Left-back spot is cause for concern
THE big question ahead of tomorrow's clash with Hull City is, who on earth is going to play at left-back against the Tigers?
With George McCartney injured and Danny Collins sold to Stoke City before the end of the transfer window, the need for an emergency full-back has been a cause for concern.
I've no doubt Steve Bruce will have thought long and hard about who he wants to fill the role, but with the best will in the world whatever option he takes it's going to be a makeshift one.
Hopefully, there weren't too many other injuries when the players returned from international duty, although it appears the goalkeeping situation is another giving cause for concern.
Craig Gordon and Marton Fulop are both carrying knocks, so third choice Trevor Carson could make his first Premier League appearance.
I know there are those who will look at the left-back and goalkeeping situations, and feel that we have left ourselves a little bit short of cover.
It is hard to argue against such claims, but by the same token it is equally difficult to dismiss Bruce's assertion that we needed to trim the squad to balance the books a little.
Of course, players arriving or departing en masse is a by-product of the transfer windows.
No doubt Fifa, Uefa or whoever had the bright idea of introducing the transfer window will state that it is to give all clubs an equal opportunity in the market (when actually it probably achieves the opposite) or something like that.
But personally I'm really struggling to see any positives that come from the window.
More and more it seems like deadline day is a chance for teams to bump up prices beyond the normal, and for people like Sky TV to go into apoplexy about how fantastically exciting it all is (don't believe the hype).
And now we find ourselves having been bitten on the backside by the transfer window (ie we sold before we could really strengthen), I'm really starting to dislike it lot.
Still, I guess it's no good crying over spilt milk.
Getting back to the match, it's important that whatever side we turn out tomorrow, we get a result.
It won't be the end of the world if we don't, but at the same time if we are looking to progress then that means beating teams like Hull (no offence meant).
Hopefully, we can turn in a solid display against the Tigers, and turn in a more positive style of play.
Against the likes of Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, we allowed ourselves to be bullied.
Hull aren't likely to adopt such a physical approach, and maybe that will allow us to play our own game.
Not that I'm expecting it to be easy, but if we play to our potential we should be able to take all three points.
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Weather for South Shields
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
