O’Shea and Brown: Republik of Mancunia puts us on spot

Scott the Red comes calling from time to time, with questions he wants Salut! Sunderland to answer on issues affecting both his club, Manchester United, and ours.

Our signings of Wes Brown and John O’Shea offered a good enough excuse for Scott to return with to ask what we made of them, and Steve Bruce’s other dealings.

Here is the questionnaire, plus a few of the Republik of Mancunia readers’ responses. See whether you agree with me or them or none of us!

Whilst still struggling to the cope with the loss of John O’Shea and Wes Brown to Sunderland, we’ve had a chat with Colin Randall from the excellent Mackem blog, Salut! Sunderland, about their new signings.

Scott the Red: Are you pleased with the signings of Wes Brown and John O’Shea?

Colin Randall: Sunderland fans have broadly welcome the O’Shea singing more than that of Brown. I’m more positive, taking the view that you don’t get to play for United unless you’re pretty good. Also, I know some United supporters actually rate Brown higher than O’Shea.

STR: I’d actually say most United fans rate Brown more highly. His omission from the team this season wasn’t down to ability! Which do you think will get the most game time now they’re in the North East?

I think both will play important parts in the first team squad, and probably start together in the first game at Anfield.

You’ll have us lot cheering you on for that! Where do you anticipate them playing?

We have serious centre-back injury problems so I’d expect that to be where they’d play. However, one area of weakness remains full back. Bardsley has proved he can play either flank so maybe Bruce has that in mind unless we make one more defensive signing. I don’t see O’Shea in a midfield role given all our contenders for that part of the formation.

Any chance of either of them being captain?

I am deeply unhappy with the idea of Cattermole as captain; his disciplinary record did improve but that relied on a degree of luck. O’Shea as captain would feel like a good move to me.

Do you think Bruce has done a good job in the transfer market this summer?

Overall, yes. We are still short of a dependable striker, as we have been since Bent was inexplicably sold without a replacement in view. Gyan is good, but his commitment to the club is at best debatable, and Connor Wickham may take time to prove himself. And a left-back. Then Bruce must start offloading a few.

SOME COMMENTS:

cherry

Gr8 pros Wesley and Sheasy is….really gutted that they left……….good luck to them tho

Sparkz

Aside from us getting 3 points in our first game…..nothing would make me smile more than if Big JOS got another stoppage time winner at Anfield!

On a related note, I’d agree with Scott- I do rate Wes higher (not a criticism of JOS), it’ll be interesting to see where he gets played. I’ve a feeling he’ll be used as a RB more than at centre back.

CedarsDevil

I wish our B team all the best for the new season…. Except when they play the A team of course!

Clint-IamYourPapii

Sunderland already have titus bramble at centre back, bardsley at right back/left back. Who are now established reliable players for them. They also have a decent player in michael turner.

With anton ferdinand being a big liability they have made a good signing in wes brown.
Also with only george mccartney at left back, John O’sheasy can provide some experience in the wing back areas for them.

I wonder if sunderland are still after nedum onuoha, good young centre back that handled drogba last season and also scored a fabulous goal. If they sign onuoha they have potentially 4 good centre backs.(bramble,brown,turner & onuoha)

Im impressed by Stevie Bruce this transfer window …

Costas:

I don’t think they will form a partnerhsip at the back for Sunderland. They played together as CBs on a few occasions for us and they didn’t click too well. I feel that one will play at full back and the other in the middle.