Captain's Blog: Why Sunderland AFC Will Always Have The Last Laugh Over Newcastle United
by michaelgraham on Aug 17, 2011 9:30 AM BST
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It must be said that I am loathe to talk about Newcastle United in this feature but this is one week in which circumstance demand an exception. Like the rest of us, I watched on in horror last Halloween as an almost unforgivably meek Sunderland team surrendered our collective pride at St James Park. Amidst my general malaise of befuddlement and embarrassment that night as I was sat in silence wrestling with the torment of a day that has probably redefined the term 'derby day nightmare' forever, there was one thing of which I was steadfastly certain – Sunderland AFC will always have the last laugh over Newcastle United.
Admittedly it was little consolation at the time. But events up the road since, culminating in Joey Barton's latest flagrant disregard of common decency with a Newcastle United badge upon his chest last Saturday evening followed by Alan Pardew's equally disgraceful support of what amounted to common thuggery has certainly justified my view.
I'll cut right to the chase here. Newcastle United is a vile, festering moral black hole of a football club with a long and sordid recent history of condoning criminals and criminal behaviour. It's not something I say just because I am a Sunderland fan, although that obviously makes it more enjoyable to point it out. No, it is just what they are and it isn't a difficult conclusion to reach when presented with the facts.
When Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer openly brawled with each other in the middle of the St James Park pitch, the club continued to validate and condone their behaviour by brushing it under the carpet and continuing to employ them. Although if they had been bothered about potential thugs representing their club then they would have surely not signed Bowyer in the first place after his involvement in a high profile trial during his Leeds days. Granted, Bowyer was acquitted of the charges, but the fact they also happily signed Jonathan Woodgate, who was convicted for affray in the same incident, suggests it wouldn't have bothered them had Bowyer also been convicted. Joey Barton arrived at the club shortly afterwards with a fresh charge of assault hanging over him which would later become a conviction, but not before he was convicted of another assault. Barton remained in the club's employ. When Nile Ranger returned to football following a spell in a young offender's institute for armed robbery, which club were waiting for him with a nice juicy contract? When Steven Taylor and Andy Carroll came to blows on the training ground, which one did the club back? The one with the broken jaw or the one with the bandaged fists? Carroll was "a vital player" according to Chris Hughton following their very next game. Ah well, all if forgiven, then. Clobber who you want.
Still, according to Chris Hughton, the kind of mindless brutality that we witnessed when Joey Barton attacked Morten Gamst Pedersen last year was something that "goes on in football matches in every game". A previously dignified and admirable man like Chris Hughton reduced to lying on television to defend and try and justify the actions of a convicted thug. Very sad state of affairs indeed. He wasn't the first though and he won't be the last either. When I got married, my best man was a Newcastle fan. He is one of a number of fine individuals I have been lucky enough to know and speak to who happen to follow the club. Frankly, they deserve better than being asked to associate themselves and their support with criminals.
Of course, bad eggs and unsavoury incidents will always crop up in football, and Sunderland are no different. Where Sunderland have been very much different, however, is their treatment of those involved. When El Hadj Diouf pulled a knife on a team mate in the dressing room, he was unceremoniously shipped out of the club within 48 hours, despite only arriving a few months before. Similarly, Chris Byrne had only recently arrived from Macclesfield when he was found to be harbouring a murder suspect in his hotel room before finding himself no longer welcome at the club. That meant that when he received his own conviction a few years later for burglary he did so whilst associated with another club. When Kenwyne Jones raised his hands to Herita Ilunga in a Sunderland shirt against West Ham, Steve Bruce offered no "it happens every week" or "he was just expressing himself". His message was clear - "I can't defend Kenwyne".
No one is saying that Sunderland are whiter than white. Mistakes will always be made, but it is an incontrovertible fact that they are a club ran by decent people who understand the responsibility they have to their community. A football club will always exert influence over its fans because of the passion and raw emotion they provoke. It is their greatest gift but also their greatest responsibility. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Earlier this summer when hundreds of Newcastle fans were needlessly invading the pitch and Darlington, Sunderland fans receiving acclaim for being named the best behaved in the Premier League. Yes, we've had our own occasional pitch invader but when one misguided youth collided with Steve Harper on the Stadium of Light pitch, Sunderland fans handed him over to the police and the young man's father marched him to Newcastle United's training ground to apologise for his actions. Certainly a far cry from the coordinated act of stupidity witnessed at the Reynolds Arena. It certainly didn't come as any surprise when last Saturday the St James park crowd roared a rousing welcome to a returning violent criminal with multiple convictions whilst embracing him as their knight in shining armour against the the evils of a man who has saved their club from bankruptcy through sensible financial prudence.
