When I look at Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ayoze Perez and Gini Wijnaldum my derby hopes soar.
Then my gaze turns further back and I’m mortified at what might be.
That’s the hugely conflicting feeling I have – along with many Newcastle fans I guess – as I look towards tomorrow’s massive match at the Stadium of Light.
Let’s deal with the positives first because that’s a much better feeling.
I believe that United have a proper centre-forward in Mitrovic.
He is a line leader, good in the air, has the shot of a cannon, and can hold his own muscle for muscle.
He scored a cracking No 9 goal against Norwich taking the ball down on his chest to hammer home an unstoppable shot.
When he was subbed he came off with his chest puffed out and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face. He was delighted that Newcastle had won at long last. Good for him.
Perez is Mitrovic’s perfect partner – nippy with good feet and a maker of intelligent runs.
They go together so well and because they are really young will develop as a pair as long as United hang onto them.
I’m certain Steve McClaren didn’t realise what he had at first because he didn’t select the young Spaniard. But, boy, he knows now.
Add Wijnaldum who scores goals from midfield and offensively thing are suddenly looking good.
A couple of his four to down the Canaries were crackers.
However it is a different tale defensively. Norwich were awful, a rag tag of a team on the day, but they scored twice and hit the woodwork twice.
The back four were all over the place right from the first Norwich goal. They were close together along the six-yard line but when a left-wing cross was put in behind them no one reacted bar the yellow striker.
For me the bulk of the problems stem from Fabricio Colocinni who is not playing as a captain or a central defender of vast experience. Frankly he does my head in at times.
I’ve known some great skippers – Bob Moncur, Bobby Moore, Johnny Haynes and Joe Harvey and none of them did what Colo does.
As a consequence young Chancel Mbemba isn’t being helped and is learning bad habits while a third-choice keeper Rob Elliot is having to try and read what his main defender is going to do next.
A derby match isn’t the ideal time to change things but once it is over I would go with Paul Dummett at the centre of the defence. He loves to defend which is a rarity these days.
United must prevent Sunderland from scoring tomorrow.
They haven’t a potent attack and a clean sheet would be an ideal platform from which to go on and win the game.
The Magpies have shown they can do it. They got a 0-0 at Manchester United who have a better attack than Sunderland.
The secret of course is to win the first tackle because that sets the mood of the big games.
Bob Stokoe sent out Ritchie Pitt to nail Allan Clarke as early as possible in the 1973 FA Cup final and on my return to St James’ Park I booted Irving Nattrass straight from the kick off.
The outcome? Victories for both Sunderland and Arsenal.
Lee Cattermole is Sunderland’s rattler of cages and Mitrovic must be ready to resist the sort of winding up he’ll receive to test him out.
McClaren will have been banging on to him all week about it and I think (I hope) the lad has learned and will be ready to repel boarders!
Sam Allardyce will have something up his sleeve because if he wins the feelgood factor will pour back on Wearside whereas defeat would put Newcastle back amongst doom and gloom.
My derby prediction?
Either a goalless draw or United to nick it by a single goal. Either would be most acceptable.