Premiership: North-East league update #2
By Ross • Nov 4th, 2008 • Category: Featured ArticlesIt’s been around three month’s since I last wrote an article covering the North East’s three big dog’s at the same time.
As i stated in the previous article, for those who do not know what i’m talking about, there was a bit of banter between Boro, Newcastle and Sunderland fans before the start of the season in which all sets [obviously] stated that they were going to be top dogs in the North East, so i then decided that i would keep an update between the three teams in a North East League table. I was originally going to cover a monthly update, but i thought it best, considering it was only the beginning of the season, to let the table mature a bit so we can get a good synopsis of how the teams are performing and their relative position in the league.
Well, im glad i made that decision because things have cirtainly got interesting. At the time of writing, Newcastle are currently sitting on the foot of the table and are currently fighting for three points, which will allow them the right to deny that previous comment.
It’s on that note that we will start with Newcastle.
Newcastle have been having a bad time of it recently. Unstable in the board room, unstable at management level and injuries to the first team… Its not suprising that they’ve found themselves at the foot of the table (probably temporarily). Bad form, a lack of confidence and a small squad are just a few of the factors that’s led to the Magpies demise over the last couple of seasons, and all of this has equated to, basically, a lack of results on the pitch. The loss of Kevin Keegan was and is still the main talking point and probably the Geordies chief blame.
Newcastle have won only three games so far this season, and none up until Monday night’s home victory over Aston Villa have been very convincing. At the moment, it’s only Martins and Owen who are scoring the goals. One can only wonder how they’ll fare if both have a dry patch? It’s not just scoring that could become a major problem, it’s the fact that they seem to be leaking goals left right and centre. If Newcastle was a ship, she’d be sunk before leaving harbor. Are the leaks going to be fixed before that happens?
Sunderland are enjoying slightly better, but still mixed fortunes at the moment compared to Newcastle. Sunderland have enjoyed taking points from games against ourselves, Arsenal and Newcastle through the current campaign, which is one step further than Newcastle (with regards to Arsenal atleast). However, losing points against teams that Roy Keane would rather beat, namely Stoke, has seen them sit just above the relegation zone, not in immediate danger but enough to be looking over their shoulders. Sunderland, while taking points, are taking them one by one.
Like us, Sunderland also enjoyed, or rather didnt enjoy a 5-0 deficit to Chelsea. The funny thing was though, Keane thought it fit to criticise the referee and blame him for the scoreline instead of his teams absolute abomination of a game of football. How can the ref be responsible for your team leaking 5 goals? Hmm… 1-0 to common sense.
The managerial situation is turning heads at Sunderland also. With Keane’s contract expiring, he’s yet to sign a new deal to tie him to the club. Im sure it will be saga full of drama and roumor, but i think we can expect him to sign on for atleast another 3 years. Why buy the team he has if he doesn’t intend to see it through?
Middlesbrough and Southgate are looking forward to brighter pastures at the moment. While we’ve had mixed results aswell, losing games we’d really expect to win along with all of the late goals we’ve conceded, we’re doing OK for ourselves at the moment, sitting in 8th place. Things are beginning to come together as far as injuries are concerned, with Arca and Tuncay both returning to the first team, and we’ve managed to get points against Super City and West Ham.
I do fail to see why Southgate was happy with a draw at home against an out of sorts West Ham side though. Personally, i see it as two points lost. Yes, i’m glad we didnt concede late, we can thank Ross Turnbull for that… it was a close call, but i suppose one point is better then zero.
Its coming upto January, so i along with plenty of other fans will be hopefully looking forward to some midfield re-inforcements.
Onto the league table then?
Well… its pretty tight, but its no suprise to see that Boro are at the top at the moment, but tonights win against Aston Villa has brought Kinnear’s men one place above Sunderland and equal on points, much to the relief of the Geordies i’d expect. They’ve been getting a lock of stick, however short their time was at the bottom. Things are close though. There’s only two points in it, but Boro have the better form which is why i said it was no suprise. In actual fact, there’s not a lot in it between the places of 17th all the way upto sixth, so it will only take a good run of form to climb up from the bottom into the top half. Doom and gloomer’s of all teams, keep your mouths shut. It’s a long season and it only takes 3 wins to propell you up!
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Ross is A Redcar born Boro fan. Enjoys discussing and writing about all aspects of the club. Favourite players are Hignett, Juninho and Alves.
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It’s pretty tight at the minute in the League and a few good results could get a team from the bottom firmly into the top half. We’ve got a couple of tricky away ties coming up and we need to pick up some points really
I was confident of finishing above you lot and the mags after we beat them at our place but the loss to Stoke and drubbing off Chelsea have changed my mind a bit. Still think we’ll finish above the mags though
Like i said it’s a long season though. A good run of results can now see Newcastle or Sunderland going to the top half of the table
The geordies and spurs are picking up wins now and it’s getting tighter down at the bottom. I can see this being a very open premier league season and no-one “doing a Derby or Sunderland”