The bookies and the most recent league tables will suggest there is very little between the two clubs this season on the pitch. Certainly, in terms of the likely starting 11s this weekend, there seems to be little between the teams on paper. Our recent record against them on the pitch isn't nice reading for Sunderland fans and it is time we put it right and transform our recent superiority in the league table over them into derby day superiority too, and I see absolutely no reason why the current team can't do it. But regardless of the result, we will always have the last laugh because we can always watch our club with genuine pride at knowing that the ideals we share with our club, and the ideals with which our club represent us, are decent and honourable whilst endorsing and supporting violent criminality will seemingly always be intrinsic to loving Newcastle United.
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Funniest article ever
Not sure if this was meant to cheer us Newcastle fans up but it has…and I thank you. Talk me through that inferiority complex one more time…
Sums them up really when they just find the fact that they are a team of thugs amusing. It is a good read and hits the nail on the head. I find it impossible to concieve that any skunk fan (no matter how deluded) could possibly champion the running of their club over ours. Even a chimp could see the difference between the two ‘companies’ off the pitch.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
I guess this took hours for you to write………. why bother??? try reading this on Saturday night when you cant sleep after the excitement of another defeat. No need for the nytol zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz boring!!
by zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz on Aug 17, 2011 10:31 AM BST reply actions
oh dear
obviously jealous you scumderland fans that you have never had any real talent in your team you forget that joey barton and maybe even bowyer and dyer are better then any midfielders you have EVER had! and so your saying cos you make mistakes in life you should not be able to work i bet 50% + of you fans have had a fight or been in trouble with the law, So maybe your bosses should sack you. Just get over the fact that WE ARE, AND ALWAYS WILL BE BETTER THEN YOU SCUMBERLAND!!!!!
Always amazes me how many skunks visit this site. Personally speaking I couldnt bring myself to visit a skunk site, I don’t see the point as I am not interested in the slightest. I’m happy to just laugh at the latest event that seems to happen on a weekly basis at the circus that is NUFC. Think there are a few closet SAFC fans really, based on their desire to read sites dedicated to us.
That crack is horrendous. I followed a link from a Newcastle website as the hilarious title caught my attention. I know a couple of SMB’s who actually have some decent banter – they obviously haven’t found their way on here. Surprised you can type with webbed hands and that big chip on your shoulder weighing you down.
by Mackem Hater on Aug 17, 2011 12:02 PM BST up reply actions
Saturday 20 August, 10.30am, at a pub somewhere in Newcastle
“So, Mackem Hater, how did you spend the last week preparing for the Derby?”
“Well mate, I enjoyed Wednesday the best. I spent all day on a Sunderland fansite, pressing ‘refresh’ and telling them dirty mackems off!”
by ChrisWeatherspoon on Aug 17, 2011 12:14 PM BST up reply actions
Always a pleasure Chris, always a pleasure….but you do realise that’s not actually my name? Just checking like as you can never be sure what you’re dealing with on here.
by Mackem Hater on Aug 17, 2011 1:54 PM BST up reply actions
Not worn that ‘F5’ key out yet buddy?
I was fairly certain that wasn’t your real name, but since you were too scared to admit your full name (and thus align yourself with NUFC), it was all I had to go on!
by ChrisWeatherspoon on Aug 17, 2011 2:11 PM BST via mobile up reply actions
Wey no, as long as there’s mackems in need of education – I’ll be here to lend a hand.
by Mackem Hater on Aug 17, 2011 3:25 PM BST up reply actions
Well, MR Graham told me earlier he had a firey piece to put up, and here it is in all it’s flame-filled glory. I appreciate the Mags taking time out their day to visit and comment too.
When all’s said and done, it’s the derby, and neither of us are all that fond of each other. Similar things are said and written on a daily basis. From both sets of fans. As we’re a Sunderland site, we’re playing to that audience in the main.
This could well come back and bite us in the arse, you never know, but we’re not going to shy away from opinion.
