Martinez “surprised” by Bruce sacking

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez admits he was surprised by Steve Bruce’s sacking at Sunderland on Wednesday.

Bruce’s last game in charge at the Stadium of Light was against Martinez’s side on Saturday, with the Black Cats surrendering a first-half lead to lose 2-1 thanks to Franco Di Santo’s stoppage-time winner.

The former Manchester United centre-back was the first managerial casualty of the Premier League season, and Martinez could only empathise with the former Birmingham boss.

“That was a little bit of a surprise,” Martinez told Sky Sports News. “It’s been a big turnaround in the summer.”

“It’s been a lot of players coming into that dressing room. You don’t really know what’s happening in other football clubs, but you feel that time is needed when you bring a lot of players into the football club just for the players to settle in, to feel themselves and how they can perform at their best. That always takes time.”

Martinez, whose Wigan side is still two point behind Sunderland in 19th despite Saturday’s win, said he doubted the decision to remove Bruce was solely because of one bad result.

“When there is a change in management, in any football club, it’s because you’re in the middle of a wrong dynamic of results,” Martinez said. “It’s never for one result. That would never happen.”

“You need to ask the people who make those decisions. They’ve got their ideas and their own targets and that goes over a period of time. I’ve never seen a change of management due to one result.”

“In football, unfortunately, nothing surprises you anymore. Stability and patience are two words that are needed in a football club.”

Wigan’s struggle against relegation continues away to fellow battlers West Brom on Saturday.

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Bruce desperate to keep hold of Henderson

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce admits he is giving his best to keep promising midfielder Jordan Henderson at the club for as long as possible.

Manchester United currently lead the race for the England Under-21 international, but Chelsea and City are also in the mix.

While admitting he faces a tough job, Steve Bruce says he will do everything to persuade Henderson to remain at Stadium of Light for at least few more seasons.

Bruce desperate to keep hold of Henderson

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce admits he is giving his best to keep promising midfielder Jordan Henderson at the club for as long as possible.

Manchester United currently lead the race for the England Under-21 international, but Chelsea and City are also in the mix.

While admitting he faces a tough job, Steve Bruce says he will do everything to persuade Henderson to remain at Stadium of Light for at least few more seasons.

Bent´s exit not to blame: Bruce

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has dismissed suggestions his side’s recent poor form is due to Darren Bent’s exit.

Bent left the Black Cats in the January transfer window to join Aston Villa for a fee that could rise to 24 million pounds.

Since his departure Sunderland have struggled, losing their past two matches, at home to Chelsea and away at Stoke on Saturday.

Bruce, however, has shrugged off claims that Bent’s absence was to blame for the defeats, choosing instead to highlight his side’s defensive shortcomings.

Sunderland conceded seven goals in those two losses, and when Bruce was asked whether his side’s leading scorer last season was being missed, he said: “If we couldn’t score a goal, I might agree with you.”

“But since Darren has left, we’ve scored six goals – two in the win at Blackpool, two against Chelsea and then two on Saturday.”

“The fact we couldn’t head the ball out of our box had nothing to do with Darren Bent.”

“Darren Bent is history as far as I am concerned, life goes on and we have to get on with it.”

“I’m delighted with the two additions I was able to make to the squad (Sulley Muntari and Stephane Sessegnon) and it will be up to me to find a new Darren Bent in the summer.”

“Thankfully, the forward end of the pitch doesn’t look a problem for us at the moment.”

“We’ve prided ourselves on the way we have defended this season, but if you don’t defend properly this is what happens.”

“We gave bad goals away against Chelsea and we did it again on Saturday, and that is what has cost us.”

Bruce was furious after seeing his side somehow lose a game they thought they were sure to win, with Stoke scoring all three of their goals from set-pieces.

“There are pretty simple instructions. You’ve got to be prepared to go and take a knock, you’ve got to go and dominate your penalty area. We didn’t do that,” he said.

“Also, you need the officials to be brave as well. I’m sorry, the two of them (Stoke’s first two goals) shouldn’t have been allowed. They were offside.”

“But the goalkeeper and my defenders should be doing better and either head it, or catch it – that’s what their job is.”

Mon 7 February, 2011

Bent´s exit not to blame: Bruce

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has dismissed suggestions his side’s recent poor form is due to Darren Bent’s exit.

Bent left the Black Cats in the January transfer window to join Aston Villa for a fee that could rise to 24 million pounds.

Since his departure Sunderland have struggled, losing their past two matches, at home to Chelsea and away at Stoke on Saturday.

Bruce, however, has shrugged off claims that Bent’s absence was to blame for the defeats, choosing instead to highlight his side’s defensive shortcomings.

Sunderland conceded seven goals in those two losses, and when Bruce was asked whether his side’s leading scorer last season was being missed, he said: “If we couldn’t score a goal, I might agree with you.”

“But since Darren has left, we’ve scored six goals – two in the win at Blackpool, two against Chelsea and then two on Saturday.”

“The fact we couldn’t head the ball out of our box had nothing to do with Darren Bent.”

“Darren Bent is history as far as I am concerned, life goes on and we have to get on with it.”

“I’m delighted with the two additions I was able to make to the squad (Sulley Muntari and Stephane Sessegnon) and it will be up to me to find a new Darren Bent in the summer.”

“Thankfully, the forward end of the pitch doesn’t look a problem for us at the moment.”

“We’ve prided ourselves on the way we have defended this season, but if you don’t defend properly this is what happens.”

“We gave bad goals away against Chelsea and we did it again on Saturday, and that is what has cost us.”

