ALS INTERVIEW: WES BROWN

We spoke to former Sunderland defender Wes Brown about his time at the club, how the Lads are doing this season and his thoughts on VAR and the Premier League title race. Wes spoke to us via Net Bet.

THOUGHTS ON HOW WE’VE DONE?

“I think it was always going to be tough. Looking before the season, has the manager got enough of the right players in? Got enough experience? Normally the teams who come up struggle a little bit but there’s sometimes one, this year it’s Sunderland, who have managed to really outlive what those expectations were. At the same time, it’s not luck. The manager has done a really good job with the team, they’ve brought in some excellent players and for me the focus when the Lads are playing is that they play as a team. Good combinations. Obviously there have been games where they’ve got beat but the next game they’re back on it and they’re battling again. That’s very important. You don’t see a lot of teams do that. Next season it’s about signing the right couple of players to keep those energy levels and team spirit alive.”

BEST MANAGERS DURING YOUR TIME AT SAFC?

“Steve (Bruce) brought me in but the problem is that none of them ever lasted that long! Gus Poyet was really good and Dick Advocaat was good. First of all, Dick was very experienced. Sometimes I reckon it was difficult for him because throughout his career, he’s probably not used to being in the position we were in. He came in late on to save us with great experience, great at building the team together. Gus was a manager who could manage in the Premier League now because we used to try and play football like how it’s played now, the problem was that we couldn’t because we didn’t have the right players for it. It wasn’t much of a thing in our heads back then - City were playing out from the back and maybe Barcelona and Arsenal, and then we tried it. There were some games where we played really well but we’d make one mistake and go 1-0 down, which turns everything on its head. I really liked them two managers.”

PANTILIMON IN GOAL

“Pantilimon wasn’t very good on the ball and he didn’t want to play like that , but what can you do. There were a few times where we did try to say to Gus that it wasn’t for us, Pantilimon himself would say that, but that’s how the manager wanted to do it.”

MANAGERIAL TURNOVER

“You have to remember that these managers are coming and going, but we’re staying. We’re the problem as well, because we can’t win! You need very strong mentalities in positions like that and you all have to accept a bit of criticism when you’re not playing well. At times, a lot of the lads couldn’t really do that. It’s tough because it’s not that you’re blaming anyone. I would love it if someone said to me ‘Wes, you were rubbish today’ because then I’d have to sort it out. It was tough because it was about getting that message across in the right way. Eventually, a few times, we all did while I was there but we left it very tight! There were times going into the last game where we needed to get a draw or a win - one of them was when we needed a draw against Arsenal. Believe me - away from home against Arsenal, you just don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s not a nice feeling but at the same time you do get a good bond with the lads once you’ve gotten through it together. Looking back, it’s not the ideal situation to leave yourself in.”

JERMAIN DEFOE

“Jermain saved us because the most important thing in football is scoring goals and we just couldn’t score. We really struggled and then Jermain came in and he’d put away every other chance, which gives you a massive boost and the willpower to keep going. You’ve then got the fans behind you to push you a little bit more, it really helped.”

VAR

“It’s been rubbish, particularly the last few days. Even that handball at Hearts - he’s got his hand up but it’s obvious he heads it because you can’t punch the ball that way! It’s getting too much now because it’s still human error but someone else is calling it. Even Cunha’s goal the other day, it took four and a half minutes to come to the decision. It hasn’t happened yet, but imagine if incidents like that take place five times in a game - you’re looking at an extra 20 minutes to be played. They’re going to have to simplify it somehow, but I don’t know how. It’s just getting bizarre. And the Arsenal one… Arsenal have been doing that the whole year but then to pull back the one against them, come on. You’ve got to be fair. It’s not cheating but there’s just not enough there to give a foul, because you let it go every week. It’s getting too much now. It’s all about opinions, whoever is on VAR on the day.”

WHO WILL WIN THE LEAGUE?

“Arsenal. I think they’re really focused. I think they’ll find it tough in the Champions League but to be fair, they’ve been the best team in the Premier League for me. They’ve not been lovely to watch but they’ve been the best team, the team that has managed to get the results. They’ve made it hard for themselves at times but I don’t see them slipping up now. I think they’ll win the Premier League and then find it difficult against PSG, but they’re in it. That’s the main thing.”