gyan. I find it ironic how Bruce likes to whinge about injuries and then proceeds to play players who clearly aren't fit enough.