Steve McClaren has completed his press conference for the game at Sunderland on Sunday and he describes the game spot on – for those Newcastle players who are new to a white-hot Newcastle – Sunderland derby game.
As far as both sets of fans are concerned these two games every season are the two most important games of the season.
Let’s hope this is not McClaren thinking about the game plan for Sunday
This is some of what Steve has said in his press conference today:
“It’s derby day on Sunday and the importance of this match is not lost on me or any of our players.”
“Quite simply it is one of the most important days of the season. We travel to the Stadium of Light at the weekend delighted to have our first win under our belts and looking to make it back-to-back victories.”
“Needless to say it was imperative that we won last week and whilst we all said beforehand that we would have taken a scrappy one-nil win, the bonus for everyone at the club and, in particular, you the supporters, was that it was an exciting, entertaining game with some fantastic periods of play and of course terrific goals.”
“I don’t need reminding that we have lost the last five derbies and for everyone associated with the club that is simply unbearable. It wasn’t so long ago that we won five in row and we are desperately keen and hugely motivated to turn the tide and bring the points back to Tyneside.”
The atmosphere is always incredible and I think unique to the North East and we have to go there, stand up and be counted. “There’s no question that our players understand what it means to win the derby.”
My message to the players is simple. Win every personal battle, handle the occasion and be disciplined. If we can do all that and put one or two of our chances away then we can come away with the positive result we all crave.”
All derby games are important – there’s no doubt about that and you can usually throw the form book away for who will win the game.
However, if we can win our first derby game for over four years it will give us added momentum following last Sunday’s 6-2 win over Norwich City – and put us 7 points ahead of Sunderland after 10 games – when you take into account goal difference.
That sounds good to us.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
76 comments so far
Jib
Oct 22, 2015 at 8:26 PM
Comment #41How can one single out Colo from this total mess ?
Blackley and Brownlie
Oct 22, 2015 at 8:26 PM
Comment #42The makems have been dead jammy against us with refereeing decisions. Our luck has to change. It’s well overdue.
optimistic prime
Oct 22, 2015 at 8:27 PM
Comment #43The only thing Tiote will give on Sunday is free kicks and pens to Sunderlsnd.
Tiote from 3 years ago may have offered something, he’s been garbage for 2 seasons and couldn’t tackle the skin on a rice pudding without breaking the bowl.
Look at the awesome job he didn’t do on Sunday, a fig leaf over your genitals offers more cover and protection.
If he has such steel why did he hide in the 1st game of this losing streak once Cattermole gave him a taste of his own medicine after 30secs.
I’d rather Goufran was there, he may offer nowt like Tiote but atleast he’d get to 90mins.
dok - the horrid colonial
Oct 22, 2015 at 8:35 PM
Comment #44how can one use google to nausea?
Blackley and Brownlie
Oct 22, 2015 at 8:37 PM
Comment #45Jib @41
You’re a master of technology and google … but unfortunately not of football. It’s clearly not your game.
The goal was a dog’s breakfast. However, Colo is most culpable. He’s the man in the middle charged with marking the centre forward. Crosses are not always prevented. When they’re not it’s the centre back’s job to stop the man in the middle.
Just watch Colo only. He might as well have been serving drinks in the 1892 club. Pathetic. The point is that this is typical of Colo’s defending. It’s not a one off.
dok - the horrid colonial
Oct 22, 2015 at 8:37 PM
Comment #46novo,
hope your dead wrong buddy… I feel like were gonna thrash them for 2 plus years of losing,….
Jib
Oct 22, 2015 at 8:43 PM
Comment #47I did watch Colo only, and thought “oh my god” ,then I watched Tiote only and thought “flippin heck!” , then I watched Sissoko only and thought “bloomin Nora!!!” , then I watched Janmaat only and thought “sweet Jesus !!!!!!!!”
Bambams
Oct 22, 2015 at 8:50 PM
Comment #48Gents
We are due a break in the derbies but at the end of the day we have in the past had a lot of local or English/British players that knew what the Derby meant.
I hope this current team are not just words.
At the same time I would rather be in our position with this set of players than Sunderlands….I genuinely think they will drop and from what a few of my work colleagues believe – they are Sunderland fans, they are skint !
We need to spend a bloody fortune in January, Matip, Austin and a proven playmaker are a must or players of similar standing.
Who these players are I have no idea.
Cheers for the craic boys
Novocastrian66
Oct 22, 2015 at 8:55 PM
Comment #49Me too dok, but I no longer believe in fairies. Rewards have to be earned and I’m convinced they will be up for it and we don’t have anyone capable of standing up to them, except Mitrovic.
Jib
Oct 22, 2015 at 8:58 PM
Comment #50I think the media have been linking us with the wrong Schalke defender , it’s not Joel Matip at all.
Benedikt Höwedes has a £12.6 million release clause in his contract (expires June 2017) and it is a matter of record that we offered Schalke €18million for a defender in Summer.
Benni is a German national team regular , 27 years old , can play anywhere across the back without demur , is a natural leader.
What a signing he would be !!!!!!!
Jail for Ashley
Oct 22, 2015 at 9:04 PM
Comment #51jeff thought Pardew got us promoted from the Championship how would he know who we wera after in the summer phaa
Jib
Oct 22, 2015 at 9:07 PM
Comment #52See what I mean Ed
You don’t really need an email do you ?
Blackley and Brownlie
Oct 22, 2015 at 9:15 PM
Comment #53Jib
We’ve got to be able to deal with crosses into the box. You’re not telling me we didn’t have enough numbers to defend that cross, are you?
Mister Tuff
Oct 22, 2015 at 9:25 PM
Comment #54I saw Jib was still posting and not banned and thought – Holy Cow!
