Source: Daily_Mail
NORTHERN EXPOSURE: The sun is shining, football is back and even Chris has a smile on his face...
I have a friend called Chris who, for the purposes of this article, and to save him from ridicule, I will call Chris.
Chris is a Sunderland fan, and along with dozens of Sunderland fans I know, I have the same conversation with him at the end of every season.
`I am not getting a season ticket next year,' he'll say. `That's it. I've had enough. They let me down every season. I'm not going back.' `Yes you will,' I'll say. `Won't.' `Will.' `Won't'. `Will.' Etc . . .
Darren Bent
Net gains: Darren Bent nods Sunderland's winner home at Bolton
Sure enough, three games before Sunderland scraped through for their third Barclays Premier League season by the skin of Newcastle's teeth, I was warned he would not be renewing. I suggested, even before Ricky Sbragia's demise and Steve Bruce's coronation, that he would change his mind. He was having none of it.
Like many fair-minded Mackems, he cautiously welcomed Bruce's arrival, and as the new manager spent new owner Ellis Short's money, and totted up the signings, so he wavered.
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Still, imagine my surprise when I heard he was celebrating the signing of Darren Bent and Lee Cattermole with his friend Paul with a trip to the Stadium of Light ticket office to re-claim his seat for the 2009/2010 season.
Such optimism is gathering pace on Wearside. Their first-half domination at Bolton was the impressive start Bruce needed in front of 5,000 eager travelling fans whose enthusiasm has been reignited by Niall Quinn's faith in his third manager.
Bent scored the winner in a game Sunderland should have won last season, and which would have eased their relegation troubles significantly if they had. This is the type of game Sunderland should win if they are serious about encroaching the top half of the division.
With renewed optimism comes a belief that they can beat Chelsea tonight for the first time since Peter Reid's side achieved the double eight years ago.
Too often since then, Sunderland at the Stadium of Light have been easy fodder for the top sides, even under Roy Keane, but if Quinn is right and Bruce can make his team hard to beat, the ground could again become an arena where visitors fear to tread. And where a capacity crowd can make such a difference.
Attendances have wavered over the last decade as Sunderland have inevitably taken the return trips to the Football League, but Quinn is hopeful he will see full houses regularly over the coming years and before his exit.
Niall Quinn
Leader: Niall Quinn has inspired Sunderland's turnaround
As Newcastle discovered last week, Championship football has limited appeal to the new generation of fans, although complete disillusionment with the club and its hierarchy is at the root of St James's Park crowd numbers. There are thousands of Geordie Chris's out there, waiting for Mike Ashley to disappear and for Alan Shearer to return, and then he will be back for his season ticket.
There were almost 15,000 empty seats for Reading's visit last week, which was 5,000 less than predicted, and still an admirable figure given Newcastle's troubles.
Equally admirable is the reaction of Chris Hughton and his players to their never-ending turmoil. The appearance of Barry Moat sat between Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias on Saturday gave the latest but tiniest chink of light in a dark, dark Tyneside Tunnel.
Shola Ameobi
Delihgt: Newcastle supporters celebrate Shola Ameobi's hat-trick
The time for playing games has to end, and the sale must be pushed through quickly, or the process halted completely before Newcastle implode on the field too.
After a nervy start, Newcastle dominated a side which finished fourth last season and only missed out on automatic promotion on the last day. If Newcastle can play with the swagger that could have brought double figures, while the men above them try to ruin their club and rip apart their squad, they will be impossible to stop once the mess is sorted.
And if they can beat Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow, Newcastle are on the road to becoming unstoppable.
As I anticipated, Middlesbrough are going about their business quietly and Gareth Southgate is no doubt pleased that he has been written off. He can only thrive under that pressure and create a them-against-us mentality in the dressing room.
The end of August cannot come quickly enough for the Boro boss, who knows there are very few in his squad he can guarantee will be with him for this testing adventure.
And the same goes for the Middlesbrough fans. There are even more `Chris's' on Teesside. But they would be hasty and wrong if they turn their backs on the club and its manager now.
