Why Sunderland Will Finish Above Newcastle This Season By Alex Muller on December 24, 2011 (yesterday) 2comments At the start of this season former Sunderland manager Steve Bruce declared his intention to finish above local rivals Newcastle at the end of the season and the two north east sides have had mixed fortunes in the Premier League so far this season. Newcastle began the season with a goalless draw at St James Park and conceded just 4 goals in the next 6 matches. Manager Alan Pardew has aimed for consistency in defence and kept a consistent backline with Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul between the sticks and a back four of Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini and Ryan Taylor. Last month Newcastle found themselves in the Champions League places after an opening run of 7 wins out of 11 games and the goals of Demba Ba have been crucial to the Toon Armyâs cause this season. There are signs however, that the Magpies are beginning to lose some of their early season flight. Newcastle has not won now in 7 Premier League games, losing 4 of their last 6 games and the injury to Steven Taylor in particular is a huge blow and the English defender looks set to miss most of the season after building a promising centre back partnership with Fabricio Coloccini. Senegalese striker Demba Ba who has 13 of Newcastleâs 23 goals this season will be away with Senegal for the 2012 African Cup of Nations as will midfielder Cheik Tiote who will be on duty for the Ivory Coast. The immediate fixtures are not ideal either with Liverpool and Manchester United the next two opponents for the Geordies after the Boxing Day trip to the Reebok Stadium. Over at the Stadium of Light Steve Bruce failed to carry out his goal this season, but there seems to be renewed optimism with manager Martin OâNeill now at the helm for the Black Cats. When the former Aston Villa manager took charge, Sunderland were languishing in 16th position, some 15 points off rivals Newcastle. Fast forward just a few weeks and Sunderland under OâNeill have already picked up 2 wins out of 3 games and have immediately closed the gap down to 10 points. With Asamoah Gyan on loan in the United Arab Emirates, Sunderland will not have the same concerns as Newcastle in regards to their players at this yearâs African Cup of Nations. Losing Bent and Gyan in recent seasons has left Sunderland substantially short in attack and goals have been the major concern this season. OâNeill immediately targeted his clubâs striking options and got the Black Cats firing immediately with 5 goals scored in his 3 games in charge. The Northern Irish manager is astute in the transfer market and will have been preparing a number of possible transfer targets, whilst he has been out of the game and Januaryâs transfer window provides the ideal opportunity in which to address his concerns. With the New Year approaching Sunderland fans will be full of optimism and hope in catching their local rivals come the end of the season.
Very true indeed marra. Bet your having a few restless moments about choosing that sig tho, i´m not saying we´ll catch you, but it could turn now after last few weeks! If we´d sacked Bruce a month earlier, you´d be trying to phase it out and hoping we didn´t notice! Ha ha.
I'm sure there will be lots more ups and downs for both teams, and feel it's a tad early to think about finishing above them...
Please lets not get carried away!...we are nothing like the idiots up the road we are not deluded......steady eddy will be fine for me......we have a very good set up at the sol at the moment and we now have a manager who appears to be a very lucky manager .......and long may it continue....In all honesty i would swap two or three of their players for ours but as for the cretins who are in control of the club...well im afraid its a match made in heaven, the magpies have the ownership they deserve... as im writing this i have just realised that im starting to feel sorry for them ....wel i am only human!................ long long live the asda brand in the north east.
Merry Christmas ROG, not getting carried away with this, as it is a big ask, we need to win four games more than the mags, so a big ask indeed, but only midway.
mate the article is by Alex Muller not me i only posted it to give a bit of interest to an otherwise dead day for Sunderland related info, but would really like it to happen an a win would make my day.
hope you have a good new year bill, i don't want to get carried away, however it was on my xmas wish list
Mine as well ROG, instead got a jumper, and a laptop cleaning kit, think my missus is giving me hints about the state of my computer, upside my lad bought me a Sunderland polo shirt, in maroon, my favourite colour,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,not. Thats why God invented the charity shop.
Aye. Picked the bairn up at 3pm today and she is zonked out beside me here in bed. I can't sleep so on the phone passing the time. We are doing another Christmas morning tomorrow and she loves it. Lol How about you kidda? The weather isn't bad for your return. Was 12.5 degrees in Chester today.
Aye been very lucky mate, was expecting to be buying woolies galore, been in a t-shirt all day, ideal! Canny day mate, me sister was over for dinner and me uncle and auntie, so not many left now that I ain´t caught up with, and 5 days left. Match tomorrow, lads night out Tuesday, been good to be back. Not so good that i´ll be leaving Marbs anytime soon mind
Next time block the Sale page from his computor back dated Mery Christmas Bill & all the very best for 2012
Didn't quite look right after I posted that but you know what I meant. Thought WWIII would have broken out
Can I just say its 6 games we haven't won in, not 7. Clutching at straws yes and probably will be 7 after today. Everton W Man City L Man Utd D Chelsea L Norwich L Swansea D West Brom L
