Cisse ‘no different’ to SAFC colleagues who have been dropped
May 15 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
RICKY Sbragia has warned Djibril Cissé that despite his big-name status he is no different from “eight or nine” out-of-favour players who are unhappy at being dropped.
Cisse’s future involvement with Sunderland is uncertain after he was axed to suit manager Sbragia’s revamped formation for the Bolton game.
The Frenchman is unlikely to play against Portsmouth on Monday as Sbragia sticks with a modified 4-5-1 system that relies heavily on Kenwyne Jones up front – and Cisse’s loan period on Wearside is up at the end of the month, sparking speculation his time at the Black Cats is over.
Reports quoting Cisse’s supposed agent emerged from France this week that claimed he had already agreed to join Spurs next season, but those were quickly discredited. Still, with Sbragia understood to have some reservations about the make-up of his dressing room Sunderland are far from certain to convert Cissé’s temporary switch into a permanent one.
The uncertainty has hardly helped the mood of a player whose goal-scoring contribution has lessened in recent months – but Sbragia says his situation is similar to many of his fringe squad members.
“I can’t do anything about the reports. It’s media speculation and I’m not that concerned,” he said. “He is a Sunderland player, we pay him, and when we’re over the line we will address whether the move will be made permanent.
“He knows the situation and it keeps popping up and it’s not coming from our side. I don’t know whether it is coming from his side.
“He is available for selection and we sacrifice players to play different systems. I have another eight or nine players who are not happy but they’re not in the papers every week. It’s part and parcel of football.” After Sunderland’s improved performance in the 0-0 draw at Bolton last weekend, Cissé’s chances of starting at Fratton Park on Monday are slim – although his response to being dropped has been good.
“I felt that it was the time to make a change up front and that meant Kenwyne starting the game in a changed formation,” he said. “I know Djib is disappointed – everyone who was left out of the team should be disappointed and we have to deal with that, explain the decisions and make sure everyone knows they have a part to play in keeping this club in the Premier League.
“Djib was good in the dressing room before the game and has trained well this week, so he’s had the right response.”
Meanwhile, Sbragia has pledged not to stick glued to a television set as Premier League results come in tomorrow.
The Sunderland manager opted for a quiet night at the pub rather than watching Newcastle’s frenetic clash with Middlesbrough on Monday – and he feels that watching the results roll in is immaterial again.
“I knew it was 1-1, then 3-1. Credit to them, they got three valuable points. From our point of view a bad result, from theirs it was excellent. We have had nine or 10 weeks to do it but we haven’t managed to do it,” he said.
“We spoke with the players about taking responsibility, the formation helped, and we are preparing for Portsmouth and we have to do the same. It would be nice to get the win to make us safe. The big thing will be getting the result on Saturday. This week it will be about the other results before we look at the team. On Monday we will know exactly what we will need in terms of points.”
BOLTON defender Gretar Steinsson believes manager Gary Megson deserves more credit than he has received for keeping the club in the Barclays Premier League.
Bolton finally reached the psychological milestone of 40 points with the goalless draw at home to Sunderland, although Steinsson said the players have felt for several weeks they were safe.
Theoretically 11th place is still within reach and Steinsson said that was what the players must aim for, starting against struggling Hull this weekend.
