Does the management of each team care about each others rivals?

When deciding on player signings and so on, do you think each team (Newcastle and Sunderland) get swayed by what the opposing team is doing, even a tiny, tiny amount?

For example, if Sunderland signed Adam Johnson on loan, or someone equally as good, do you think it would spur Pardew and Ashley on with their own signings, or do you think that in the world of professional football management, they simply couldn't give a **** like us fans do?

Likewise, if we signed someone like Johnson on loan, do you think Bruce would be spurred on to sign better players? Especially after the derby results of last year and he quotes in the media where he said how important it was to finish above Newcastle?

I know the overall picture is way more important, but I wonder, with all of the rivalry, are the opposing managers/owners briefly looking over their shoulders every now and again?

 

I don't think so, if the question was 'do they look at what all the other teams in the league are doing?', it'd be a yes.

I don't see us benchmarking against the Toon to be honest, i think it'd be a foolhardy to look at thr local rivals, just because they are local rivals.

 

Not from a Newcastle point of view. You know as well as I do that while Ashley may be spending money he couldnt give a **** how well Sunderland do because he doesnt care about beating them like we do.

 

I don't think they would ever go as far as to benchmark. No way. However, I just wonder if the opposing teams transfer activity plays even a tiny amount in the managers/owners mind when it comes to getting things moving.

I suppose it largely depends how much the senior figures at the club consider themselves fans at heart. No one leads with their head 100% of the time.

 

I imagine Quinny cares about what how we're performing in the transfer market in relation to you guys but I highly doubt that he alters Sunderlands plans accordingly

 

The only influence i think it'll have is that we are knocking around a similar position at the minute, so we're gonna be linked with similar players and we're gonna pay similar fees etc, but it's more a case of bettering the teams around you than SAFC V NUFC.

I think both clubs can finish top 10 this season, there's some **** in the league this year.

 

Not a chance, like Bruce actually gives a flying **** about about your new French signings, much in the same way Pardew couldn't give a damn about ours.

More things to worry about.

 

I think Bruce will care about our activity to try and better us. I only think that because of how his aim last season was to finish above us

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/9363367.stm

 

Don't think so 2bh

at the end of the day it is a business and there is a bigger picture than what your local rivals are doing

 

We've all heard all about that. Hang your hat on something else.

 

There may be a small amount but it's most likely a recognition on the fans' passion rather than any of their own. At the end of the day professional careers come before club rivalries.

Of course there are times when some people just get it plain wrong and demonstrate what happens if you do not have any sense of the importance to the fans e.g. Ruud Gullit

 

All Pardew could talk about with a game to go was how finishing above Sunderland would be fantastic.

 

I don't think the NUFC management would focus on any particular club as we are just going to be targetting a general finishing position (e.g. top 10), but they would be keeping a general eye on the strength of all other teams so as to gauge whether we were still on target for that.

I think only the clubs targetting a specific finish (e.g 1st) would be swayed by the signings of particlular clubs. Man U for example will take a greater interest in the signings of Chelski, Man C, Arsenal and Liverpool but won't give a fig about Wigan, Wolves or anybody else not challenging for the title.

 

You were a team pushing for Europe, we were aiming for survival

 

Yes but Pardew didn't open his mouth until a game to go. He never mentioned it until then. Also it was crap about just aiming for survival it was clear after a couple of months that Newcastle would be fine it was just a ready made excuse in case anything went wrong.

 

Fair point, but last season was always about survival, no matter how much we would have loved to achieved more.

 

Absolutely not. Why would Bruce worry about what Partridge is bringing in?

We have gone down the experienced, proven EPL player route in Vaughan, Gardener, Larsson, Brown and O Shea, with some 700 EPL games behind them, whereas your lot have gone down the total gamble route in Cabaye, Marveaux, Ba and Arfa (I confess not to even know the names of the other unheard of 18 year old lad you have brought in) who have less than 20 EPL games between them.

Only the start of the season and games will tell who has gone down the right path but both clubs have had 100% totally different summer recruitment strategies this time round.

For obvious reasons, I think we are far better off with our signings than the barcodes but as I said, we shall soon see for real in 2 weeks time.


PS -one thing I DO think will be on Bruces mind though is the horrific game at Sid James. He will want some professional reply from his charges this time round, starting in 3 weeks time. Theres no use trying to hide that result was a disaster for us but you know, revenge is a dish best served cold.

 

There are 18 other teams in the league to compete with, we'll probably care about what Sunderland do, but no more than anybody else.

 

Thats because you have no chance to take over top NE club status chum. If you were as strong as a club as you ere say 10 or 12 years ago, you'd be rubbing our chops in the dirt.

Your pretend indifference is merely masking the reality that you dont have the personnel to finish higher in the league than we do and you know it?

Even if you wouldn't ever dare to admit it here.

 

Hahaha they didn't last season Cest... This season... Who knows?

I for one am looking forward to the scrap, have a feeling it will be another close year.