Well this is an interesting thread.
I like comparisons between rivals, there's just a complete lack of recognition for any player that plays for your rivals, the average players become shocking and the top players become 'ok but he wouldn't get in our starting 11'.
NUFC vs SAFC
Krul over Mignolet and Gordon for me. Krul has shown he has what it takes at his young age, he has adapted to the Premier League very quickly and is a top shot stopper. His distribution is not amazing, but nor is Mignolet's or Gordon's. Gordon is a top keeper on his day, but he doesn't have enough of those days, so Krul just edges him out. For the record I think Mignolet is out of his depth...cue David de Gea jokes.
NUFC have the central defenders, this isn't even a debate. A powerful, strong centreback in Taylor and a skilful and composed Coloccini who have kept out the best attacks one way or another during 2011. Sunderland for now have the full backs. Simpson looks extremely weak at times and Santon is unproven, so O'shea and Bardsley edge it for me, even though Bardsley is currently serving his 2nd ban of the season, for being incredibly dirty.
If I was to pick 4 midfielders from the two sides, these would be them:
Tiote - the guy is an animal, he looks possessed at times but will take the ball of any midfielder in this league.
Cabaye - I watched this boy in Ligue 1 and he is near enough world class on his day, what an acquisition at £4.5m. Has the world at his feet and he hasn't even got started at Newcastle yet.
Hatem Ben Arfa - providing he can put his injury problems behind him, he will be class. I don't think he's a cripple, but these type of injuries can have psychological affects on players. He has the one thing no other player has at these two teams, the ability to turn a game on it's head at the drop of a hat. SAFC fans obviously will give their vote to Sessegnon here, but that guy just doesn't have what a fit and hungry Ben Arfa has, he is still decent, but not in the same bracket.
Larsson - Simply because he gets goals, and Jonas Gutierrez doesn't. There's more skill at the feet of Gutierrez but Larsson has proved he has goals in his locker and a better cross than that of the Argentinian.
Strikers, wow, really spoiled for choice here....
I'd have picked Gyan here a couple of weeks ago, simply because of his decent return last season but he's not there now.
I suppose it would be Best and Ji Wong Dong or whatever he's called, because of their goal returns this season. It's a tough one, for all the wrong reasons.
So there you have it. A neutral point of view of what the best starting 11 would be.