Sbragia's praise for Cats' stoppers

Feb 24 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

RICKY Sbragia has praised Anton Ferdinand and Danny Collins for ‘raising the bar’ with their performances since Sunderland signed Calum Davenport, sending a warning to the new arrival that he might be set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

Ferdinand and Collins were outstanding again as Sunderland foiled Arsenal to move into the top half of the Premier League over the weekend, consolidating their status as the Black Cats’ number one defensive partnership.

That is likely to be bad news for both the returning Nyron Nosworthy, who is edging closer to fitness, and new signing Davenport, who was once again an unused substitute in North London.

But Sbragia (below) feels he cannot afford to break up a pairing that has helped Sunderland rack up three clean sheets in their last four games.

Indeed, he feels that their impact extends beyond games, with their influence around the club overwhelmingly positive too.

Sbragia has praised Collins for his consistency and been fulsome in his praise for Ferdinand, who he feels has been a good influence since joining the club from West Ham in the summer.

In the light of Sbragia’s recent comments

about the sale of El-Hadji Diouf and Pascal Chimbonda improving the togetherness of the squad, it is a telling contribution from the Sunderland boss.

“Danny and Anton have a good partnership and they showed it again at Saturday. We bought Calum in to compete with them but those two have raised the bar,” he said.

“Both of them have been excellent. Danny was at Wrexham and Chester and he’s just signed another two-year contract and he deserves that.

“He’s played at left-back as well and the last couple of years he’s been the supporters’ player of the year and you know what you are going to get from him – he’ll put his head in.

“As for Anton he’s done very well. He’s come from the big city and that may have been a problem but he loves it (here).”

Ferdinand is viewed in some quarters as a natural candidate to be the next Sunderland skipper and Sbragia has offered another insight by revealing his popularity among the players.

A bubbly character and one of the loudest voices in the dressing room, the only time that he has been silenced was when his team-mates paid him £2,000 as part of a sponsored silence for Children in Need.

“He’s a good lad. He never stops talking. The best day we had was Children in Need when he had a full day of not talking,” revealed Sbragia.

“It was glorious, it was fantastic! He’s bouncy, he’s bubbly, he has a bit of a craic about him and he’s not shy. The players love him – they absolutely love him – and he goes up to the office and he sits with the girls from the office, too. Those kind of things are nice touches.”

Without a game this weekend due to Tottenham’s Carling Cup commitments, Sunderland have flown to Seville to spend time at a warm-weather training camp.

With the emphasis on fitness work and team bonding, the mood was said to be excellent as the Black Cats look to consolidate the progress made over recent weeks.

And the feel-good factor has even extended to Sunderland players not currently plying their trade at the Stadium of Light.

Young winger Jordan Henderson, who is enjoying a terrific loan spell at Coventry City, is set to stay at the Championship club until the end of the campaign.

“I’m extending my contract here until the end of the season so hopefully we can get that sorted soon,” Henderson said.

“I’m over the moon playing first-team football for Coventry City, who are flying at the minute.”