Sunderland meet Newcastle United on Sunday for a Wear-Tyne derby more likely to bathe the Stadium of Light in rancorous bad temper than be a springtime carnival of football passions. For Sunderland, their new manager, Dick Advocaat, is tasked with maintaining the club above the Premier League relegation places and raising spirits brought to bitter dissatisfaction in the failing end of Gus Poyet’s tenure.
Newcastle, in 12th place, should feel by contrast like a northern rock of stability, clear of real relegation worries, 50,000 crowds still stocking the yawning stands of St James’ Park to watch the fabled black and white shirts of a grand English football club. The caretaker coach, John Carver, will take a reasonably competent team of mostly frugal signings to Sunderland aiming to win but among the fans in the stands there is widespread disenchantment with the club’s character under the owner, Mike Ashley, founder of the no-frills retail behemoth Sports Direct. With a stated football aim of finishing 10th or higher, and cups not a priority, there is a draining of spirit. Michael Martin, a supporters’ trust board member and editor of the True Faith fanzine, sadly describes Newcastle now as “a zombie club, half alive, half dead, going nowhere”.
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from Sport | The Guardian http://ift.tt/1HrEA34
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