I think that was the turning point for Newcastle. Win at a difficult place like the Britannia and they're definite contenders for top sixâ¦lose and who knows where they'd end up or what it would mean for their team. Sadly (for a Sunderland fan) they didnât lose and I really think Newcastle could breach the top six. Which would dismiss comments that the current top six canât be broken intoâ¦.(which Iâve always thought was bollocks and wanted Sunderland to get a decent manager to try and achieve this!) Talking about fortuneâ¦.what is it with Newcastle and everything going right for them? Apart from one little blip and no trophies theyâve had a very successful 20 years. Rarely any hurt, European football, top world class players, 2nd in the league, cup finals, heavy defeats of local rivals, bragging rights etc etcâ¦â¦â¦and people wonder why I have ambition for Sunderland and want Bruce out⦠Seemingly everything falls into place for them. Take Tiote for example and compare him to Riveros. Both had decent world cupsâ¦..Riveros probably gaining more plaudits than Tiote. Yet Tiote takes to the premier league like a duck takes to water and Riveros is a failure, plays a handful of gamesâ¦.looks poor and is ultimately loaned to Kayserispor. Luck or just better scouting? Carroll, Nolan and Barton all sold and all parts of why they had a decent season last year. The championship messiah Hughton sacked and replaced with someone the fans heavily criticised and a very average record. An owner that is hated beyond belief! The beginning of a downfall?!........not at Newcastle! In comes Ba, Cabaye, Obertan, Marveaux etc. Cabaye is another extreme example of lady luck smiling on Newcastle. How the hell they got this guy for £4.3 million is beyond me? Surely Wenger who watches a lot of French football should have realised this guy could have done wonders at Arsenal?? He seemingly can do it allâ¦â¦â¦in 09/10 he scored 13 goals and assisted 7 in the lique 1. He can tackle, break up play, attack, takes a wicked free kick, assured in the pass (a better choice for Arsenal than Arteta and would have replaced Fabregas nicely)â¦..yet Newcastle get him for £4.3â¦..what is going on??? Ba is a fantastic free (I really wanted him at Sunderland) and Obertan always had a little something at Man Utd which he is proving now. Nothing ever really goes wrong for Newcastle. Yes weâve finished above them the last three seasons. But last year they gave us a smack in the face with a 5-1 just to remind us who they are. This season there is no chance of us finishing above them. I gave up all hope of that last night. A mag mate of mine was saying in an email a couple of weeks ago that he didnât think Sunderland could compete with Newcastle. Something I strongly disagreed with and still do to an extent but boy I am wondering what we have to do to compete with their level of good fortune⦠We have spent more than them in the past 5 years but nothing really to show for it. Will the shoe ever be on the other foot?? I am really beginning to have my doubts..
It pains me to say...but Newcastle played very very well last night. After 10 games they are there by no fluke. If we could take anything from them at the moment it would there team ethic. They have it in spades. Guess my £10 bet on them getting relegated is gone for this season then
I have to say, of all the rivalry the vast majority of Sunderland fans on here are very unbiased and don't mind speaking the truth. Good article! Although I can see what you're saying we haven't had it all our way in recent history..
Good article mate... Remember Bruce saying Larsson was the best free transfer of the summer, seems Ba is proving equally sucessful for them. Two cracking freebies.
Yea i agree both good signings I just wish we could have a steady period of us being better than them for once...
Honestly thought this season would have been the other way round for the two clubs, after all our signings. Seems their foreign legion hasn't taken as long to GEL, as long as our new lads. Why?, i can't answer.
I was saying this exact thing to my old man today. Look at Newcastles side, there is not one player in their squad who would get in the starting 11 of one of the best 5 or 6 teams in the league (City, Utd, Chelsea, Liv, Spurs...even Arsenal). Collocini may sneak in as a sub somewhere but that's about it. The main thing is their commitment, attitude, and desire.....all of which we sadly lack at the moment
Good article! Disagree with this though ^. Tiote and Cabaye could walk into Man Utd's central mid, where they are pretty weak considering they're the champions, Ba is better than Carroll and Krul is in great form right now too. Mind you, I'd be happier if everybody agreed with you - if we keep the greedy mitts off our team for at least one season we'll have done well!
It is hats off time for the mags I have to admit, it does not look as if relegation, is going to be their problem this season. Stoke looked laboured probably the curse of playing in Europe. It does also however, as others have implied, shine somewhat of a light on SB and his team and what they have achieved with better resources!
Yes I too have to give credit where it is due. Whatever the reason Pardew ended up at Newcastle he has bought good players and they are playing well, in the right positions and with a team ethic second to none. That is basically the manager's job. But one word of caution - I recall Sunderland supporters talking about Europe about this time last season and look what happened! Maybe the 'luck' will run out like it did with us. I did have to laugh at the Stoke fans booing Ba when it was him that was rejected because Pulis wouldn't take the risk on him. It just goes to show sometimes in football, as in life, a risk is actually an opportunity not to be missed.
Very good article, good read. I fully believe that Ba, Cabaye, Marveaux, Ben Arfa(add him instead of Obertan) are better than Carroll, Nolan and Barton, so that is how it worked out well for us as well as less over-inflated ego's. Cabaye signing was not luck at all, just really good scouting.
