I have never lived in Liverpool or Manchester so cant say what it like to be involved in the rivalry in those cities. I know a bit more about the Old Firm but in all honesty I think the religious element tarnishes the football side of their rivalry. I do know about the Sunderland/Newcastle, Mackems/Mags, Wear/Tyne rivalry and why, right now, itâs good if not great being on the Sunderland side, Newcastle fans may have a differing view. Let me start by saying I genuinely feel for the thousands of good Newcastle fans who are seeing their club, once again, being torn apart by their owner. I donât, never have and never will hate Newcastle fans or any other fans for that matter just because they support a football team, but back to Sunderland and feeling good. For more years than I care to remember I have lived in the shadow of our bigger neighbours from Newcastle, Iâm not ashamed of that but proud that through all of the dark days I stuck with my team. I also had to accept that I would receive a constant flow of abuse and laughter from those in black and white, I tried to fight back but it was hard when my team constantly flirted with promotion then relegation, good and bad with more bad than good. I watched as Shearer, Keegan, Ginola and many more joined them and West, Stead, Hall and others joined us. In many ways Newcastle are still bigger but its changing, you donât change the media view or footballs view overnight but bit by bit we are getting there. To become a solid premier team helps and we are achieving that. To see your rivals being torn apart by their owner helps and he is certainly achieving that. To have a chairman of the callaba of Niall Quinn is like winning the euoro millions and despite Bruces faults his steady building is laying the foundations for long term stability. Or course we have a major problem, derby games because when we have the disgraceful performances of last season in derbies we will always provide a stick for our neighbours to hit us with, and they do. This coming season could be the start of our turn to enjoy derby day, we will soon find out but I for one am not counting any chickens just yet. With the turmoil at Newcastle we are enjoying a gloat, its not nice to gloat but after years of having to take it forgive me for not feeling guilty about the odd gloat. The big thing for me, the thing that will make me a very happy mackem is if at the end of the coming season we have taken one more step to becoming recognised as the regions top team. Is being above Newcastle my only aim in football, of course not but sitting here right now, looking forward to my trip to Scotland on Saturday to see my team of second rate players who Newcastle would not have, well to be honest, I am a very happy mackem.
Good read Syd! Speaking to a bloke the other day, lifelong Newcastle fan, season ticket for many years and recently opted for the fixed price season ticket for the 10 year period. He was saying he was thinking of cancelling as it just didn't feel like the Newcastle of old and how Ashley is damaging them to an extent that it could take years to recover. From a personal point of view I can't see why Ashley has a prolonged interest in being a part of NUFC, football is clearly an area he struggles with although elsewhere, in other business ventures he clearly knows a thing or too. I expected him to try and re-sell the club when they had a reasonably strong finishing position last season but the fact that he hasn't, makes me wonder just how many further years he see's himself at the helm! On a side-note where can I buy a ticket for this lottery you mention? Don't think I've tried this one but it sounds promising!
Cat It has become fashionable, in the tabloids as well as the Boulevard Press, to use the German word 'Schadenfreude' - to take pleasure at another's discomfort. Not having our own word, of course we don't know the feeling.
