I'd play for the mags for 2-3 grand a week. I'd forget Sunderland completely while I played for them.
As its been said on this thread it's not Geordies we need to be wary of its the black and white bastards we need to be careful of
Would you give 100% and score against us for them? Or would you hold back and feel **** if you scored a derby winner for the mags at the SOL against your boyhood team? Think very hard before you answer?
I'd play for the Mags, but I physically couldn't play with my all v Sunderland. I'd just say I didn't wanna play, and for me that shouldn't be a massive issue if you perform in the other 36 games.
I wouldn't play for them full stop. If I couldn't play for us I'd consider boro failing that play outside the region. Saying that i'm fully grown adult having spent my life a die hard fan, had I been through an academy i'd hope I'd be mature and professional enough to tell them to **** off politely.
I'd give a hundred percent. If I scored I'd be delighted for the fans who pay my wages and come to watch me every week. I'd be scared of seeing my old man and my brother afterwards though.
This is the problem though in a nut shell. You couldnt give your all in a b&w shirt against SAFC as all your family and mates would be in the crowd and to see all the filth celebrating and rubbing their noses in it because you have ruined their life means you could never do the business in derby games. The mags quite rightly would tear you apart for bottling the derby game, just as we should with the likes of Clark and Chopra et al.
This, for me. If somebody wants to pay me what I get in a year, in a month, then I'll give them 100%. Yes I support Sunderland - but I will do all my life. Realistically if I cost Sunderland 3 points, out of probably 8550 that they will play for in my lifetime, I'll manage to live with it. Obviously other people have mentioned the Geordies who have come good for us. I'd add that Brucey being a Geordie wasn't an issue - he did a good job up until he made it an issue in his large and rotund head.
**** the friens in the crowd mate, if I inadvertently scored for them v us (random deflection, whatever) I'd be in bits. Chopra as an example though, scored some massive goals for us, his goals were a factor in us staying in the league, and there is no question, take the debut goal v Spurs, that he wanted to make it a success here. It's an impossible situation for a genuine fan.
It would only be an afterthought though mate. If they're putting food in my childrens mouths and a roof above their heads, then they have done more for me than Sunderland have.
I didn't say they weren't imaginary kids. If I was an actual footballer I'd be like every footballer who has about 8 kids by the time they're 22 as let's face it, they've got **** all else to do.