20 thoughts about Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough

[Blyth]

http://timesonline.typepad.com/thega...esbrough.html?

George Caulkin

Why is everything a flaming list these days? Top-ten this, top-50 that. Best, worst, whatevs. Even Twitter is encouraging people to put their followers and followings into categories (one of my mates is a Middlesbrough-supporting, kebab-addled, X-Factor junkie, journalist: how do I file him?). Anyway, on the basis that if there’s a bandwagon I’ll eventually jump on it, this week’s column is in list form. No particular order.

1. This weekend marks Newcastle United’s first home match since Mike Ashley took the club off the market, appointed Chris Hughton as permanent manager and, most emotively, announced that he would welcome offers for the naming rights to St James’ Park. What will you be doing this Saturday? Click here for a rousing, furious, wake-up call. Sign an online petition here. Time to get angry?

2. At this stage of their development, are Steve Bruce’s Sunderland more comfortable with the role of underdogs? They travelled to Old Trafford and secured an expansive draw. They pummeled Liverpool at home. But they have also lost at Stoke City, Burnley and Birmingham City and only hit their stride against West Ham United when trailing by two goals. The second half at the Stadium of Light was magnificent; how do you channel that?

3. I’ve just bought Gordon Strachan’s autobiography. Random quote: “I have always had a fear of heights and of the sea.”

4. Strachan’s arrival at Middlesbrough was not a quick-fix solution. Yes, the club wants and needs to return to the Barclays Premier League as soon as possible, but with a four-year contract the Scot can take a long-term outlook. It would have been preferable if his new club had beaten Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, but at least there was no sugar-coating; there are issues to address and disenchantment to heal.

5. Craig Gordon is the most expensive British goalkeeper. In recent weeks, the £9m price-tag has been forgotten and replaced in the consciousness by some confident handling and fine saves. Some things are worth waiting for.

6. Steve Harper would doubtless say something similar. How good was he against Sheffield United last night? People underestimate the torment he endured in all those years he spent jostling with Shay Given for a regular place in the Newcastle team, but not once did he allow it to dilute his professionalism and not once has he been late for training. He is a sound keeper and a sound man.

7. The dynamics in the Newcastle dressing-room are fascinating. Hughton is the manager, but the players have assumed responsibility and the likes of Kevin Nolan and Alan Smith have emerged as impressive, human figures since the club’s relegation. It takes strength to admit your weaknesses, but while Smith accepts that injury has diminished him, he is revelling in a new challenge and regular football.

8. In Niall Quinn and Steve Gibson, Sunderland and Middlesbrough have figureheads who can articulate the feeling of their respective supporters, their hopes, fears and dreams. Sir John Hall and Freddy Shepherd attempted the same at Newcastle, but there was too much bluff and arrogance, too much interference, too much embarrassment and too many millions squeezed from the club. Oh for the day when Tyneside has its own version of Quinn.

9. Which does not mean that Sunderland and Middlesbrough are perfect. There is disquiet on Wearside about an incident in August when fans travelling back from a pre-season friendly clashed with police at Newcastle’s Central Station. Nobody has been charged, but the club’s policy is to ban supporters arrested for football-related incidents. The Football Supporters’ Federation is on the case and this is a general point, rather than a specific one, but why are football fans guilty until proven innocent?

10. Random Strachan autobiography quote II: “In some of my quiet, reflective moments - and especially when I am attending a funeral - I sometimes think about death and how I am going to die. Needless to say, being on the floor stark naked, with somebody like Andy Harvey attached to my back, would be the very last way in which I would wish my life to end.”

11. Darren Bent spoke in this newspaper on Saturday, an interview held in conjunction with the Kick Racism Out of Football campaign (Bent is Sunderland’s kickitout ambassador). In the mid-1980s, the National Front openly peddled newsletters outside our grounds. Yes, right (or should that be left?) thinking fans railed against them, but the progress British football has made since then should be a cause of non-complacent satisfaction. Whether you support Sunderland, Newcastle or Middlesbrough, in this instance, all three clubs should be proud to be black and white.

