black cats blog Passion and Perspective

Posted: October 31st 2008
Click here to feedback

In last Sunday’s Observer, Amy Lawrence neatly summed up our encounter with The Mags as “emotional chaos”.  Those of us heavily involved with a football club could have our long-term partnership described in similar terms. If the relationship was ripped apart and analysed by a Relate counsellor, even after gruelling self-analysis and damning critical shredding of our loved one, we would inevitably return to the comfy familiar marital home (although it does get a bit nippy in the Stadium of Light in a brisk north sea breeze…)

Last month has provided typically topsy turvy times. When we played away from home at Fulham the referee interrupted us in full flow.  He stormed in accusing us of cheating, denying us the “back of the net” afterglow. A full romp was not an option after that.

Often, one can get seduced by the glamour of another. Roy Keane was clearly not going to allow any admiring gazes to result in ultimate heartbreak against Arsenal. Trousers double belted, 4-5-1, close marking at the back worked. Wenger hated a mere draw, moaning about our “negative” tactics. I used to quite like him. We clearly should have adopted a 1-1-8 formation so they could writhe all over us and play their usual sexy game. Funny how you can go off people...

Unfortunately during that game, I broke the “think before you speak” rule. 1-0 up in the dying minutes I piped up, “Fabregas has been quiet”. You can guess the rest… I said the same about Torres in our first game. I often forget the wise words of my mam who told me it was important to learn to keep quiet or “you’ll get bit on the bum by your own words”. On Tuesday I was busy telling anyone who would listen that we would stuff Stoke. Boastful from the weekend conquest I thought we’d roll over a cheap date and get 3 points in the sack pretty easily. I forgot that we tend to underperform when up against a bit of rough. Let’s hope we can dress up and make an effort for Chelsea this weekend.

I have to confess that I wussed out of going to The Britannia – some dates just aren’t worth it especially if (as in my case) you can’t drag a gooseberry along. The last time I went there not only was the game shocking but me and my pal Big Col got “moved to safety” by some helpful policemen to avoid the regular shower of bricks being thrown at the visiting coach park. Even the food was hostile; I got third degree burns off “pie of the month”.

Stoke peed on our bonfire but the flames of passion were toxic at the SoL on Saturday. Sadly the domestic violence distracted the media from our perfect match. With the circus surrounding Toon this season the Joey Barton sideshow was inevitable; is anyone really surprised stuff was chucked at him? If you believed the tabloids you’d be forgiven thinking that semtex was being lobbed his way.
My personal jury’s out on Barton - within football itself there are many for whom I hold more contempt (step up anyone with the name Ashley…).  Off the pitch his messed- up, nasty criminal persona seems prevalent in so many angry antisocial lads. He has chosen to squander a vast pool of potential and misdirect his seething energy. A menace to society maybe, but more importantly in my world he bothered our defence when he came on. With my educated, namby-pamby, liberal, mother-of-three sons’ hat on I could be persuaded towards sympathy through arguments about his crap background and desire to reform his character. As an inebriated Sunderland fan after the game I merely concluded he was a “badge kissing little sh*t”.  

Joey clearly needed Stoke’s finest to protect him. Lax stewarding/policing in such a highly charged atmosphere was a huge issue last Saturday (although the morons who ran on the pitch to taunt Shay Given will hopefully not get through our turnstiles again).

I’d been concerned that our imported players simply wouldn’t get it and not make the effort but my fears were unfounded.  During the pre match warm up their wired rapport further electrified the crowd; I swear Anton Ferdinand had a glint in his eye. Not only caught up in the noise and throes of passion the lads gave us some commitment too. By comparison, Newcastle have endured the most unreliable of partners and dodgy bedfellows in recent years. Den and Ange, Pete ‘n’ Kate, Amy and Blake have nothing on Toon and Keegan…

                                              ************************

Heartfelt condolences to family and friends of Alan Thompson who sat along the row from us in the North East Corner and sadly died at kick off on Saturday.
RIP fella

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Sunderland-fan-died-at-Newcastle.4635829.jp