Smb
Jamie Lawrence? Terry butcher? You sad sad person.
The mackum mentality makes me laugh!
Looking forward to seeing the empty pink seats at the weekend!
Thugs?
So I suppose you are completely oblivious to the fact you currently employ the biggest thug of them all, who cant help but try to injure a fellow player, who NOT getting sent off is a massive challenge, and all round scum bag Lee Cattermole. This lad should not be allowed to play the game professionally…or even Sunday League.
And I also suppose it has slipped your biassed mind that your football club hired Roy ‘all round thug and so proud of it actually boasts about it in his own autobiography’ Keane..? This is a man who ended a fellow professional’s career on the pitch, and meant it, and was proud of it. Pure scum.
Say what you want about Barton, Bowyer, Woodgate. Their mis-demeanour’s are OFF the pitch. Which at the end of the day, has nothing to do with football…….and in case you weren’t aware, we are FOOTBALL Clubs.
Try having a nice game on Saturday, even when we dominate you totally on your own patch………AGAIN.
(I wont appear on here ever again, I actually feel quite dirty. Im sure you all understand. Just had to be said. Being so biassed you actually embarrass your own team, isn’t a good thing. Wake up.)
Their mis-demeanours certainly aren’t off the pitch…. Bowyer v Dyer? Barton V anyone? And even if they were off the pitch, they are role models 24/7 and should act as such. In many professions actions such as theirs results in the company getting rid and NUFC should find a moral backbone…. so WAKE UP
Surely the fact that no Newcastle fan can try and defend their club from the accusations in the article WITHOUT have to try to trivialise criminality just kind of proves my point? Meanwhile, of everyone who appears on here, I the one most vehemently sticking up for Newcastle United fans.
Michael, we can’t defend the indefensible but let’s be fair, we could just as easily produce a list of “facts” about your clubs shenanigans. She said no Titus for a start…
by Mackem Hater on Aug 17, 2011 1:57 PM BST up reply actions
What a joke
That has to be the biggest pile I’ve read in a long time…
He starts by saying in recent times then goes back to the Dyer and Bowyer era; just to clarify that was when you were a Championship club and we were pushing for Europe, again.
Then you try and compare Joey Barton’s actions to pulling knife’s on people, come on get in the real world. Don’t forget Tightarse only got off with his rape charge because he offered his brother up…
You are talking about how well behaved Sunderland fans are well take not of this…
I AM FRIENDS WITH THE CHEIF OF POLICE IN SUNDERLAND AND HAVE THIS INFORMATION FOR YOU. ALL FOOTBALL MATCHES IN ENGLAND FALL INTO 3 CATEGORIES; 1 MEANS HIGH CHANCE OF TROUBLE (Derby’s) THEN 2 AND 3 BEING LESS AND LESS PRONE TO TROUBLE. EVERY SINGLE SUNDERLAND HOME GAME IS A CATEGORY 1; THIS IS THE ONLY TEAM IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE TO HAVE THIS OVER THEIR HEADS. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY SUNDERLAND HAS LARGE CROWDS BUT HAVE VERY LOW TURNOVER FROM TICKETS??? IT’S PARTLY BECAUSE OF ALL THE FREE TICKETS THEY GIVE TO SCHOOL CHILDREN TO BOOST THEIR ATTENDANCE BUT A LOT IS DOWN TO THE COST OF POLICE NEEDED FOR EVERY GAME.
Thought I would put that in capitals so you can read and understand what your club is all about.
Another note if you want to compare people try using Roy Keane that you all loved so much. His punch on Shearer was far worse that Joey’s on Pedersen.
What the club is all about?
THE FREE TICKETS THEY GIVE TO SCHOOL CHILDREN
Those bastards!
"I'm talking about cooperating. Favors. You do a favor for me, I'll do one for you. Get it?"
"Do one for me," Yossarian requested. "Not a chance," Doc Daneeka answered.
by Daneeka's Ghost on Aug 17, 2011 1:37 PM BST up reply actions
Amazed that someone is willingly bringing Shearer into it. Kicking a man in the head when
he is on the ground may be the worst of the lot.
Anyway, yet another reply trying to trivialise criminality and in doing so proving the article correct. Any others?
“trying to trivialise criminality”
Is this coming from the man that has just skirted over the fact that a Sunderland player held a knife to another player.
