Source: Northern_Echo
Richardson aiming for a top ten place
BECOMING an established member of the Premier League is getting harder but Kieran Richardson feels Sunderland's young squad has all the ingredients to force themselves on Europe.[LNB] Sunderland boast the youngest squad in the topflight and have frequently fielded an average age of 24 in games this season, something which Richardson feels illustrates the strong foundations for the future.[LNB] The recently turned 26- year-old is full of admiration for the likes of Jordan Henderson, Lee Cattermole and David Meyler, who is on his way back from serious injury, claiming that if Sunderland can keep developing, a tophalf finish can be achieved.[LNB] If you look around the dressing room there are a lot of young kids in there who are hungry, said Richardson.[LNB] That is a good thing. We also have some very good footballers in there, who want to retain the ball, like we saw against Chelsea.[LNB] We have a good bunch and the nucleus is young. If we keep progressing we will become a very good side.[LNB] The gaffer's targets include the top ten this season, that has to be our aim and we should not get carried away after a few good results.[LNB] That is what we are striving for and we are more than capable of it because last year we just missed out because of that bad run.[LNB] Defeat at Wolves last week offered a reminder of last season, when Sunderland's promising start was undone by a 14-match winless run through the winter months.[LNB] There are similarities, with the snowfall contributing to the team squad's inability to train regularly and injuries to key members of the defence, with Titus Bramble and Michael Turner ruled out for months.[LNB] But Richardson is keen to avoid the comparisons, suggesting this season should be judged on events on the pitch.[LNB] I don't even think about that poor run of last season,[LNB] he said. Of course we went on that run so people will say we might do it again. I don't think we will.[LNB] It was a one-off and the team we are playing in is playing very good football. We are a lot harder to beat. I can't see us going 13 games without winning a game.[LNB] While this season has seen Sunderland record impressive results against Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea, they have let themselves down against West Brom, Newcastle and Wolves.[LNB] Richardson is not concerned, saying: At Wolves we did well to come back and to lose it late, like against Everton, was harsh. Had we not done that we would have 26 points, sitting fifth. The line is so thin.[LNB] We could lose the next three matches and be in the bottom half, the bottom three and everyone would be panicking again.[LNB]
