Newcastle V Sunderland!

I could talk for ever about why this game is important but i dont want to put the rest of you to sleep.
Coming into this game both Newcastle and Sunderland have hit some form. Is not always easy to carry this form into a derby though. Keegan has already said that he is going to name an unchanged side to the one that drew with pompey. This is how we will line up:

Harper
Beye
Taylor
Faye
Jose Enrique
Barton
Butt
Geremi
Owen
Viduka
Martins

The 4-3-3 system that keegan has adopted has made a real difference in how we play as a team. There seems to be a real togetherness which was missing under big sam. I believe this will be the difference between the two sides. My prediction is a 2-1 win for Newcastle. what do the rest of you think??

Newcastle is going to thrash Sunderland 3-0 with Martins on the score sheet. Sunderland is a small team and even though Newcastle are the sleeping giants, I don't see them drawing or losing to Sunderland.

oh no ....you used the sleeping giants term again .....

Will be a close game, Newcastle may just squeeze it with the home advantage - I reckon 2-1 Newcastle or 2-2.

i think it'll either be a draw...or sunderland will win. sorry Jack!

thats just mean!

Now that is an uneven team if ever there was one. Comedy defence, washed up midfield, awesome strikeforce. Newcastle never learn.

now heres a typical anti Newcastle fan that thinks its funny to criticize the club, when the real question was about the match!!!
do these tossers ever learn!

I can see a tight game as Sparky the sausage gobbler said, 2-1 to Newcastle for me.

Foodist.

2-2 draw for me, maybe a 3-1 necastle win like, but i think a draw. Keane could always smack owen up in the tunnel at half time

Newcastle definitely have some momentum going for them at the moment and the squad are starting to believe in themselves. Sunderland are still scrapping to stay out of the relegation zone but I think their 7 point cushion is more than enough to stay up.

I notice Smith isn't playing, is he injured, or simply no room for him in the 4-3-3 formation?

I think it will be close - Newcastle 2 Sunderland 1.

smith hasnt really fitted in since he came. big sam started playin him out of position and he hasnt made a big impact. i think smith was injured or had a ban when we first played the 4-3-3 system. he didnt have a chance to come back in because the team was winning. he comes on as a sub in every match since the change. i hope smith gets his chance though, but you cant change a winning team.

I'm not sure what Smith's best position is these days. He used to play as an out n out striker at Leeds but didn't really get much opportunity at Man Utd with SAF using hime to support the central midfield. He gets about the pitch ok with plenty of enthusiasm but not much end product, probably in the Dirk Kuyt mould.

I think Smiths best position is as a second striker, he has a good touch and passing ability, but not quite the poaching skills of a out and out striker. To be honest I think he is an ideal squad player for a big club, he can play anywhere along the midfield or upfront. For me he would only be a first choice striker at somwhere like middlesbrough, Portsmouth or Bolton etc.

well i think they are starting to learn ...what is it ...unbeaten in 4 or 5 games now ?

Sounds like Spurs nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

what ...so either a 4-0 win or a 4-0 loss .....or a 4-4 draw ......

Definitely sounds like Spurs

its 4 conner and 3 cleansheets with the "comedy defence".
shame some people dont know what they are talkin about on this site.......if only he knew that the "uneven team" has played them last 4 games.