Come on, get in the real world and try and look at this objectively.
Who is skirting over it? It was a deplorable act of violence which was completely unacceptable – which was why he was shipped out of the club immediately. Chance given, chance abused, chance withdrawn. Meanwhile, two convictions for assault and a prison sentence and Joey Barton is a NUFC hero despite still walking round a pitch with clenched fists and manhandling opposition players. The difference in the way the clubs handle such incidents is the key difference – not the individuals themselves.
And how on earth am I “skirting over” it? I was the one who willingly brought it into the conversation, Sherlock!
by michaelgraham on Aug 17, 2011 2:09 PM BST up reply actions
Your skirting over it; talking about Newcastle bringing violent people to the club and then Sunderland go and bring a knife welding lunatic that spits at people and abuses his wife… Yet Newcastle are the team that has no morals.
What about Cattermole, club capital that is barred from every pub in the North East because of his violent past. Countless players with server injuries because of malicious tackles, but again let’s talk about Joey…
You have missed the point. Not entirely unexpected looking at the general level of your replies so far, but I’m here to help you through it…
It isn’t about BRINGING undesirable individuals to the club. Everyone deserves a chance of a fresh start. It’s about KEEPING them at the club after they have abused that chance and disgraced the club and by default endorsing their behaviour. The “knife wielding lunatic” was shipped out of SAFC the second he behaved in such a manner. That is the key difference.
by michaelgraham on Aug 17, 2011 5:48 PM BST up reply actions
“Countless players with server injuries”
Assuming you mean ‘severe’, but go on then, name them?
by ChrisWeatherspoon on Aug 17, 2011 5:51 PM BST up reply actions
Good Quality Hate
Love it. Keep the vitriol coming, this is the week for it, no doubt.
"I'm talking about cooperating. Favors. You do a favor for me, I'll do one for you. Get it?"
"Do one for me," Yossarian requested. "Not a chance," Doc Daneeka answered.
by Daneeka's Ghost on Aug 17, 2011 1:39 PM BST reply actions
What a quality read
I like the cut of your jib.
Ill be back to read more. Such in depth knowledge of the heathen horse botherers from up the road. Wonder if they have Quinns phones tapped?
Lets hope its another cricket match and we declare again.
Ha ha. This from a supporter of a Club who struggle to fill their own stadium UNLESS NUFC are the visitors.
Who’s chairman openly said he “DESPISES” his very own support.
Who’s chairman must regularly go around the local pubs and Social Clubs in a vain attempt to get the very supporters he himself has admitted he despises to come back to the half empty SOL to watch ‘their’ team. Ha ha ha ha.
WHO’S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OPENLY MADE JOKES ABOUT THE MUNICH AIR DISASTER.
Oh yes – “5-1 we beat the scum 5-1”
I think you mean FORMER Chief Executive, who ALLEGEDLY made them at a private function, and comments which are not supported by any kind of public record.
Yet another one who tries to dismiss the severity of multiple convictions for assault by comparing it to silly, trivial, and entirely incomparable events and in doing so completely proves the article you intend to deride to be credible.
Well done, and thank you.
by michaelgraham on Aug 17, 2011 2:21 PM BST up reply actions
Captain's Blog
Comparing Cattermole to Barton is a joke !
These numpties just don’t get it.
What the Captain says is so so true. It’s not only a Sunderland view of Newcastle, it is the view of most impartial fans too.
Well Done Captain, you’ve got them chomping at the bit !
Ha !
Yeah……remind me, what was the GEORDIE GALACTICOS attendance against Arsenal?
Still got the 100,000 waiting list? Won anything since 1955?
Still buying the tops made for 30 bob?
Still paying off the debts for Sir John MACKEM Halls spending?
Still smarting about the playoffs?
Still annoyed that UEFA dont class the Fairs CUp pre 1971 as part of a clubs European Credentials?
Have you ever played in Europe as “winners”?
Ever played in “THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE”?
Ever cried at night knowing you will always be an outsider?
The "Geordie Galacticos" making people laugh through generations.
5-1 we beat the scum 5-1
one defeat on WEARDSIDE in nearly 35 years.
Remind everyone when the last time the wearysiders last graced the playing fields of European football please.
When did NUFC last play in the third tier of the English leagues?