12. Gareth Southgate was eager to maintain Middlesbrough’s focus on youth. It was a decent principle and based on the club’s superb record of unearthing young players through their Academy. He thought it was wrong to block off first-team places with ageing players who would have little or no sell-on value. But, as a consequence, he built a callow, tippy-tappy sort of team. As well as needing strikers, Middlesbrough need some snarl in midfield.

13. Random Strachan quote III: “In some ways, being a manager is similar to that of being a schoolteacher. I make the point because, when I was at school, the teachers who tended to get the best response from me were those who had a sense of humour and were not too strict and intense.”

14. Bent returns to White Hart Lane on Saturday. Whatever the centre forward might think and however he chooses to motivate himself, he has nothing to prove to anybody. In a few short months at Sunderland, he has embraced a club and been embraced back, scored goals, earned the adoration of supporters and demonstrated beyond question that he wants to be there. Spurs did not work out for him, but it is their loss, not his.

15. Andy Reid, Ireland. Can’t get my head around that one. Week after week, the midfield player summons performances of quality and admirable work-rate (his fitness is no longer an issue), but every time a squad is announced, he is ignored. There is obviously a personality clash behind his exile, but shouldn’t the cause be bigger than that?

16. A little way into Joe Kinnear’s tenure as Newcastle manager, I learnt through bitter experience that it was pointless accepting anything he said as fact. So, after going to a Kinnear press conference after which he said, to use a fictional example, the club was no longer up for sale, I’d write: “Joe Kinnear has stated that Newcastle United is no longer up for sale,” as opposed to “Newcastle United is no longer for sale.” After the Kevin Keegan tribunal verdict, I intend to do the same with every single official club announcement.

17. Which was why the Sol Campbell story last week was a tricky one. Campbell can be a little flakey, as his brief episode at Notts County hinted at, while Newcastle have admitted to misleading their supporters “as an exercise in public relations.” Campbell said he had received contact from Newcastle. Newcastle denied it. Who would you believe?

18. Strachan quote IV (on a Howard Wilkinson team-talk): “When he asked us ‘Are you with me?’ we were looking at each other with blank faces. ‘Sorry, gaffer,’ I said. ‘I think some of us were with you ten minutes ago, but now you have lost the lot of us. Can you simplify it?’”

19. The Championship is an even division, but a poor one. As ever, Newcastle have more to fear from themselves - their boardroom, the small squad - than they do from their rivals, while Middlesbrough need to shake off the shackles of their introspection.

20. Sunderland must summon their spirit. There will be no Kenwyne Jones, Lee Cattermole or Lorik Cana at Spurs, but a hoard of supporters will be in attendance, shouting themselves hoarse. Week after week, season after season, in victory or defeat, in times of hope or despair, it is what the North East does

[Scotsmackem]

Is there so little so say about Boro random quotes from Strachans autobiography are needed?

[oothefuknellsleeds]

Originally Posted by Scotsmackem

Is there so little so say about Boro random quotes from Strachans autobiography are needed?

[legolas'coolerbrother]

Aye - but they are good ones! Loved the one about him dying - very amusing :)
Have always liked Strachan. I don't think a lot of him as a manager but he has a crackling sense of humour and his interviews after games are always worth watching.

On the whole I thought that the article was really good - enjoyable read.

[anewloginapparently]

Good article from Caulkin, I think he likes us, perhaps I'm not the only SAFC supporter in Sunderland

[errant]

Originally Posted by anewloginapparently

Good article from Caulkin, I think he likes us, perhaps I'm not the only SAFC supporter in Sunderland

was about to post the link to this article myself (thought id SEB check first)... great article... not often you see level headed balanced copy in the nationals...

quite a few people should take note - especially point 5 for starter...

[My Boy Harry]

9. Which does not mean that Sunderland and Middlesbrough are perfect. There is disquiet on Wearside about an incident in August when fans travelling back from a pre-season friendly clashed with police at Newcastle’s Central Station. Nobody has been charged, but the club’s policy is to ban supporters arrested for football-related incidents. The Football Supporters’ Federation is on the case and this is a general point, rather than a specific one, but why are football fans guilty until proven innocent?

Even the media thinks its unjust.