the big 1

in a few weeks were playing a club that are having a bit of a tuff time,there supporters on different sites are saying how unhappy they are.They got there dream manager last year,everything was going to be great,but its gone a bit wrong. I know I should be looking forward to it but this game allways has me very very very excited but also very very worried.I should be thinking 3points but find myself saying as long as we don't get beat. this may be due to being uplifted sooooo many times but then dropped from a great height,like getting an invite to a wild sex party, getting there n finding out graham Norton sent out the invites

 

On paper, on current form and given home advantage I'd say this has a Toon win written all over it. None of those things really seem to matter in the derby though, so I'd probably take a draw right now. My biggest fears are one of our top lads getting a red/injury or Tiote giving away yet another ridiculous penalty/freekick.

It'll be interesting to see how the likes of Sissoko, Gouffran and Mapou cope with the pressure (or lack of it, due to it being their first Tyne/Wear).

Plus, Sunderland don't have Ba to score for them this time...

 

We don't have Ba but we do still have SHOLA

 

everything's pointing towards 3 points at the minute...which will no doubt mean we'll lose sadly

 

I'm still waiting for my invite to Marty's party !

 

would say everything points to all 3 points but its difficult to know in these games but hopefully by then well be running a full strength side with benny tearing em a new one ! just a quick note watched a few of their games and sausageface is starting to look like a very good player for them would be a bit worried about him in attack! think hes very much wasted in their team!......also why is everyone suddenly level 100 :S

 

Looking forward to it. No nerves currently. If they can pull out a performance for us like they managed against QPR it'll be a lovely day!

 

I've got a bit of a complicated bet on with a mackem mate at work: every place in the league table counts as one point, each round in the cups counts as a point and each point taken in the derbies counts as a point.

the mackems went one round further in the league cup, which makes the current standings very tight. 3 points in the derby would put the bet to bed. A draw would probably be fine as I expect us to end at least tow places above them. A loss, though, and I may very well end up buying him tickets to his first home game and, worse, havign to go along.

 

your not going to have to wear 1 of his tops are you?

 

Form can often go out the window in a Derby game, Sunderland are struggling, not through lack of quality either, Mignolet imo is one of the best keepers in the league, I also rate Johnston (spelling)and Fletcher.
It will have a big impact on our season if they were to go down, but I do hope they stay up, we need those Derby games, even just to remind us what Shola is about

 

I see what you did there.

 

The drill is if we turn up and perform to our potential the we will get 3 points
But derbies who knows

My quess it will be a draw

 

That was discussed at one point. Indeed, in one testosterone inspired moment, we proposed that the tickets should be to the derby, and the loser was to accompany the winner in the full kit of the winning team. We both chickened out, thank god, and settled for buying opening day tickets and tagging along.

 

We need to be careful that we don't put up any 'it's a nailed on win' type threads that come back to bite us though....

 

No-one's stupid enough to do something like that, are they?

 

We will edge it but we will have to watch Graham if he's playing because he will want to show the Mackems his commitment to their cause.

 

I'm dismayed that Mackems have lost their confidence. For the last few years it was brilliant going into the derby with underdog expectations, and them thinking they're nailed on winners. First the 5-1 knocked the stuffing out of their sails (probably the best team Sunderland have had in the last ten years, that side), then we beat them at theirs through Ryan Taylor, then Shola scored a last minute equaliser at ours... Even the most vitriolic Mackem would be downcast after that, but the recent form of both sides has made us absolute run-away favourites, which sits very uneasily with me.

Johnson and Fletcher have had their moments against us, and derby games don't care about form, so I'd be content with a point. Tactically the game has goals written all over it. We are attacking a lot more, committing full-backs, and they counter-attack very efficiently and exploit the wings. Even if we hem them in for the majority of the game, I still think they might net a couple.

 

Will you be there G?

 

Hope so! Never quite sure at the moment what might pop up, but it should be fine. I'm actually hoping Sunderland pick up their campaign a bit so when we meet we're only separated by a couple of points and it's just local pride we're playing for. Would make for a fantastic atmosphere! I don't think it'll be like that the way things are going for them though, but a bad run for us is always round the corner so no point in gloating!

 

hatems out, cabaye groin strain, just a few weeks to go. I hope we don't have other important injuries ,marvs doing well new center half having a good pairing with steve taylor teams looking ok , weve a few first choice out, 4 so far, will make it hard for our selves if we lose many more