The question of whether it was beneficial for Geordies to see their northeastern rivals back in the big time was a hotly debated one during the summer.
We had the northeast derbies back, on the one hand. Football fans around the nation still recognize and admire the rivalry between Newcastle United and Sunderland, even though the two teams haven’t interfered with the championship race in decades. This animosity has its roots in the Civil War. Even neutrals like watching matches like Newcastle vs. Sunderland, King Charles I vs. Oliver Cromwell, or Royalists vs. Parliamentarians.
Additionally, it was Newcastle’s first opportunity to defeat their boisterous neighbors in the Premier League since Ryan Taylor’s “over the wall” free kick in 2011. Since then, Sunderland has defeated us six times in a row in the league, as they frequently like to remind us. I guess real trophies are now practically a myth over there.
However, it also meant that there would be a match against a recently promoted team in Newcastle’s busy Champions League calendar where it was just not an option to rest important players. Last season, Newcastle defeated all three of the promoted teams with league doubles, a goal differential of +17, and only one goal let up. They will play a team this season that would gladly break our guys’ legs if they could get away with it.
Overall, Sunderland’s elevation seemed to be a lose-lose, however that is no longer the case!
Other than the thrill of (at least) two more rivalry games, Newcastle had little to gain from Sunderland’s ascent. Even so, it didn’t seem worthwhile. Sunderland is going to give the derby games their best effort. As Eddie Howe tries to fight on four fronts, two allegedly “easy” games against weaker opponents from the previous season have really turned into two significant scheduling issues.Players cannot be rested for the derby. In reality, we may receive a dosage of the medicine we administered in recent antagonistic performances at St. James’ Park against PSG, Barcelona, and Liverpool at the Stadium of Light. Compared to last season’s trips to Portman Road, St Mary’s, and King Power Stadium, this game will be considerably more difficult. with a great deal more strain on it.
However, there was still the pre-season argument that Sunderland were such underdogs that anything less than six points for Newcastle would be a letdown, despite the extra effort Sunderland will put into this match. even embarrassing. Can you imagine the Champions League, League Cup-winning, Saudi-led team losing to small, promoted Sunderland?
Really, it was a lose-lose situation. Even if Newcastle easily defeated Sunderland, we would merely be carrying out our obligations. However, that story is gradually changing.
Sunderland has been outstanding, let’s face it. and Newcastle might benefit from it.
Sunderland is currently 10 spots and seven points ahead of us in the Premier League following their thrilling match with top-ranked Arsenal and before Newcastle travels to Brentford. It has turned into an annoying side story that has only made our domestic problems this season more embarrassing. However, the perception of the derby balance changes with each outstanding victory Sunderland achieves. Perhaps Eddie Howe’s team won’t be expected to score three points just by showing up? Additionally, a victory in the SoL next month would be regarded as a very impressive outcome that may boost our league campaign’s confidence.
Last year on the weekend of my 30th birthday, I watched as we defeated the Mackems 3-0. It all seemed like a formality. Sunderland puffed and huffed. Newcastle scored three goals without really shifting into second gear, and class clown Luke O’Nien clattered a seventeen-year-old child to demonstrate his size and toughness. I wasn’t really enthusiastic about these derbies. We were supposed to win, and it would be embarrassing if we didn’t. Additionally, people like O’Nien and Dan Ballard would be attempting to ruin the careers of Tino Livramento and Lewis Miley.
The mackems, however, are now boasting from the rooftops. They must transform it into a shot at Newcastle in order to achieve any kind of outcome. Sunderland’s triumph should be about Sunderland, but their inferiority complex is making it about Newcastle. This, in my opinion, creates a much more even playing ground for the derbies, and I appreciate that.
For what it’s worth, it’s nice to see a recently promoted team humbling the Super League Six (pardon my Newcastle-tinted specs). The Premier League was growing stale and repetitive.
All I can hope for is that next month we will be able to bring the underdogs back to earth.
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