Newcastle or Sunderland read into this what you like. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...as-the-North-Easts-sleeping-giants-awake.html Under Alan Pardew, Newcastle have become this seasonâs surprise package, casting off gloomy pre-season predictions to go into the final third of the season still occupying the top-six berth they have held since August. A few miles away, Martin OâNeillâs arrival has galvanised Sunderland, lifting them away from the bottom three and guiding them into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. For the first time in decades, Newcastle and Sunderland will meet tomorrow in the Tyne-Wear derby with both chasing European qualification. For the first time since 1955, the North Eastâs big two could both finish in the top eight this season. Few clubs in England, if not Europe, have underachieved as regularly as Newcastle and Sunderland. While former managers have frequently talked about unrealistic expectations on the banks of the Tyne and the Wear, the only thing supporters have come to expect is disappointment. In turn, the chief thing that makes these two clubs special is the unwavering loyalty of those who follow them with so little prospect of silverware. The only âprizeâ that Newcastle and Sunderland fans have celebrated winning in recent years are local bragging rights. âNewcastle havenât won a thing since the Fairs Cup in 1969, we havenât won anything since the FA Cup in 1973, itâs a long time for clubs of this size,â said OâNeill on Friday. âI donât think anyone can quite put their finger on why that is. I donât know why it is, but obviously Iâd like to change it. I donât think the geographical location is a disadvantage. Iâm hoping itâs not an impediment to getting players here, but it is talked about. I donât think it was ever a major problem in the past. Kevin Keegan didnât have a problem with trying to attract very good players to Newcastle, like David Ginola, and Iâm hoping we can do the same and follow suit.â There have been other periods when the region has looked like recapturing former glories. Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson briefly turned Newcastle into title contenders in the mid-1990s and noughties, while Peter Reid guided their neighbours to two successive top-seven finishes in 2000 and 2001 and was unlucky not to qualify for Europe. So will this upturn be different? The signs are encouraging. Newcastle are starting to look like the ideal model for top-flight clubs to follow ahead of Uefaâs Financial Fair Play regulations, with the books balanced, an exciting side and an astute manager. As for Sunderland, in OâNeill they have a manager who has brought success to every club he has managed. If there is potential there, the Northern Irishman has the track record to suggest he will unlock it. With both clubs thriving, this derby has taken on an extra dimension, something Pardew recognises. âThe North East can support two successful teams and this weekend is a great opportunity for the region to show football up here is alive and kicking,â he said. âI think the game has captured the national imagination a little bit more because of that. âIt does surprise me when Iâm told we havenât both finished in the top eight since 1955. In some ways, when youâve got two big clubs so close, one tend to do well and the other doesnât, but since Martin has been there they have mirrored us and been better than us at some stages. âOne of the big positives ahead of this game, while it will feel like it for the supporters on Sunday Iâm sure, is that it isnât the be all and end all of our seasons. Theyâre still in the cup and weâve still got a great chance of European football. Weâve both got plenty to play for.â But an upturn is one thing, winning trophies is another. As OâNeill discovered at Aston Villa, establishing a team in the top six for a sustained period does not automatically mean you will win something and both Newcastle and Sunderland are vulnerable in the transfer market to teams with bigger budgets and Champions League football. In the past 14 months, Newcastle have sold Andy Carroll and José Enrique to top six rivals in Liverpool. Sunderland could not stop Jordan Henderson moving to Anfield, while Darren Bent went to Villa claiming they were a âbigger clubâ. In the summer, predators will come hunting again. Sunderlandâs Stephane Sessegnon is wanted by Arsenal, Newcastleâs Demba Ba and Cheick Tioté have plenty of admirers. As quickly as you build, others want to destroy. One step forward, one step back is a familiar dance in the North East. Bragging rights are certainly at stake tomorrow but, as both managers and supporters recognise, victory is only a step forward. Both sides are keen to make some giant strides.
Nail on the head? We often squabble amongst ourselves about who has the biggest cock, but the plain truth is both clubs are absolutely brilliant at not being successful.....for decades at a time. Maybe the tide has turned for both clubs but the proof is measured in trophies, not crowd sizes or shirts sold. Both clubs need to actually win something, after 40 or 50 years with **** all of any note to shout about.