When did wearysiders last take the Gallowgate or The Leazes – rememeber we showed you up that fine day at Roker Park when chants of “UNITED, UNITED” erupted from the mackems popular end as hundreds of Black and Whites made their presence felt.
That’s lovely. Completely irrelevant to the discussion here, but you go champ!
by michaelgraham on Aug 17, 2011 2:42 PM BST up reply actions
Nearly 47k…what’s you point? Type “Lets all Laugh” into Google….even global search engines know the crack.
by Mackem Hater on Aug 17, 2011 3:28 PM BST up reply actions
This week's blog
Captain, Captain, Captain… dear me.
You are lamenting Newcastle United for their supposed shoddy handling of various misdemeanours in the clubs past, yet you are actively encouraging petty crimes on washing lines across the ‘Geordie Nation’ with this week’s blog.
Can only imagine the poorly daubed bedsheets being unfurled in the away end this week.
Well written.
Certainly generated a ton of comments, so good job. While I certainly appreciate that you feel Sunderland is the better team to root for, this article is a little sanctimonious amd black and white (pardon the pun) for my tastes. There are an awful lot of generalizations here. While I’m sure you’re prepared to stand behind them, this is definitely the sort of thing that can come back to bite you later on. There’s been a lot of debate lately among other teams’ supporters about whether or not they’d welcome Mr. Barton onto their team, and I have to say that I understand both sides. While I am not his biggest fan, the bottom line is that I want my team to field the best XI possible. You’re of course free to interpret that as a moral flaw, but I think that’s a little disingenuous. It’s very easy to say you wouldn’t ever root for a certain player or even a certain type of player, but the narrative changes a bit when he’s wearing your uniform. I submit to you as evidence one Lee Cattermole, whose on-the-pitch felonies are reviled in every ground, save The Stadium of Light.
Anyway, I hope the cordial relationship between our blogs will continue. I don’t recognize any of the names of the NUFC fans here. They’re certainly welcome at our site as long as they’re civil, but they don’t represent CHN. Hoping for another 5-1 result this weekend.
by Robert L. Bishop on Aug 17, 2011 7:15 PM BST reply actions
Hi Robert. Tremendous comment and one with which I am delighted to engage.
Although Cattermole is clumsy and at times completely brainless in the way he hunts the ball, any heavy-handedness he does on a football pitch is of a sporting nature. He is contesting the ball, all be it at times irresponsibly. Not sure we can really compare that to what we saw Barton do against Arsenal or Blackburn, when the ball was of no concern to him at all. In fact against Arsenal he specifically walked away from the ball with clenched fists to manhandle an opponent.
But the main crux of the blog isn’t to criticise the Newcastle United fans for supporting these players, but to condemn the club for repeatedly putting the fans in a position where they have to. I was brought up in Newcastle and the vast majority of my friends are Newcastle United fans and I know that they are good moral people. Put a bunch of criminals in any team and they will get the fans support by default. It isn’t a matter of choice. My point is that the club itself should respect those fans and their superb loyalty enough to not abuse it in this way.
by michaelgraham on Aug 17, 2011 8:35 PM BST up reply actions
I see your point (which is a different one than the one you made in the article, by the way)
My main objection is that you’re pointing out the speck of dust in your brother’s eye while ignoring the plank in your own, to borrow a phrase. It’s sort of like when a lot of our people condemned your people after you stormed the pitch and one of the supporters hit Steve Harper. Guess what – several months later, there are some fools wearing black and white stripes storming the pitch at Darlo for no good reason. I guess what I’m saying is that people living in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Again, I totally get that you think your club is better – why should you support them otherwise – but to use language that has no wiggle room (Supporting Newcastle can only mean “supporting violent criminality”? I suppose you think we all punt babies for fun as well.) will only come around to bite you when your club makes its own questionable moves.
To your point below, I disagree that there’s some sort of moral deficiency associated with supporting a player like Joey Barton. As I alluded to above, I understand that some people don’t want to root for unsavory characters. I’ve always been of the mindset that signing players with bad reputations can be a market inefficiency of sorts – the demand lessens, so you can play pennies on the dollar for those players. You don’t have to agree; in fact, I don’t begrudge you at all for taking the opposite side. However, if you think that somehow makes me less of a person, I guess we have arrived at the point where we will have to agree to disagree.
by Robert L. Bishop on Aug 18, 2011 4:16 AM BST up reply actions
With respect, you haven't seen my point at all
The article is in no way a condemnation of the NUFC fans, it is in defence of them.
