Kieran Richardson praises boss Bruce's transfer dealings

Nov 25 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

KIERAN Richardson feels Steve Bruce’s Sunderland signings prove he is one of the best transfer market operators in the business.

Bruce was surprised to find himself fingered as one of the culprit’s for Wigan’s crushing 9-1 defeat at Spurs when Latics chairman Dave Whelan said new boss Roberto Martinez had been lumbered with his “dodgy signings”.

With Bruce set to return to the DW Stadium for the first time since leaving for Sunderland on Saturday, there was undoubtedly an element of gamesmanship about Whelan’s comments.

Especially considering they were the same players who helped Martinez mastermind a victory over Chelsea.

Bruce’s reputation as one of the best wheeler-dealers in the top flight was one of the major motivations for Sunderland appointing him, and his squad has leapt to his defence.

Richardson, for one, believes Bruce’s summer signings have helped transform the Black Cats from a Premier League soft touch into the scourge of the top four.

Signing Lorik Cana for £5million was probably the pick of his close-season business, but relative unknown Paulo Da Silva has also settled into life on Wearside with the minimum of fuss.

Richardson thinks every one of the players signed so far has been a “class act”.

He said: “I cannot really comment on what signings the manager took to Wigan. I don’t know enough about them.

“What I can say is the players who have been brought here have all been top-class, great players, so all I am bothered about is Sunderland

“I watch a lot of football around the world and I knew John Mensah, Lorik Cana, maybe I did not know that much about Paulo Da Silva, but he came here as an international captain.