More pressure on Bramble than Bruce's other signings

Jul 23 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

Not only does Titus Bramble have to prove himself at Sunderland, he has to change public perception. Chief sports writer Luke Edwards looks at the size of the task ahead of the Black Cats’ new signing

THERE were only a few of them, drunk on lager, frazzled by the sun. But they were loud and they were angry. He may not have even kicked a ball for his new club, but some Sunderland fans are already on the back of Titus Bramble.

There will be others, of course. Far less vocal, far less irrational and far less extreme in their views, but there is no question the signing of Bramble represents a gamble for manager Steve Bruce.

Sunderland fans are nervous about the arrival of Bramble because they remember the player at Newcastle, the one people loved to mock for his blunders, and not the defender at Wigan who was not only a firm fans’ favourite, but also arguably their best player over the last two seasons.

The fact Bruce sees it as a risk worth taking in the first place should be enough to shout down the detractors for the time being, but there is more pressure on Bramble than on any other signing he has made as Black Cats boss. He worked with Bramble for two years and liked what he saw. As a former centre-half, Bruce saw the raw talent; the pace, the power and the excellent distribution from the back. Just as Sir Bobby Robson had done and Graeme Souness after him at Newcastle.

The difference was, he extracted the best from Bramble on a consistent basis. He was no longer the same person when Bruce inherited him as Wigan manager, he had matured with experience and Bruce helped mould him into a top-class, top-flight defender.