Just an honest question which I will (this once Lol) allow craas to join in without enduring my usual replies to them. I posted yesterday that imo, I thought Bruce was just another Geordie at the club taking the piss and that he threw (influenced negatively whether knowingly or not) the derby games because of his affiliations with his home town club, an argument which again imo, was fortified by his decision (unwisely perhaps) to attend the mags game this weekend on a day off. This has caused some debate and some of my fellow Sunderland posters said that they didn't care if he was a mag season ticket holder so long as we did okay. Others said and I paraphrase, didn't mind losing the derbies so long as we finished higher than them; we have had a poor record so its not important or significant that Bruce lost the derbies as well....and so on. In have to say, I was a little taken aback at the apathy shown by a large section of the posters here to Bruce's b&w past, the hapless derby performances (not just results) and the derby results per say. Now, I want us to do well and the derby games are just 6 points at the end of the day but my god, does no one else care that we have been so poor under Bruce? Don't the derby results matter to those fans because it absolutely does to me 100%. Yes the manager has been given the remit to improve us and make us a top 10 club but for me, winning the home leg of the derby is also a top priority as well. Bruce cant even do that in 2 attempts. If Bruce were not a Geordie who has openly declared that the toon are his boyhood club, would it matter as much that we lost the derby games? Maybe not as much to be honest but it would still hurt me. Mick McCarthy's piss poor teams still gave their all in derby games - I was at the 3-2 game at SJP when Sleeves Elliot and Shagger Lawrence scored 2 of the best derby goals in a pulsating game that we narrowly lost to a superb Emre free kick. I was proud of them that day as Newcastle were still a big spending club then with all the big names. Reidy had a few good results too with the 2 successive 2-1 wins over there and Roy Keane delivered a rare home win and nearly a double in his first try. Bruce hasn't even competed yet in a game barring 20 mins in this seasons depressing defeat and yet some fans still put it down to 'one of those things'. I dont as you all know and I think SB is betraying us in that department. I just wanted to know which of you are hurt by the derby defeats as much as I am and how many mags still like to put one over on us as well, or do they not care either these days? Yes its better to finish higher ion the league at the end of the day but if we have to always lose the derby games to do that its not acceptable to me at all. A top 10 finish is important but not at the constant expense of derby failure for me. In a season where we blow the cups so easily, we are not going to be in the title race or the Champions League places, or even the UEFA places it would seem, what have we left to play for but local pride. I dont think Bruce gives a **** about that on our behalf and although not the only reason, is a huge one as to why I cant stand the bloke as our manager. Keane, McCarthy and Reidy knew what it meant to us all to win the derbies as did Bobby Robson, Hughton and Pardew to the craas. I dont think Bruce want us to taste victory against his boyhood club and under him, imo, I dont think we ever will. Can our fans handle that? Really?
If you dont care about the derby. Then, you cant be a true supporter of your club! There is no feeling, like that of derby day. I hate it, yet absolutely love it at the same time. The chance to get one over your closest rival, gives a feeling no female ever can. When you beat us a couple of years. It felt like someone had died. I got such a numb feeling....something I never want too experience again. The Tyne-Wear derby = The game of the season!
it's our 2 biggest games of the season (barring a cup semi final or even a final) and you're right that under Bruce in 3 games we haven't turned up, very frustrating, maybe we should put him on gardening leave for a week in march and bring reidy back just for this game lol
You jest mate but thats exactly the kind of manager I would want to have on a derby. Bruce isn't. He is a bottler and a ****wit. I'd give the game to Bally 100% and let him get them up for the match. He knows what this means to us all and would be a great leader for a derby day. I dont know about anyone else but I think we are in for another hammering in March under Bruce. I have nothing but absolute trepidation for that fixture with this hapless twat in charge. oh for a Reidy. Oh yes, he is available again now isnt he? Anyone take him back? I would like a shot.
As soon as posted this...I thought..."Hmm wonder if someone will comment on that with a 'witty' remark?"
Out of all of those Bruce is the one who SHOULD know what it means being from the NE (not forgetting Bobby Robson). He clearly has issues with his 'home town' club. Its for this reason he seems more scared of losing than going down fighting. Even though this brings about dire performances anyway. I certainly think he would like to put one over them, but is more scared of losing, so bottles it and loses anyway. Over the modern era however, it means more to SAFC fans to win and hurts more NUFC fans to lose, due to how the respective clubs fortunes. So I wouldn't say its apathy. It means more to us than a lot of us would admit, but this apparent 'apathy' is only due to the form shown from the results of the derbies. It would be exactly the same if the shoe wsa on the other foot.
Sunderland and Newcastle Utd Supporters .This is the one we all want to win who cares about the rest IMO
This! Normally I'll get a little bit tense on the day of the match for any other team. But, for the derby... the nerves kick in a week prior to the match. And in the build up, im constantly checking NUFC.co.uk to make sure none of our players have picked up knocks. When we had Titsup, it was the other way round. I prayed for him to have picked up a groin strain.
Yes, I care about them more than any other games and I am gutted when we lose. Finishing above them in the league is still more important though. Players looking to join the club care about our league position, not if we beat the mags or not, they probally have no idea about it if they are foreign. I want both things to happen in a perfect world. If we smashed the mags 6-0 in both games but went down I would not be able to take much pleasure from them. Like when you score a cracking goal when your playing yourself but you lose the game.
Do I get knots in my stomach a week before the match = YES Do I pray that we will have a blinder and win 9-0 = Yes Am I gutted when we inevitably play ****e and loose = Yes Does it last long = Not as much as it did, but that might be because I live on Teeside now so i dont get any ribbing from toon fans Do I think a manager should be sacked because of 3 results/defeats in them = No Do I think Bruce threw them = No Do I think Bruce is so scared to get beat, he doesnt go for the jugular and the win = Yes Do I think the fans put far too much pressure on these 2 games = Yes Is that pressure justified = Yes after our performances in them. Does it help the players/manager = No (but what can you do). Do I think most Sunderland supporters just look at our display, and not give Newcastle any credit for the way they played = Yes big time Will a new manager change our fortunes = probably not, i think it goes a lot deeper than the manager, its the recent history of the beast.
It is war. A 22 man battle of technique, skill, mind games, passion and courage! And, I ****ing love it! Although fans fighting amongst each other is pathetic. I dont hate Sunderland at all. At the end of the day, we're all just supporters of two different clubs. Why, should someone hate another person simply due to their football alliance? We can not understand them for the errors of their ways But, to hate them...thats just stupid.
