Source: Team_Talk
Bruce unhappy with Bramble
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has warned footballers they have a moral responsibility to behave after defender Titus Bramble's arrest.[LNB] The 30-year-old, who was taking in for questioning barely 24 hours after the club's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Norwich, has been suspended by the Black Cats as they carry out their own investigation and will not be involved in the club's home game against West Brom on Saturday.[LNB]Bruce was limited in what he could say on the matter by legal restrictions, but he bemoaned the growing chasm which he believes exists between modern day players and the supporters as a result of the huge financial rewards on offer.[LNB]He said: "They have all got one thing in common: they usually come from the same working-class background, the vast majority anyway, there is the odd exception.[LNB]"Usually, most of them will remember the roots from which they are born and bred and have that respect for where they come from and the people who are still there.[LNB]"Unfortunately now with the rewards they get, they alienate themselves and should show more responsibility.[LNB]"Certainly in Titus' case - as you know there is a police investigation, but I don't think he should be in that position anyway.[LNB]"I don't think on a Tuesday night, you should be in a nightclub - I don't think any footballer should be in a nightclub on a Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, not with a game on a Saturday, especially after the way you have just been beaten on the Monday night.[LNB]"In my day, the vast majority of people I played with would have put their head down, gone into the bunker and said, 'Well, I am going to go and train hard and put it right on Saturday'.[LNB]"But that's where, unfortunately, they let themselves down."[LNB]The allegations against Bramble have proved an unwelcome distraction during a week which has seen the pressure shift firmly back on to Bruce's shoulders as a result of the defeat at Carrow Road.[LNB]However, the former Manchester United defender was adamant he would not allow it to derail his mission to turn the club's season around.[LNB]He said: "It's what managers do these days, it happens. I am just pleased [Manchester City boss] Roberto Mancini is having a little bit of stick as well.[LNB]"Nothing will derail me. I have been doing it a long time and have been let down many times by certain players.[LNB]"It makes me more determined, if you like. Through diversity, sometimes, comes a reaction. That sometimes is the case - I hope so, anyway.[LNB]"But it won't derail me in terms of what I am trying to do and it won't put me off.[LNB]"I sometimes scratch my head and think, 'What the hell am I doing it for?', but it's what football management is now and as I have said many times, there is nothing quite like preparing your team and getting a result on a Saturday."[LNB]Bruce desperately needs a result against the Baggies having seen his side surrender the ground they had regained with a resounding 4-0 win over Stoke in their last fixture at the Stadium of Light with a poor display at Norwich.[LNB]He said: "It's been a difficult week, but the result at Norwich is the most difficult thing for me to deal with, believe it or not.[LNB]"We have to bounce back. We had a great result at home - not many teams will beat Stoke 4-0 on the evidence of watching them again last night.[LNB]"We have to have another good performance at the Stadium of Light and see if we can get that level of consistency we are striving for.[LNB]"At the moment, unfortunately, we haven't got that. We have got to find the right balance and the right team, and that level of consistency which helps you in the Premier League."
