Bruce, shut your mouth
Filed: Wednesday, 4th November 2009
By: Staff Writer
Steve Clarke has slammed Sunderland boss Steve Bruce for his comments regarding Herita Ilunga.
Bruce accused Ilunga of play-acting after being shoved to the ground by Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones during Saturday's 2-2 draw - an offence that saw Jones instantly dismissed by referee Andre Marriner.
However Clarke hit back at Bruce, accusing him of hypocrisy and speaking out of turn. Talking to SkySports, Gianfranco Zola's right-hand man said:
"I think it was wrong of Steve Bruce to comment on our players. We have a manager who doesn't speak about any other team's players so I think that was wrong. He said what he said; I find it incredible that the player who was the victim is the person everybody's talking about.
"You'll have to tell me what Ilunga did wrong? Someone pushed him to the face, he's just recovered from a triple-fracture to the jaw, maybe thought there was a punch coming... I find it incredible that we're sitting here talking about our player who was the victim. This is completely wrong.
"There was no overreaction. He was pushed. He's a big boy, Kenwyne Jones and Ilunga has to look after himself. I find it incredible that's it's got so much air time."
Clarke also hit out at Sunderland captain Lorik Cana who could have been sent off on at least two occasions during the game.
"If you want to speak about pople from the opposition I also find it incredible that the Sunderland captain wasn't sent off," he said. ""He was booked for a terrible tackle on Mark Noble, then kicked him in the back. He was warned [again] for a ridiculous lunge into Noble three or four minutes later.
"He then committed a two-footed tacle on Guillermo Franco in the centre circle which the referee knew he couldn't give as a free kick because he would have had to send him off. Then after that he persitently fouled - another two-footed lunge in the second half.
"It's easy to talk about other team and other team's players. I don't agree with it but if people are going to have a go at our players then I'm going to have a go back."
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by Karl
07:29PM 4th Nov 2009
''Nice one Clarky! Bruce was a whinger as a player, now he's carrying it on as a manager...''
by Essex
03:27PM 4th Nov 2009
''Absolutely spot on, we need to make sure he stays at the club for as long as possible. Refreshing to hear from someone who doesn't mess about.''
by Joe Bamber
01:29PM 4th Nov 2009
''Great to see SC sticking up for Ilunga and the club. Steve Bruce has to be one of the biggest hypocrites in today's game, watch his interviews and the man only ever sees things from his team's point of view. Failed to mention Steed Malbranque's dive for the free-kick that led to their first goal didn't he?
More of this please Steve, our club's been taking a bashing in the press the last few years, time we stand up for ourselves and say our piece back.''
by Graza
01:14PM 4th Nov 2009
''Damn straight, Ilunga may or may not have overreacted to Jones' push but if it had been Fabregas or Torres it would have been a "vile assault that he was lucky to still have a playing career left after".
And Cana could have gone plenty of times on single incidents let alone cumulative yellows, so the sending off of Kovac was made to look an even more weak and pathetic move from the ref who was no doubt scared to make them go down to 9.
Also shows proof positive of who wears the trousers in our dressing room. I for one am sick and tired of all this nice guy bollox. We are walked over by other managers and the press and just keep quiet. Fuck Bruce, Fuck the Ref, and lets go Fuck the Villains tonight. Fighting talk at last.''
by gportugal
12:27PM 4th Nov 2009
''Exactly right. In yo face, Bruce. Cana should have had not one, not two, but THREE red cards. On top of which, Jones should not have started the incident in the first place. Stop moaning Bruce, and git on with it. ''
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