Ten Times Bigger Than The Play-Off With Mackems?
Last updated : 08 May 2009 By Footy Mad - Editor
I know Sir John Hall said later "it was the best thing that happened to Newcastle, because we weren't ready for the First Division (Premiership as it is now)".
But that was the biggest load of bollox I've ever heard in my life.
We lost to the Mackems; at St James' Park; they got promoted; we didn't ... and it doesn't get any worse than that.
Then Toon boss Jim Smith has branded Newcastle United's do or die Tyne-Tees derby as "10 times as big" as that game.
The Bald Eagle was the last manager to get Newcastle relegated (in 1989) and he failed to take us back up ... which is probably why he was never a favourite on Tyneside.
He was even punched when giving a talk-in at a Newcastle social club.
He didn't enjoy his time on Tyneside (as he says in his book) and we certainly didn't enjoy it either.
Smith: "You look at the two teams and they are both drained of confidence.
"I'd say that Newcastle have certainly got a clutch of players who have done it at the top flight for many years like Nicky Butt, Mark Viduka, Damien Duff, Michael Owen, Oba Martins and Kevin Nolan.
"Then you look at Boro and they have a lot of good youngsters they have nurtured through as well as people like Stewart Downing, Robert Huth and Emmanuel Pogatetz.
"They have a good blend to look at on paper.
"But for both sides it just hasn't happened for them enough on a consistent basis. There has been so much upheaval at Newcastle, it's hardly surprising.
"At Boro though they have just been unable to get out of the rut.
"Something has to give when they meet on Monday.
"I'm sure of it, I can't see it being 0-0 or a stalemate in that nature because with nerves jangling so badly, there will be mistakes made by two sets of players low on the ground when it comes to confidence. The key is whether people can take advantage of the mistakes and punish them."
But he claims Newcastle have a slight edge.
