Bruce under the cosh
Steve Bruce instructs his squad.
STEVE Bruce says he knows everyone could be gunning for him at the Stadium of Light this weekend – from Kenwyne Jones, Danny Collins and Dean Whitehead on the pitch in front of him, to angry home fans in the stands behind.
But he says he is ready for whatever Saturday throws at him.
And he is determined that he and his players will begin the healing process against Stoke City after last Sunday’s derby humiliation.
All eyes are likely to be on Jones (pictured) and Asamoah Gyan – the striker Bruce sold in the summer and the player bought in as a replacement.
Bruce admits he could have done without the return of a trio of players with points to prove.
“All the lads who’ve gone from Sunderland to Stoke, even before my time, have done very well for themselves,” he said.
“When I think of the lads who’ve left since I arrived here – Dean Whitehead, Danny Collins and Kenwyne Jones – I see decent players.
“But this is what management is about – you make your decisions and you live or die by them.
“We couldn’t have wished for a more difficult one to try and bounce back in – not just because of those three but because of the nature of the way that Stoke play.
“They’re big, they’re physical, they get in your face and they’re very difficult to play against.
“But we’ve got to overcome it. We’ve got to recover a bit of pride.”
Bruce admits he’s still coming to terms with Sunday’s humiliation and empathises with the hurt of Sunderland fans.
“The trust that some people had in me has probably been blown away – which I can understand,” Bruce said.
“So we have to batten down the hatches and come out fighting.
“That’s the mark of a man, certainly of a team, and I’m very, very confident that we can go out there and start repairing the damage.
“Make no mistake, I know the consequences of last week’s game.
“There will be people wanting me out of the door and I can understand that. They will feel as humiliated as I feel.
“All I can say is that I know how bad I feel and it’s as bad as any Sunderland fan, I’m sure of that.
“My family has suffered as well.
“They didn’t enjoy any minute of it either – which is understandable.
“The one thing you have to do in football management is not let the highs get you too carried away and not let the lows get you too down.
“But I have to be honest and say that, on Monday, I was still rock bottom and, on Tuesday, I was still rock bottom as well
“But, on Wednesday, I couldn’t wait to get my tracksuit on and get stuck into training again. I couldn’t wait to say ‘Come on, let’s start putting this behind us’.
“Stoke will be a horrible, difficult one, but it’s our first shot at the long haul towards starting to put things right.”
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Thursday 23 February 2012
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Comments
There are 10 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
salty
Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 01:27 PMthe team has played very well all season until last sunday, all the manager has to do is get the players to keep up the standards until Jan 16th and put the mags in their place.
salty
Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 01:27 PMthe team has played very well all season until last sunday, all the manager has to do is get the players to keep up the standards until Jan 16th and put the mags in their place.
mickthemiller
Saturday, November 6, 2010 at 02:14 PMThe fans will get over the massacre just as im sure Newcastle fans have got over Gary Rowells hat-trick at St James or Sunderlands play-off win at St James or Sunderlands 9-1 record win at St James. What was the score on Sunday?
Offshoremackem
Friday, November 5, 2010 at 11:00 PMI luv it when we get half wits engaging on the forum. These are the same morons who wanted Mike Ashley out !!!!!!!!.
ToonThomas
Friday, November 5, 2010 at 01:30 PMCheer up Steve Bruce OHHH what can it mean to a Sad Mackem B*****d and a S**t football team. Bring it on for January, you's said you would beat us on Sunday, but if we show the same passion as we did we'll hammer you's again. WHO ARE YA, WHO ARE YA , WHO ARE YA.
ToonThomas
Friday, November 5, 2010 at 01:30 PMCheer up Steve Bruce OHHH what can it mean to a Sad Mackem B*****d and a S**t football team. Bring it on for January, you's said you would beat us on Sunday, but if we show the same passion as we did we'll hammer you's again. WHO ARE YA, WHO ARE YA , WHO ARE YA.
Kenn5959
Friday, November 5, 2010 at 10:27 AM......................yeah offshor- thingy...I'm witchoo...Brucie's a Pudd....nee good at'all...clueless...how come we cannit gerra daicent manager????....dissn't he knaa..its wor mackem tribal pride at stake???....excuses..excuses....
shieldsman
Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 07:05 PMTucky who are you trying to kid, don't give a toss about the massacre, your stuck with it forever. Every morning you wake up, remember FIVE - ONE. Totally outclassed for 90 minutes by a far far superior team. ENJOY.
Offshoremackem
Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 04:10 PMEr don't speak for me, I do give a toss about a derby day loss. If we don't get our act together then let's see what you say. The man is under the COSH. Prove it to me and quite a few others he is worthy.
Tucky
Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 03:07 PMAs long as we finish higher than last season no one will give a toss bout the derby result just get revenge when they come to our house in January and all will be forgiven.
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