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Luke Edwards is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.

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Two Bold Predictions

Posted by Luke on September 12, 2007 1:53 PM | 

Bored of Eng-ger-land? Bored of international football? Bored of Ian Wright talking in barely comprehensible English about his son Shaun Wright-Phillips? Bored of Steve McClaren's red face and crimes against hair? Well fret not because normal Premier League service will soon be resumed.

And I'm going to do a very brave thing, perhaps it is a foolish thing, perhaps it is a divine intervention, perhaps I can see into the future, perhaps it will just put the kiss of death on both teams, but I'm predicting wins for both Newcastle and Sunderland this weekend.

Well, Sunderland at home to Reading at least because those lovely television people have decided it is a good idea to move United's trip to Derby County to a Monday evening which is just so convenient for those fans who will travel from the North-East and then hope to go to work on Tuesday morning isn't it?

But hey, who cares, Ted in Eastbourne can sit in his Ikea armchair, eating his Tesco's Finest Shepherd's pie after driving home to his three-bedroom semi-detached house in his Ford Mondeo to pat his uber-stressed wife Jill on the bottom before sinking a can of Carling C2 lager, can watch the match from the comfort of his own living room while his hoodie-clad 13-year-olds are out mugging people, filming it on their mobile phones and posting it up on YouTube. The wonders of modern British life!

It's a big game for Sunderland against the Royals. Having exceeded expectations last season, like Wigan before them, Reading are finding second-season syndrome (I borrowed this phrase from the world of music where countless bands release excellent debut albums, belatedly discover they are one trick ponies and then release a load of clap trap which sounds like a bunch of pissed arts students jamming in their digs after an all day acid trip!) rather more difficult.

The problem for teams like Wigan and Reading is that they lose the element of surprise, they are no longer a shock to Premier League teams and their rivals have had a whole year to identify their strengths to nullify them and their weaknesses to exploit them.

Sunderland would love to have a season like Reading's on their return to the top flight, but they need to beat teams like this at home if they are going to stay up, let alone push for the top half of the table.

After the joy of victory to Spurs and the late equaliser at Brimingham, the Black Cats have been slapped in the face by the reality of the size of the task which lies ahead this season, a task not helped by the loss of captain Dean Whitehead to a knee injury for the rest of the season.

For what it's worth I'm predicting a 2-0 win with goals from Michael Chopra and Andy Cole. A result secured on Wearside but made on Tyneside. Hasn't something like that happened before?

Anyway, to Newcastle and Pride Park. Derby look totally ill-equipped to survive this season and were humiliated 6-0 at Anfield in their last league game so expect a lot of kicking, stubborn defending and running around from the Rams. Also, expect manager Billy Davies to be banished to the stands after his umpteenth row with a touchline official.

If Newcastle are going to challenge for a European place, they must win away against teams like Derby, something they have persistently failed to do through the years. Sam Allardyce's regime has hinted at plenty of positive changes so far this season, but this is another chance to prove it.

As for me, I'm off on another holiday (I promise it's the last one for a while) this time to Krakow in Poland to drink vodka, eat dumplings and visit the Second World War Concentration/Death Camp Auschwitz.

Can't say I'm looking forward to the latter and perhaps there is something a little ghoulish about visiting such a horrible place, but I feel it needs to be done. These things should not be forgotten.

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Comments (6)

Andy Rivers wrote...

Luke,

I fancy Newcastle to win handsomely against the Rams but i think the makems may well finish with a draw against Reading. Personally, I'm predicting a top half finish for the mags and a relegation battle that goes right to the wire for the pikeys down the road.

Anyway, just my opinion, incidentally enjoy Krakow and make sure you visit the salt mine - it's surreal.

Note From Luke
I was right about Sunderland! Krakow was great, I just drank too much and feel a little jaded today. Unfortunately didn't read your advice until I got back and didn't visit the Salt Mine. Went to Auschwitz though which was powerfully disturbing.

Posted by: Andy Rivers  | September 13, 2007 10:12 AM

Ricky wrote...

You will enjoy Krakov Luke, Auschwitz is an experience you will never forget, for all the wrong reasons of course. Try the Sunday buffet at the Sheraton, eat from 12:00 - 17:00 for around £20, fantastic array of exquisite food, oh and free wine. And, don't forget the Salt Mines. Now, as for the football, I couldn't agree more, games both teams must win in order to help prove their arrival at the levels they are expecting to achieve this season. I also believe this will happen, both the imminent results and the seasons final conclusion.

Note From Luke
Without sounding too much like the Polish tourist board, Krakow is well worth a visit as you say Ricky and Auschwitz is just one of those things that, no matter how disturbing, should be on everyone's to do list

Posted by: Ricky  | September 13, 2007 11:03 AM

Terry wrote...

Uhhh...did I miss something? What on earth was up with that rant about hoodie-clad teenagers and some guy watching Newcastle on the TV? Did you recently get accosted by some youths or something?

Note From Luke
I was attempting a surreal reference to the state of modern football (making Newcastle fans travel to Derby on a Monday night seems ridiculous to me but it suits the television companies) by linking it to the problems in modern day Britain. I've not been roughed up by any youths at all, don't worry!

Posted by: Terry  | September 13, 2007 12:27 PM

jeddi wrote...

never get bored of watching england, just worry for 90 mins about owen but it looks like hes back to his normal goalscoring self again.
as for the stinkers doon the road i hope they get beat, humiliated infact.
and good luck with the holiday luke, but expect hairs to be on end, some tears and some nausea mate its not going to be nice

Posted by: jeddi  | September 13, 2007 12:34 PM

Trav wrote...

Gee luke, whats with you and holidays, do the chronicle pay you with holiday bonuses or something, anyway Sunderland to draw and Toon to win with an Owen double, happy with that?

Note From Luke
It's my last holiday for a long time sadly! I see I was right with Sunderland and Newcastle will have no problems seeing off Derby tonight!

Posted by: Trav  | September 13, 2007 4:22 PM

Liam Bushby wrote...

Any kind of win at Derby is an improvement on past away records, even if they did get hammered by Livepool and it'll give a measure of how far we've come so far this season.

Another Holiday Luke? Fancy swapping sides, me doing your articles and you do my Journal Juror piece! 'Cos it doesn't seem like you have much time these days with all your bizarre european adventures!

Note From Luke
Thanks for the offer Liam, but as I've got a long hard slog now until Christmas you wouldn't want to to swap jobs. I've got a few days holiday to take before January so best to wait until the New Year! Hope you're enjoying doing the Juror pieces.

Posted by: Liam Bushby  | September 15, 2007 10:23 AM

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