Agree with every word, from my feelings about them to lack of knowledge about the team.
Chronicle was asking yesterday which of their players would get into our starting 11. If they’re lucky there are 2 or 3 that might scrape into our 25. And yet, it wouldn’t surprised me if they went down with 11 points and took 4 of them off us…
I always suspect that anybody claiming “it will great to have the derbies back” hasn’t actually been to many of them. I hate them. The week before is ruined with the nerves and build-up and, often as not since my early 20s, the week after is ruined too.
Well written. Yes, it is the ugliness the derby games will bring. We don’t need that anymore. We’ve grown far beyond that and it is frankly embarrassing to view a game against them as a meaningful “derby”. Freddie Shepherds alleged comment is succinct and on the money. Yes, I don’t like them. But they no longer have a relevance to me, to make that emotion any stronger. But to be clear. I really really don’t like them! 😄
Agree totally Pat. It upsets me greatly when I hear or read mags saying they want the derbies back. They are a meaningless distraction and I’d much rather they disappeared into oblivion or just left us alone.
Excellent stuff, Pat. Loved it! Actually, I can go one better than you because I truly don’t know a single member of their team. Come to think of it… do they still play at Roker Park? 😉😂
Also agree. The derbies are toxic and we have bigger fish to fry. I saw an AI generated premier table for next season. Don't know what factors it took in but it had the toon at 5 and the mackems bottom of the table. Got a couple of avid mackems as mates and they're overjoyed but suspect we may see the lowest points total from them in PL history
Awesome summary of my thoughts. I don't care, I don't think about them, they don't get any more of my mental energy than Newport County, (No disrespect to Newport, just a random selection).
But as already commented, I will now have an additional 2 weeks of unnecessary stress and have my socials and news feeds filled with pointless posts about how another massive Northern club is threatening the club I follow.
I don't mind rivalry but this just gets taken to ridiculous levels.
Good article, Pat. "Chided for pettiness?" Chide them for plasticity! I watched the coventry and S.U. matches and it made bruceball look like peak barca. Their farcical promotion given how many points off Sheffield Utd. they were is simply a distraction from our larger objective. Despite points about stadium, etc., there is no way even 3/4 that squad belongs in the PL. Chris Rigg? Give owa man!
I'm a die hard Toon supporter but that's one of the most bitter things I've ever read. you say you don't care about them, don't hate them and don't know anything about them then produce that. Also, nobody is buying that you didn't know the play off score, you watched every minute.
Maybe I've got a different perspective because I come from a split household. My dad is a lifelong Sunderland fan. He took me to Roker Park when I was a kid and it was only later (maybe 12-13 years old) that my mam's influence turned me from the shite to the light. I'm quite happy to see them promoted, but mainly because I want to see the tears of their fans (but not my dad's) as they get thrashed every weekend and sent packing with a record to trump or at least equal Derby's.
For the record I don't think I ever saw them win at Roker Park and maybe saw Gabbiadini score once. The highlight of the season was getting a cup of Bovril at halftime to warm me up.
Also, I wouldn't take a single one of their players to clean the boots of our lads.
Would be foolish to write them off as they have a young team that could cause a few teams problems if they recruit a few old heads to bring them along. I don't really buy into this what comes up will immediately go back down, Leeds and the mackems have a bit more than a punchers chance. Hopefully I'm completely wrong and we have a first half of a season of belly laughs followed by losing all interest in them after Xmas.
Agree with every word, from my feelings about them to lack of knowledge about the team.
Chronicle was asking yesterday which of their players would get into our starting 11. If they’re lucky there are 2 or 3 that might scrape into our 25. And yet, it wouldn’t surprised me if they went down with 11 points and took 4 of them off us…
I always suspect that anybody claiming “it will great to have the derbies back” hasn’t actually been to many of them. I hate them. The week before is ruined with the nerves and build-up and, often as not since my early 20s, the week after is ruined too.
Can’t get relegated fast enough for me.
1990 Swindon style would be perfect!
Well written. Yes, it is the ugliness the derby games will bring. We don’t need that anymore. We’ve grown far beyond that and it is frankly embarrassing to view a game against them as a meaningful “derby”. Freddie Shepherds alleged comment is succinct and on the money. Yes, I don’t like them. But they no longer have a relevance to me, to make that emotion any stronger. But to be clear. I really really don’t like them! 😄
Agree totally Pat. It upsets me greatly when I hear or read mags saying they want the derbies back. They are a meaningless distraction and I’d much rather they disappeared into oblivion or just left us alone.
Excellent stuff, Pat. Loved it! Actually, I can go one better than you because I truly don’t know a single member of their team. Come to think of it… do they still play at Roker Park? 😉😂
Also agree. The derbies are toxic and we have bigger fish to fry. I saw an AI generated premier table for next season. Don't know what factors it took in but it had the toon at 5 and the mackems bottom of the table. Got a couple of avid mackems as mates and they're overjoyed but suspect we may see the lowest points total from them in PL history
Awesome summary of my thoughts. I don't care, I don't think about them, they don't get any more of my mental energy than Newport County, (No disrespect to Newport, just a random selection).
But as already commented, I will now have an additional 2 weeks of unnecessary stress and have my socials and news feeds filled with pointless posts about how another massive Northern club is threatening the club I follow.
I don't mind rivalry but this just gets taken to ridiculous levels.
Exactly this, well said.
Good article, Pat. "Chided for pettiness?" Chide them for plasticity! I watched the coventry and S.U. matches and it made bruceball look like peak barca. Their farcical promotion given how many points off Sheffield Utd. they were is simply a distraction from our larger objective. Despite points about stadium, etc., there is no way even 3/4 that squad belongs in the PL. Chris Rigg? Give owa man!
I'm a die hard Toon supporter but that's one of the most bitter things I've ever read. you say you don't care about them, don't hate them and don't know anything about them then produce that. Also, nobody is buying that you didn't know the play off score, you watched every minute.
This perfectly sums up my thoughts. Great read!
Maybe I've got a different perspective because I come from a split household. My dad is a lifelong Sunderland fan. He took me to Roker Park when I was a kid and it was only later (maybe 12-13 years old) that my mam's influence turned me from the shite to the light. I'm quite happy to see them promoted, but mainly because I want to see the tears of their fans (but not my dad's) as they get thrashed every weekend and sent packing with a record to trump or at least equal Derby's.
For the record I don't think I ever saw them win at Roker Park and maybe saw Gabbiadini score once. The highlight of the season was getting a cup of Bovril at halftime to warm me up.
Also, I wouldn't take a single one of their players to clean the boots of our lads.
Would be foolish to write them off as they have a young team that could cause a few teams problems if they recruit a few old heads to bring them along. I don't really buy into this what comes up will immediately go back down, Leeds and the mackems have a bit more than a punchers chance. Hopefully I'm completely wrong and we have a first half of a season of belly laughs followed by losing all interest in them after Xmas.