October 2008 Archives

Well we have something to thank Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez for at least because, let's be honest, Kevin Keegan didn't know a thing about him before he took part in his first training session - Jonas Gutierrez.

The Argentinean was simply superb in the 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion until six weeks without football caught up with him in the second half and his heavy legs struggled to carry him around the pitch.

Hardworking, skilful, tough, the only problem with a player like this is holding on to him. When you consider this was only his sixth game in England and his first start since August, I thought the former Real Mallorca winger was sensational and has been all season.

The gap between Newcastle and Sunderland has grown to six points in the Premier League table, but it will only get bigger as these two bitter rivals appear to be heading in opposite directions.

Sunderland's derby win might be explained as a flukey one off by the most stubborn United fan, a rare cause for celebration on Wearside, an aberration, but there was nothing lucky about it. Sunderland were the better side and deserved their first home win over the old enemy in 28 years. As things stand, they won't have to wait nearly as long for their next one. The end of January at St James's Park perhaps?

The Black Cats look like a club on the up, they have built up momentum over the past two years and, although they still look short in certain areas and will probably finish somewhere in mid-table, they look like a stronger club on the whole, well run by chairman Niall Quinn and superbly managed by Roy Keane without any boardroom interference.

Whether your hangover on Sunday morning was born from a desire to drown your sorrows or from a night of wild celebration I'm sure you've got something to say about Sunderland's derby victory over Newcastle at the weekend.

If you have any questions for me, or simply want to express your thoughts, I'll be doing another live web chat on Monday from 12pm. Just log on to the Journal Live website and click on the link.

For the first time in almost a decade, Sunderland will be the favourites on derby day, but with that tag comes the extra unwanted baggage of pressure and added expectations.

Yes, it's time for Newcastle fans to get their keys out and Sunderland's to dust off their anti-Newcastle song book, the North East derby is here again and what wonderful timing. Both clubs have had some recent cause for encouragement, albeit in the form of two draws, and both will feel they are going into the game on Saturday with confidence and some semblance of form.

Yet if Newcastle, with just one solitary league win to their name so far this season, will travel to Wearside with a little more trepidation than in years gone by, their Sunderland counterparts will still fear yet another bitter dose of derby disappointment.

Normally, back-to-back draws against Everton and Manchester City would struggle to raise even a flicker of excitement, but it hasn't felt this good to be a Newcastle United fan for weeks.

That says more about how miserable this season has been so far than it does about a run of results which has seen the Magpies take two points from a possible six, but for the first time since Kevin Keegan stomped off in protest at boardroom control of transfers at the start of September the positives are starting to outweigh the negatives.

I was really impressed by Newcastle on Monday night. There was still plenty of room for improvement in terms of the performance, but there was a collective determination and a sense of purpose about everything they did on the night. In the present circumstances, with the club effectively stuck in limbo as Mike Ashley searches for a buyer, that is exactly what is needed.

Following swiftly on from a successful live web chat debut a fortnight ago I will once again be answering your questions regarding all things Newcastle United after the Manchester City game.

It will basically follow the same format as last time and I'll do my best to answer every single question, no matter how hard or controversial you make them

The broad idea is to do one of these once a week after Newcastle have played so if you have any points you'd like to make about the City game and want to participate in the debate with your fellow supporters just log on to the Journal Live website at midday and follow the links.

What better way to spend your Tuesday lunch break? Alright, so you can probably think of several, but it's good fun, a bit like a live message board!

It did not come as the biggest surprise to discover Anthony Stokes has been farmed out on loan to Sheffield United, but it will also not be a major surprise if the young Irishman is given yet another chance at Sunderland.

Roy Keane doesn't have favourites, but if he did it would be Stokes. Few players have received more personal attention, or chances, than the former Arsenal prospect and it's clear Keane believes he has something special about him.

Sadly, whatever it is it has remained largely invisible to the majority of Sunderland supporters who have seen precious little of his supposed extra quality in a competitive situation.

We have become used to deriding them as some sort of national embarrassment, over-hyped, over-paid and over-pampered playboys, where star quality has rarely equalled star performances - but for once the England football team is managing to live up to our expectations.

Four wins out of four in their World Cup qualifying campaign and 14 goals scored, England are finally starting to resemble a side which is equal to the sum of its parts. The big name players with the big game reputations are suddenly showing why in an England shirt.

In the Italian Fabio Capello, England's players have a stern and uncompromising manager who treats them like the spoilt, yet talented bunch of kids they so often resemble. There have been a few complaints from anonymous players, but a strict parent will always get the best out of a precocious child no matter how long they protest.

So it seems the next owners of Newcastle United will be foreigners. A steel magnate from India? An Oil sheikh from Dubai? Or perhaps Ronald McDonald from the US of A.

I don't suppose it really matters where they are from or how they made their money - unless they are Colombian and made it selling that white marching powder people shove up their noses - all that ultimately matters is what they intend to do with the football club if their bid is successful.

Of the seven consortiums supposedly interested, There will be those with good intentions and there will be those who are only looking to make a quick buck, feeding on the global popularity of the Premier League.

I will be chained to my desk from about 12:30 on Friday to answer any questions you have regarding the recent turmoil at Newcastle United.

For the young among you, it'll work like an MSN instant chat, for the older readers, it's like sending me a question on this blog, but you'll get a far quicker reply. It's a bit like having a conversation, except you type rather than speak!

I'm sure there is a more technical way of explaining things but if there is anything you want to ask me, feel free, and I'll do my best to answer you as honestly and as forthrightly as I can.