This was the give away – “When I got married, my best man was a Newcastle fan. He is one of a number of fine individuals I have been lucky enough to know and speak to who happen to follow the club. Frankly, they deserve better than being asked to associate themselves and their support with criminals.”
If any of us Sunderland fans were asked to support characters like Barton, we would do it. The point is that our club respects us enough to not ask us to, where as Newcastle don’t respect their fans enough to do the same. It is a condemnation of those running NUFC over the last decade or so, and a far fairer one than you see from many NUFC fans these days.
Regarding the glass houses – who was it who brought El Hadj Diouf into the argument? Me. Who was it who brought the 12-year-old fan who came on to the pitch at the SoL last season into the argument? Me. The whole point is that as I refuse to brush those incidents under the carpet and I refuse to offer anything other than condemnation for their perpetrators. They were indefensible, and the club did not ask me to defend them because the club dealt with them in a swift and decisive manner that ensured I didn’t have to. Where as at NUFC, multiple convictions for violent crime isn’t enough to afford the NUFC fans the same privilege.
There are a hell of a lot of NUFC fans looking at this blog, not reading it properly, putting words in my mouth instead, and them leaping on the defensive and condemning me for them. If they had read it properly, they’d have realised that coming on here and leaving a comment defending the criminality that has been associated with NUFC, or merely brushing over it and dismissing it, are doing NOTHING but proving the blog to be entirely correct and vindicated.
by michaelgraham on Aug 18, 2011 12:37 PM BST up reply actions
No, you're talking out of both sides of your mouth.
The last quote is the actual giveaway:
supporting violent criminality will seemingly always be intrinsic to loving Newcastle United.
What privilege am I being denied by Mike Ashley, et al? I don’t feel compelled to defend the actions of Joey Barton because I’m quite capable seeing shades of gray. I cheer for him when he’s playing, I don’t when he’s not. The point you’re making in the comments section – that the NUFC board is the culprit – is quite different from the one that you made in the article – that Newcastle fans are made of inferior moral fiber because of the club they root for.
With respect, just because I disagree doesn’t mean I’ve missed the point.
by Robert L. Bishop on Aug 18, 2011 4:41 PM BST up reply actions
“is quite different from the one that you made in the article – that Newcastle fans are made of inferior moral fiber”
That WASN’T the point I was making. Trust me on this one. I know my pint better than you do and don’t need you putting words in my mouth. Think about it logically – if I thought that Newcastle fans were “made of inferior moral fibre”, then why would I also say that they deserve better?
So yes – you have missed the point.
by michaelgraham on Aug 18, 2011 7:30 PM BST up reply actions
I didn't put the last sentence of the post in your mouth, nor the words "moral black hole."
You’re the one that said you can’t have dignity and root for Newcastle.
But if it makes you feel better to claim that I am proving your point, by all means, do so. I stand by my original statement. There’s a lot of sanctimony here, and that isn’t attractive.
by Robert L. Bishop on Aug 18, 2011 11:38 PM BST up reply actions
How on earth can anyone claim that finding ways to defend, support, and trivialise criminals and their on-field thuggery be dignified? I understand that it is about the higher purpose of wanting your club to do well, but that doesn’t make it dignified.
But that just makes NUFC fans football fans. We’d all do it. It says nothing of their moral fibre as individuals. It is the club that happily puts them in the position where-by they are forced to do that is in the wrong. There isn’t a single thing in which I condemn Newcastle United fans for supporting their club. Granted, you can make it look like I have – as you have tried to do – by posting sentences in isolation and out of context, but read the whole thing and it is the club I condemn.
The fact you are calling our pride in NOT having to find ways to trivialise thuggery in the name of our club “sanctimonious” is absolutely proving my point. It isn’t a claim, or a suggestion. It is a cast-iron fact – and all in the pursuit of defending yourself from an accusation that hasn’t been made. Very strange.
by michaelgraham on Aug 19, 2011 1:34 AM BST up reply actions
Spot On Captain !