Bruce was furious after seeing his side somehow lose a game they thought they were sure to win, with Stoke scoring all three of their goals from set-pieces.

“There are pretty simple instructions. You’ve got to be prepared to go and take a knock, you’ve got to go and dominate your penalty area. We didn’t do that,” he said.

“Also, you need the officials to be brave as well. I’m sorry, the two of them (Stoke’s first two goals) shouldn’t have been allowed. They were offside.”

“But the goalkeeper and my defenders should be doing better and either head it, or catch it – that’s what their job is.”

Mon 7 February, 2011

Houllier unfazed by Bruce criticism

Gerard Houllier is ‘not bothered’ by what Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has to say about Aston Villa’s capture of striker Darren Bent.

Bent is set to make his debut at home to Manchester City on Saturday and Houllier insisted he had gone about the transfer the right way, despite Bruce saying otherwise on Thursday.

Houllier said: “I like Steve Bruce. I think he is a good manager. He is doing a good job. He is working for the interests of Sunderland. I am working for the interests of Aston Villa.”

“I think he was not too gracious to me but that’s life. It is not going to prevent me from sleeping, I can tell you that. If we had done something wrong, I would say ‘hands up’ but we have behaved in a very proper way.”

“If I call Steve and say ‘I want his player’ he will go vocal and go public and it will be even worse. You contact a manager when you want a player on loan sometimes. A lot of fellow managers call me if they want loans.”

“This is the life of football. It makes me laugh more than anything else. Am I bothered about what he said? I prefer not to answer that question.”

Manchester City are currently second in the Premier League table and the Frenchman thinks they have really found their stride in recent weeks.

He said: “It looks as if they are clicking now and scoring goals, getting results and competing for the title which is a huge step from last year.”

“I think Roberto Mancini is doing a great job there. I know him. We are good friends – he is a good manager, very successful.”

“He kept his head high and straight when he was under pressure.”

Bent is in line to make his debut while fellow new signing Jean Makoun will miss out as he is yet to receive an international clearance.

Ashley Young is available after suspension.

Fri 21 January, 2011

Houllier unfazed by Bruce criticism

Gerard Houllier is ‘not bothered’ by what Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has to say about Aston Villa’s capture of striker Darren Bent.

Bent is set to make his debut at home to Manchester City on Saturday and Houllier insisted he had gone about the transfer the right way, despite Bruce saying otherwise on Thursday.

Houllier said: “I like Steve Bruce. I think he is a good manager. He is doing a good job. He is working for the interests of Sunderland. I am working for the interests of Aston Villa.”

“I think he was not too gracious to me but that’s life. It is not going to prevent me from sleeping, I can tell you that. If we had done something wrong, I would say ‘hands up’ but we have behaved in a very proper way.”

“If I call Steve and say ‘I want his player’ he will go vocal and go public and it will be even worse. You contact a manager when you want a player on loan sometimes. A lot of fellow managers call me if they want loans.”

“This is the life of football. It makes me laugh more than anything else. Am I bothered about what he said? I prefer not to answer that question.”

Manchester City are currently second in the Premier League table and the Frenchman thinks they have really found their stride in recent weeks.

He said: “It looks as if they are clicking now and scoring goals, getting results and competing for the title which is a huge step from last year.”

“I think Roberto Mancini is doing a great job there. I know him. We are good friends – he is a good manager, very successful.”

“He kept his head high and straight when he was under pressure.”

Bent is in line to make his debut while fellow new signing Jean Makoun will miss out as he is yet to receive an international clearance.

Ashley Young is available after suspension.

Fri 21 January, 2011

Bruce dedicates win to Allardyce

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce dedicated his side’s 3-0 win over Blackburn to good friend and former Rovers manager Sam Allardyce.

Sunderland beat Rovers thanks to goals from Darren Bent, Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck, but Bruce said the win was for Allardyce, who was unexpectedly sacked by Blackburn last month.

“I would like to say, that’s for Sam. I spoke to him this morning and the nonsense that went around with his sacking, that was for him,” Bruce said.

“I hope he has a drink in Dubai, where he is at the moment. That was for him.”

“I know he is a pal, but the ludicrous position they have put themselves is quite unbelievable, whoever has taken over there.”

“To sack someone like Sam and then appoint his coach, I find totally and utterly ridiculous, not just because he is a friend.”

“A result like that puts football, for me, the right way.”

Bruce was pleased to see his strikers find their scoring touch this week after wasting a host of chances in their loss to Blackpool on Tuesday, and the manager paid particular tribute to Bent, who broke a six-game scoring drought.

Bruce said: “I am pleased for him because as I have said repeatedly, class is permanent.”

“What he has done over 19, 20 months here, he is still in the calendar year the top English goalscorer in the Premier League, which is a remarkable achievement.”

“Yes, he didn’t score in December, but he will always score a goal. He always had done, always will do.”

“He might miss a few chances, like they all do, but he is terrific.”

Blackburn boss Steve Kean, the man who replaced Allardyce, was disappointed by the loss but said he was not feeling pressured to achieve immediate results.

“It’s going to be a gradual process. The owner has been quoted as saying ‘eventually’ they want to be challenging,” Kean said.

“What we will do in the next transfer window as it opens up is we will try to get a few bodies in because we have nine players who are missing at the minute.”

“We will probably strengthen in almost every area of the pitch to try to help the squad, and that’s what we need.”

“I think it will be a gradual building process, I don’t think at all they are expecting to be challenging for Europe this season.”

Sat 1 January, 2011