Source: Daily_Mail
NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Expect Sunderland to get the better of Newcastle next season
The fixtures are out this week and forget the top four or five for once and those over-hyped Super Sunday clashes. There is only one game to look out for.[LNB]Newcastle United and Sunderland fans will not have to do much scouring of the fixtures to see when their teams will meet again.[LNB]The club websites will see to that and we can surely look forward to them announcing the dates immediately when they are published on Thursday morning. How can they possibly resist?[LNB] Reasons to be cheerful: Sunderland must now be regarded as the north-east's biggest club [LNB]For a game between two teams who have won three trophies between them in half a century, the Tyne-Wear derby has an unusual hold on its public and a strange fascination to the rest of the country.[LNB]There is usually vital relegation points at stake, and until two years ago, it was usually just Sunderland's concern. But deep down, it is all about local bragging rights, and which team is supposedly top dog for a few months, until the next fixture. [LNB]It's all about who can send the worst or the best text to his mates in the aftermath of victory. [LNB]For once it is Newcastle who enter the new season with the famous old Football League in the trophy cabinet and the prime aim of achieving survival. These are very different times at St James's Park and the budgetary constraints placed on Chris Hughton will severely test a squad which walked the Championship.[LNB] More from Colin Young... NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Smells like Tyne spirit as Toon Army march on08/06/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Steve Bruce would dearly love to spike Manchester United's title push and stay on course for a top ten Premier League finish27/04/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Newcastle pride restored as title party begins20/04/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Early warning signs fuelled both fear and optimism on a rollercoaster season for the North East trio13/04/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Sunny outlook for Newcastle as Chris Hughton blows away the dark clouds06/04/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Newcastle set to reach the promised land via Peterborough but Chris Hughton's not celebrating30/03/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Newcastle must ride the storm over Steven Taylor and Andy Carroll bust-up to reach promised land of Premier League23/03/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Nolan's gong is reward for Newcastle's top season16/03/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE Summers in the last decade have meant a spending frenzy for Newcastle managers but the club has had a reality check with relegation and the targets in Hughton's sights are a reflection of the club's finances as a result of being out of the big time for a year. [LNB]There are no such cash flows concerns for Steve Bruce, who has already been busy adding two new players and putting his feelers out for yet another centre-half.[LNB]Matthew Upson and Nedum Onuoha would both be welcome additions, although with Michael Turner a shoo-in for one of the spots, it must raise concerns about the purchases of Paulo da Silva, in action for Paraguay against Italy last night, and Matt Kilgannon, who was also a target for Newcastle when Sunderland signed him from Sheffield United in January.[LNB]It also looks like John Mensah's hopes of a permanent move have been dashed by a combination of his £6 million fee and his fitness, although he did finally complete 90 minutes for Ghana in the win and clean sheet against Serbia. He would be a welcome addition to any squad - if only he could stay fit for more than two days and cost considerably less than his club Lyon want to charge.[LNB]Once the market starts to move again in July, and Bruce can move on players surplus to his requirements, the Sunderland manager can start to delve into his scouts' database, safe in the knowledge that no manager in the club's history has had the financial backing Ellis Short is prepared to provide.[LNB] Key men: Newcastle's Kevin Nolan (left) Sunderland marksman Darren Bent[LNB]It is a reversal of the situations Bruce and his opposite number on Wearside would have found himself in as Newcastle manager, if only he had accepted Freddy Shepherd's invitation all those years ago when he was refused permission to leave Birmingham and Graeme Souness was eventually appointed. [LNB]The millions have dried up since at St James' but of course the optimism among supporters hasn't and although no Newcastle fan will like me saying this, and very few would dare accept it, consequently Sunderland must go into the season as the derby favourites. [LNB]Bruce and his board are looking at continued progress after finishing 13th and challenging for European places, not just a top-half finish, should be a reasonable target given the money that has already been spent.[LNB]Any team which comes into the Premier League will see survival as the Number One target and sadly, despite their fan base and their reputation and history, Newcastle will be no different. [LNB]Of course all that goes out of the window on derby day when character, attitude and bravery count more than reputations. Can't wait![LNB] [LNB]