Have to congratulate you on this item and your last comment. The Mags can come back with 5-1 and we ran out of the Fulwell End once the Mackems knew we were there and you haven’t done this since then, but neither have we ! but ha! they completely miss the point, as I suspect you knew they would, We can laugh and we will cos we know we follow the only NE club in the Premier with any class and any respect.
NUFC should be made into a comic it is that funny.
Cheers T_Bone marra. You are bang on the money.
I think the word that sums it all up is ‘dignity’. You simply cannot retain dignity whilst being asked to support and defend criminals and criminal behaviour. SAFC ensure we don’t have to make that sacrifice, where as NUFC don’t think enough of their fans to do the same for them.
by michaelgraham on Aug 17, 2011 10:38 PM BST up reply actions
Great piece! It’s true to state this is about ‘dignity’ and how the club is seen up and down the country, not just by their local rivals! I have some close mates who are NUFC fans and they admit it’s painful at times watching the club score constant own goals by condoning thuggish behaviour. They comment on how if they speak to other fans etc the main talking point about NUFC is mainly about ‘non football’ aspects of the club.
As the Captain points out, whenever SAFC has been confronted with any sort of difficulty they have thankfully got rid of the trouble so we can look at our club with pride.
OMG thats the funniest thing i have ever read, yes i agree in someways that there has been some how do i say “dodgey discipline” but all the players you mentioned from the toon were and in some respect “ACTUAL TALENT” however the sunderland players you mentioned are all 3rd division talent, most of them couldnt be given away at a charity auction never mind sold on. I dont blame the toon for defending their players until such time they can be shifted on and lets face it soon after “their troubles” they were shifted on but for a healthy proffit.
Kieron Dyer 6million to west ham
Lee Boywer 2million+
Andy Carrol 35Million
Jonathan Woodgate 13million
El Hadj Diouf UNDISCLOSED
Kenwyne Jones 8million
And to compare all four NUFC players who lost their heads in the heat of a match or ALLEGEDLY attacked someone in the street to the sunderland players who were a knife weilding maniac or person that hides a murder suspect, seriously?!?!? what were you smoking dude lol
and as for pride, tell that to the shocking sunderland fans that were pissed up after we HAMMERED you guys 5-1 that thought it was funny to shout abuse on their way home to my 7 year old son while he was playing football on the green. Seriously get your head out of your ass before you write up such DRIVEL again.
by facepalmsunderland on Aug 18, 2011 3:09 AM BST reply actions
You have missed the point completely. Well done. You are stupid AND funny. Don’t ever change.
by michaelgraham on Aug 18, 2011 3:32 AM BST up reply actions
what a load of sh*t
this artical has been thought through as well as a titus bramble back pass.
Bitter much?
Signed 10 new players and a creditable draw at Liverpool – surely a chance to approach the new season with optimism and excitement – instead, a bitter, bitter fool – get a grip you sad sad man – the IQ of a glass of water (or even 10 car park attendants).
As to someone else missing the point completely? What, exactly is the point?
From a team that has a player who has committed GBH at least 3 or 4 times – Cattermole is a saint then is he? He’s not a hardman – hardmen don’t avoid a real tackle by going in late once the ball has been played – they actually win the challenge – dirty, dirty player.
And El Hadj Diouf? Makes you proud that one does it?
Cattermole does what he does in a sporting nature – blinkered garbage – dear me.
Not defending Barton by the way – would be glad to see the back of him – but your article is lazy, ill-founded, spurious nonsense daft lad.
by Martin James McGuigan on Aug 18, 2011 7:29 AM BST reply actions
Seriously. Roy Keane openly admitted and took pride in the fact he ended another professionals career, Lee Cattermole? Does what he does in a sporting nature?? Come on even the most blinkered of fan can see he is a petty thug. And of course El Hadj Diouf. I think Joey Barton is a nob but I’d rather see a player picking another player up after a dive than someone spitting in another player’s face……
Nothing worse than........
……..abuseing the families of all the black players in your team !!!
PS. You’ll never get over the 5-1 will you ???
To Michael.......
…………you write a load of twaddle and expect Toon fans to say nothing ? It’s easy for you to write what you did in your last comment, that’s just a cheap cop-out when one has nothing more to say.
Maybe you should re-read your original article and and look closer to home when accusing others of making ignorant comments !
