Premier Soccer Saturday, MOTD/2, The Football League Show chit chat

flahavaj wrote: »

Sir Wesley getting the praise he deserves. If he can stay fit (BIG if) he will be purchase of the season at a mere £1m. Gave a positional masterclass today at Anfield.

parker kent wrote: »

Might be decent for Sunderland, but lets not get carried away. He is always liable to drop a clanger.

Cypher_sounds wrote: »

Would be great if Lineker read out what Barton said on twitter.

parker kent wrote: »

At full back he is OK. But at centre back all I can think of is his Barthez comedy double act. He is caught out a fair bit at centre back. That'll probably increase when he doesn't have the rest of the United team around him. He never looked a secure playing for England.

Don't get me wrong he is a decent player. But he isn't that good.

Blatter wrote: »

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Wes-Brown-is-the-best-natural-defender-in-the-country-says-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-article234217.html

parker kent wrote: »

I know he has said it plenty of times over the years. He's also regularly talked up Darron Gibson. I never said Brown was a bad player. I'm just saying the earlier praise was a bit much.

As for 2008, that was as a full back. If you check my posts, I am talking about him as a centre back. He is a good full back, but not as good in the centre.

Paully D wrote: »

If Wes Brown plays 20-25 games this season at £1m he's a steal for Sunderland.

I know I'm used to watching shite as a Sunderland fan and it was only one game, but he was absolutely immense yesterday and I've heard numerous Manchester United fans say that that sort of performance isn't a one off.

Every time the ball came forward I was expecting a Liverpool player to get on to it as we usually drop deep when under pressure, the next thing *BANG* Brown comes across and flies in with a tackle cleanly winning the ball. His reading of the game is superb, so much so that Carroll virtually gave up after an hour. He just knew where the ball was going to be almost every single time it was coming forward. He's so intelligent on the field.

Him and O'Shea in our back four will be such an improvement for us.

Sunderland defender Wes Brown stalls new-look Liverpool in opening day stalemate at Anfield

Of all the new boys on show here, it was an old one who most caught the eye, the 31-year-old Wes Brown. His Manchester United roots earning the opprobrium of the Liverpool faithful, Brown calmly and quietly demonstrated why Sunderland could have made one of the signings of the summer.


Fitness is always a concern with Brown, who has long association with the physiotherapist’s room following injuries to knee and ankle, as well as the inevitable wear and tear of 341 games spread over 13 years at United and 23 caps for England. If he can avoid further damage, Brown could prove a rock in Steve Bruce’s defence, particularly if he repeats the type of performance that saw him largely subdue Andy Carroll. A four-year contract was generous, but with a fee reported around £1 million it could be a master-stroke by Bruce.
“He rolled back the years,’’ said the Sunderland manager of Brown’s display. “For me he is arguably one of the best natural English centre-backs we’ve had. He’s not played, been injured and with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic doing so well we’ve managed to get him.’’
With Phil Jones and Chris Smalling the Old Trafford heirs apparent at centre-half, Brown clearly knew his opportunities would be limited. “He’s been fit since last February but this was his first competitive game since that time,’’ Bruce added.
“He’s as tough as they come and that experience of knowing how to play against a big centre-forward showed, he had it off to a tee. He was terrific. Dropped off when he needed to, went up against him when he needed to, he gave a proper performance.”
Brown made one mistake, conceding the free-kick from Charlie Adam delivered for Luis Suarez to give Liverpool the lead. Such was their early dominance before fading, Kenny Dalglish’s side should already have been ahead by then as Suarez missed a penalty after being fouled by Kieran Richardson. Sunderland enjoyed a double escape as Richardson should have been dismissed. Suarez was about to score. No question.