As we await what now appears to be the inevitability of Steve Bruce's installation as manager of Sunderland, the news from Wigan itself is that we should be prepared for quite an influx from the JJB, or DW (Dean Whitehead?) as it will be known next season.
This is what Bernard Ramsdale**, our award-winning man with his ear to the ground has to say:
Reports from people in the know at the club are convinced that SB will be moving to the Stadium Of Light, taking all of his backroom staff with him. These will include Nigel Spink as goalkeeper coach and Eric Black as his number two. It also includes an extensive, and very successful scouting team. (Palacios, fourteen million pounds and Valencia, 15 million pounds for an outlay of six million isn't too bad is it)
And this:
The imminent arrival of Steve Bruce as Sunderland manager could have catastrophic consequences for Wigan Athletic.
Reports of Bruce wanting to take Lee Cattermole to the Stadium of Light have surfaced and the fans of the Latics can also expect Bruce to make a bid for Titus Bramble as well according to reports in the Daily Star.
The loss of Bruce may well be overcome depending on the club's replacement manager but chairman Dave Whelan must be concerned about the possible loss of two of the clubs best players and the sooner things are brought back to normality at the DW Stadium, the better.
Two thoughts:
* wouldn't it be a treat if we not only did well, but did well with a self-confessed Mag in charge – and being totally professional about it – at a time when the Barcodes were languishing in – let's not be too greedy – the Championship mid-table?
* And where does the congestion along the road from Wigan pier, as Bruce packs not only his bags but also his entire entourage, leave one Ricky Sbragia and his promise of a role as long as he wanted one?
** Visit the Wigan fan site YOTAC – Ye Olde Tree and Crown – here for odd Bruce-related snippets. They seem terrified that Paul Jewell may be on his way back to them …
Have to go along with sixer on this one. Cattermole is the next Joey Barton. And Bramble? The only thing I have ever seen him do that made me think he is top quality was when he broke from the halfway line and scored against us at Portman Road a good few years back. Since then – he seems more of a liabilty than an asset.
Cattermole – no. (short sweet)
I am fully aware of Pete’s strength of feeling about him, which he expressed in no nonsense terms after the game at Wigan.
But doesn’t “their thug” become our Joe Bolton/Kevin Ball?
Pete
If we’d had someone who could kick the opposition up a height (as they used to say), then maybe we wouldn’t have ended up down at the bottom end of the table. He has some fire in his belly and is a canny midfielder. Boro should have kept him and despite this reputation as a ‘thug’ the kid can play as well.
Bruce I am happy with,his coaching staff poses no problems, but not hppy with Cattermole. His sending off in September showed him up for what he is – a thug. And didn’t Grant Leadbitter have a barney with him at Boro in 2007-08? Signing him would not be a good start for the new manager.