Derby Day Chance To Shut Up Critics

For one reason or other, Chris Hughton has found himself the subject of malicious, and quite frankly undeserved, rumour this week with suggestions that Mike Ashley is about to punt his saviour over the edge. If such an occasion were to arrive then you can bet your bottle of Newcy Brown that the decision will not be received well on Tyneside. From all observations, Hughton appears to be a thoroughly decent human being, a good boss and an even better man manager. Never has stability and a head as cool as the fridge in your kitchen been needed so much by such a madhouse of a club as last season when Newcastle United were staring into the abyss.

On very limited funds he has delivered some astute signings; A pre-De Jong Hatem Ben Arfa and Cheik Tiote look like class acts – the latter looking every bit to the Toon’s answer to Yaya Toure – while the likes of Williamson, Routledge and Simpson have all been decent purchases considering the pot of shoestring thrown his way by the owner. The way he has dealt with some potentially explosive dressing room situations, the majority of which have involved an ever-improving Andy Carroll, has been admirable. In short, he seems to love working with the players and they seem to love working with him.

Not only that, but every sane black and white head knows that the target this season is 17th – anything higher can be considered a bonus. Currently, we sit in 9th. Yes, we’ve gained a single point from the home visits of Wigan, Stoke and Blackpool, but at the same time we’ve taken 7 points from Wolves, West Ham and Everton, whilst adding the scalp of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge along the way in the League Cup. His main criticism is that he sets the team up better away from home than at St. James’ Park. Perhaps this is true, but he’s also mastering the hardest part first. If the points had come in the games we were expected to win rather than on the road, no one would be batting an eyelid.

So where do we go from here? Well, not that Hughton should be under pressure in the first place for the remarkable, albeit unfinished, job he has already done, but imagine what a victory on Sunday would do for him, the team, the fans and the city. Sunderland arrive in under 48 hours with their heads held high in the belief that they are now the ‘North East Top Dogs’ for the first time in an eternity. Well, how about sending them back to Wearside with their tails firmly behind their legs after a thorough spanking!

Nine players should be back from Wednesday night’s Wenger-thumping, and amongst them is some genuine quality. Sunderland are no world beaters – if it wasn’t for Bent they would be in far greater trouble – and whilst they might have a stronger squad, when it’s 11 v. 11 at St. James’ Park this weekend with 50,000 screaming Geordies, everything should fall in our favour. Carroll, Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Coloccini and Enrique are all good players who can more than hold their own against Cattermole and co. Don’t expect some pretty football, but do anticipate blood and sweat for the black and white cause.

It’s been a tough fortnight for Hughton, but come Sunday night his side could be sitting in 7th place with the city going wild and Sunderland scampering back to where they came from with no points. And all the pressure will be off for the time being. Of course, it could go the other way and he could be waking up on Monday morning to some more depressing headlines, however unjust. So it’s up to the players, many of whom have been backed to the hilt by their manager on more than one occasion, to return the deed to their manager and knock Sunderland off their makeshift perch.

Over to you lads.