January 2009 Archives

It was the year of Italia 90, Gazza's tears and the birth of the Premier League. But in the North-East it was the year Newcastle and Sunderland clashed in arguably the most intense derby clash of the modern era.

A play-off semi final, with promotion to the old First division the prize, tempers were inevitably frayed and the tensions was unbearable. I expect this weekend's Tyne-Wear Derby at St James's Park to be just as bad.

I thought for a minute someone was trying to be funny about Newcastle United when I stepped into the corridor at work and was greeted by a cry of "Going Down" but I don't think lifts have a sense of humour!

I don't suppose many United fans have got much of one at the moment either, the situation is far too grave for that. Relegation has been a constant worry this season, but things have never looked as bad as this. There is no money, no players and, increasingly, no hope of salvation.

Rarely, if ever, have I felt as depressed, dismayed and anxious about Newcastle's prospects as I was on the return journey from Manchester City on Wednesday night.

There was something rather refreshing in Kenwyne Jones signing a new four year contract at Sunderland - not least because it meant another slap in the face for Tottenham Hotspur.

Psychologically, with the Black Cats struggling at the wrong end of the table again and with Roy Keane fading into memory, the prospect of losing Jones at this stage of the season would have been unthinkable.

It would have sent out completely the wrong message to players and supporters alike and would have meant people would always perceive Sunderland as also-rans, a club with a big following but no ambition to match.

It is far too late for Mike Ashley to buy friendship on Tyneside, but the release of Newcastle United's accounts for 2008 do at least paint the rotund billionaire in a slightly more favourable light.

Before you splutter hot drinks onto your monitor, mobile phone or other portable internet device, I'm not defending Ashley from the many mistakes he has made since he came to St James's Park.

What amazes me about the Andy Carroll vs Charles N'Zogbia punch up is not that it happened, it's not even that it happened in front of people who could ensure news of it could be leaked out, it's the fact it has happened at a time when Newcastle United are already struggling for any semblance of positive PR.

Firstly I'd like to apologise for my previous silence on the handbags and glad rags. I hadn't taken a vow or anything, I've just been spending some time getting to know my toilet as a result of a rather nasty stomach bug.

But I'm able to hammer away on a keyboard again now from the comfort of my bedroom so let's get stuck into this playground scrap with the relish of a tattooed dinner lady.

I kept my head down last week and waited to see if Newcastle United were capable of riding out the storm. Instead, like doomed sailors caught in the Perfect Storm, they have sailed right into the eye of the tempest.

The wind of protest are howling again and the waves of discontent are once more threatening to smash the club into smithereens. These are troubled times for a most troubled football club.

Quite why there have still been no new signings made by the Magpies is a mystery, but it is hardly one which would keep a super sleuth like Sherlock Holmes perplexed for long - let alone me!

Do you ever just wish people would get on with their jobs and keep their mouths shut? Yeah, alright, smarty pants, that doesn't include me. I'm talking about Keith Harris.

According to the merchant banker - nope that isn't Cockney rhyming slang - the man in charge of selling Newcastle United, he could have sold the club but he didn't because of the global recession. That's is a bit like me saying I could have bought that brand spanking new Aston Martin, but I didn't because I couldn't afford it - pointless

Yeah, fair enough Keith, you could have sold it but ultimately you failed to do so and Newcastle are going to be lumbered with Mike Ashley for the foreseeable future so why don't you just get on with trying to find a buyer, rather than banging on about the fact you almost did.

I wasn't sure what to make of Ricky Sbragia's appointment as Sunderland manager when it happened over the Christmas period and, having had the time to reflect on it since, I'm still not entirely sure what to make of it. One thing is certain, though, it is a bold decision by chairman Niall Quinn.

Some bright spark on the Sky Sports website has written that giving Sbragia the job on a permanent basis was either a masterstroke or a disaster waiting to happen.

Funny that, because you could say precisely the same thing about every single managerial appointment, whether it is at the Stadium of Light or Victoria Park.

Yeah, thanks for the positive start to 2009 Seamus, and a very Happy New Year to you too! No, come on, seriously, who can blame the Irishman for wanting to leave Newcastle United?

Granted, the timing could have been a lot better. In fact, the whole way it has been handled by the goalkeeper and his representatives leaves a lot to be desired as it seems to me the statement released by the player's solicitor, Michael Kennedy on New Year's Day, was tantamount to asking for a transfer without risking so-called "loyalty" bonuses by actually asking for one.

Normally the sight of a player lobbying for a move is disagreeable, but after 11 years of service at St James's Park, Shay cannot really be accused of being disloyal.