Jail for Ashley
Oct 22, 2015 at 9:28 PM
Comment #55Well I reckon we’ve got them on the run this time, they’re shyting themselves, they’ve relied on six points from us for two seasons now and they’re not getting them this time round so I think we’ll see the last of them for awhile which is a shame for the pure reason we won’t be able to turn them over six times in a row for awhile !
jimmysmith
Oct 22, 2015 at 9:40 PM
Comment #56I could talk endlessly about Pardew, not because I think he’s a great manager, but because he was here for so long when Ashley was obviously looking first and foremost at the bottom line, and it seems to me that it is within that context he has to be judged. I’ll be brief though because he’s gone.
I’m essentially supportive of all things Newcastle as a starting point, but have at times been critical here and there, mostly of the transfer policy, and at times of talented players that don’t run around enough to succeed in this league
Pardew I largely supported, even liked, because he was OUR manager, and a manager who worked hard and kept going when others would have long thrown in the towel.
We generally played well when we had the players, very well on occasions, not so well when we didn’t, in a league that is remorseless. He’s gone to Palace and got a modest group playing effectively and well on the counter attack.
His time came and went here, but I think to lay the blame for our periods of underachievement at his door, is an quite obviously an overly simplistic and inadequate position to take.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 22, 2015 at 9:40 PM
Comment #57Blackas,
I don’t share the same hatred for Collo as our resident stalker but the guy should not be anywhere near the captains armband, I don’t think it a coincidence anymore that we have one of the worst goals against over the last few years anymore, he has simply got to have the worst GD of any CB in the PL.
Jail for Ashley
Oct 22, 2015 at 9:42 PM
Comment #58Well put Jimmy, I didn’t like him, then liked and defended him then couldn’t stand the sight of him by the time he left.
toon kk
Oct 22, 2015 at 10:00 PM
Comment #59As far as our defenders go Why don’t we close players down? Why do we stand back? And why does Colo turn his back? Yep in case he gets hurt.
Jib
Oct 22, 2015 at 10:11 PM
Comment #60Benik Afobe
6 foot striker from Wolves – latest name to be linked with us for January.
SUTTY1978
Oct 22, 2015 at 10:14 PM
Comment #61Jib, we were linked with him in the summer as well, they wanted £14m for him even though they bought him for about £2.5m last January!
SUTTY1978
Oct 22, 2015 at 10:18 PM
Comment #62Kk, the players always run up to close to the opposing player and then just stand near them, like the ball is going to magically transfer to them. I’d like to blame Carver for that. Even when Pardew was at the club you could always hear Carver hollering “don’t foul him” at the players which probably put them off attempting physical contact and certainly alerted the ref to a potential foul in the offing even if there isn’t one occurring!
SUTTY1978
Oct 22, 2015 at 10:27 PM
Comment #63Just seen that PEA is second highest scorer in all European leagues, 10 goals so far. Him and Mitro would be some partnership…. If only.
jimmysmith
Oct 22, 2015 at 10:37 PM
Comment #64Very difficult to take the captaincy off someone, and still play them. Many argue that the role of captain is largely symbolic, and I tend to agree. Having a group of players who are willing to take individual responsibility is far more important than a single powerful voice. He was offered the job, and can’t reasonably be criticised for taking it, surely.
Toon Tang
Oct 22, 2015 at 11:19 PM
Comment #65Liverpool had 35 shots on target and only mustered one damn goal. Must have been a shit load of pea rollers and tame chipped efforts straight into the keepers arms eh. I’d certainly want more of a return for my 35 shot outlay anyways
Toon Tang
Oct 22, 2015 at 11:21 PM
Comment #6635 shots altogether sorry. I’m more blind then John Motson when it comes to recent stats
Toon Tang
Oct 22, 2015 at 11:22 PM
Comment #67Whatever it was, it was crap strike rate.
Toon Tang
Oct 22, 2015 at 11:24 PM
Comment #68Bet they’re gutted ol’ Sturridge has got paper shins
Toon Tang
Oct 22, 2015 at 11:34 PM
Comment #69Ol’ crumple muscles
Toon Tang
Oct 22, 2015 at 11:35 PM
Comment #70Too many tumbleweeds rolling by.
Stay strong people…
Toon Tang
Oct 22, 2015 at 11:43 PM
Comment #71Off to my pit, it’s now safe to come out.
Munster Mag
Oct 23, 2015 at 12:03 AM
Comment #72Jail, so u are flexible at best and feeble at worst! Dont get narky or i wont buy u a pint on my next toon visit!
jane
Oct 23, 2015 at 12:04 AM
Comment #73not many class players are needed in a team to make it perform a lot better like Suarez, Sterling and Sturridge did so maybe Mitrovic, Wijnaldum and Perez can be a similar ie make more of a difference than you would think just 3 players can.
jimmysmith
Oct 23, 2015 at 12:06 AM
Comment #74The only player I’d take from Sunderland is the much despised Cattermole. Very competitive and combative midfielder of the type we are missing and more than decent on the ball and would compliment Colback. Would much prefer a fit, focused and committed Tiote though, which might be just as fanciful, at this stage of his Newcastle career.
jimmysmith
Oct 23, 2015 at 12:12 AM
Comment #75For the first 11, that is. There’s quite a few others I’d take for the squad.
Munster Mag
Oct 23, 2015 at 12:17 AM
Comment #76Jimmy, colback and cattermole. No thanks. Too industrial even for playing makems. I wish the deise centre half wasnt playing for them. He’s a tough man. Btw deise = waterford. As in…up the deise buoy! Htl 🙂