Apt point; shame few got it
Salut Captain,
I think you’re spot on here. That grubby feeling when you have to cheer for a hugely unpopular figure isn’t much fun— I suppose in that way I do have sympathy for Newcastle supporters. Let’s face it; there isn’t much one can say to defend the character of Joey Barton and his ilk.
I remember very clearly hating that I had to support Diouf. But he was one of us, so duly I supported. I don’t mind supporting Catts though; okay he’s a great kicker of legs, but he lacks that streak of maliciousness that exists in Barton, Diouf, et al.
The Newcastle owner, the director(s) and the manager are very much to blame for the situation down the road it seems. I don’t think they’re necessarily bad people (never having met any of them) but it seems there is quite a bit of apathy in their upper echelons.
In Niall Quinn, we have a Chairman who loves this club, but also has long associations with it. Perhaps it’s my bias here, but, depsite his productive years elsewhere, I think of Niall Quinn as Sunderland through and through. The reputation of this club is very much tied to him. So when Diouf pulled the knife, he was shipped out ASAP. Ditto other trouble-makers like Chimbonda.
Mike Ashley, Derek Llambias and Alan Pardew don’t seem to be burdened with such thoughts. Which I suppose makes sense if we consider that Ashley has tried to sell the club, and Pardew’s reputation as a bit of a journeyman.
The best thing for Newcastle is probably to get in some of their legends (those that Ashley and company haven’t alienated yet) in run the day to day operations of the club. They need a board and a Chairman who bleed black and white, and until they get that, I’m afraid Newcastle supporters will continue to be subjected to the whims of Mr Ashley and the Cocknet Mafia.
I wouldn’t claim to be able to speak for Newcastle supporters; it’s entirely possible that a number of them view Barton as a positive role model (Christ knows why). But from the responses I’ve read to this article, it seems like a number of them have missed the larger point that Barton is not a good person; he’s simply not a good human being. And if he was never sacked from Man City, Newcastle fans would be giving him stick as well.
Even Alan Shearer doesn’t like him.
...
Or quite possibly the ‘Cockney Mafia’
by chatnoir_safc on Aug 18, 2011 2:45 PM BST up reply actions
Spot on. If more Newcastle fans were not so quick to leap to the defensive and actually consider what was written, they would have also arrived at your sound understanding of the subject matter.
To just expand your point a little if I may – Shearer respected NUFC fans enough to try and rid them of the burden of defending Joey Barton. It’s a shame for them really that Ashley didn’t give him the chance to.
by michaelgraham on Aug 18, 2011 7:35 PM BST up reply actions
Chatnoir_safc
Mate,
those are the most sensible words I’ve read all day. It’s a shame the author of the original article is not as sensible with his words and choice of topic. We, as Toon fans do get it……..and although I cannot speak for others, I personally never liked Joey Barton as a person when he was at City athough I did rate him as a footballer. I never particularly liked David Batty,Lee Bowyer or Jonathan Woodgate. In fact I hated the latter two after the incidents they were involved in. But, like you said, as soon as they pull on the colours of your club, you support them. As for shipping them out……..that brings me on to my second point, that you mentioned regarding owners. We have a couple of guys in charge that could not give a toss about the fans and their opinions. They are running the club as a business and will not ship out someone based on morals and values but purely on the basis of financial constraints. Until any player including Barton becomes a liability (which they clearly feel is the case now), they will keep him until it suits them, no matter what the fans or even the manager thinks ! And until then we are forced to support them when they pull on the shirt. I’m afraid Michael Graham is the one who doesn’t get it………………….clearly ! I feel the original article is written to incite and is done in poor taste.
You’re lucky you guys have Niall Quinn as chairman too, because it’s obvious for all to see that Ashley and Lambias leave a lot to be desired and that Quinn has the club, the players, the fans and the reputation of Sunderland at heart.
Bring on Saturday.
At last a response from a mag with a modicum of sense to it. Someone that can admit that the people in charge of our club are better than those in charge at NUFC. That is afterall what the original post was about when you cut through all the details about misdemeanors by players (of both clubs). The article is not about the players but about the way our respective clubs are run and I simply cannot accept that anyone (no matter how biased) can consider Newcastle is a better run football team than Sunderland. I can’t think of any other club where the chairman and owner are coveted as much as Quinn and Ellis are at Sunderland, and with good reason. The fact the club instill a ‘family’ ethic to the club whereby players are shipped out when they step over the line should be credited.
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