November 2009 Archives

Sunderland have every right to be proud of their new found status as the scourge of the Big Four, but are the Black Cats just part of a wider trend which is finally challenging the pre-eminence of the Champions League clique?

While Steve Bruce's side have taken an impressive seven points from their four games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United so far this season, they are not the only ones who have given them a fright.

An Irish supporting friend of mine - he was actually born and raised in Newcastle - has described Thierry Henry's handball as a worse piece of skullduggery than Diego Maradona's infamous Hand of God aberration in Mexico in 1986.

Inevitably I disagree given I'm English and, aged eight, cried when England went out of that tournament. However, if you're Irish, or at least pretend to be because of parentage, I'm sure it was just as bad.

Henry is not a dirty player and, generally speaking, I would say he isn't a dishonest player - but he is a cheat. He clearly handled the ball and, despite his procrastination afterwards, he cheated to gain an advantage which directly led to the goal which took his national team to the World Cup Finals.

Marlon Harewood has revealed for the first time he wants to stay at Newcastle United rather than return to the Premier League with Aston Villa. The question is, does anyone at St James's Park want him?

This has been a difficult loan move for Harewood, who is in danger of allowing an excellent opportunity to escape the misery of Villa's reserve team pass him by.

As things stand, with Shola Ameobi close to a return to fitness, I don't think United will extend his stay, but he still has time to change their mind.

What is with those oil rich nations in the Middle East? I mean anyone would think they believe they're at the centre of the earth. Oh hang on a minute, I guess geographically they are.

Actually, my rant isn't really directed at the dubious political regimes with the uber-rich oil sheikhs and burgeoning tourist industries.

It's with the England Football Association for signing up for an international friendly against Brazil just before the busiest spell of the domestic season in the seating heat of Qatar.

If the Premier League campaign is a marathon and not a sprint Sunderland are about to hit the metaphorical wall when they take on Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal this month. The question is can they break through it and continue to keep pace with the front runners?

It has been an encouraging start for Steve Bruce. In fact, no, it's been more than that. It has been a very good start to the season for Sunderland's ambitious new manager and fans should have been given plenty of cause for optimism since the start of August.

However, a small squad is always a vulnerable one and Bruce's plans are being undermined by the gamble he took not to add/keep more bodies this season. We shall see that at White Hart Lane.

Let's be honest here, Newcastle United aren't playing well, they are not playing attractive football and they do not look like a class act in the Championship, but at least they are winning again and are sitting at the top of the table as a result.

Winning ugly is a popular phrase in football, particularly if you are the manager of a team of limited ability but high on passion and commitment. At the moment, that is precisely what Newcastle resemble under Chris Hughton.

Nevertheless, as the boys among you will know, when you haven't pulled in a while your standards lower and you'll pretty much take home anything you can get your hands on in a nightclub.