October 2010 Archives
As derbies go, this one will be right up there with the best of them.
The same pages of Geordie folklore that contain chapters for stars like Liam O'Brien, Emre, Scott Sellars, David Kelly, Andy O'Brien, Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley to name but a few, Shola Ameobi updated his own section and was joined by super Kevin Nolan in a 5-1 win that well and truly put Sunderland in their place.
Chris Hughton's position had been put under the spotlight this week as questions and stick have not been in short supply.
With the week we've had on Tyneside, perhaps it's quite ironic that we'll end it in the East End with the black and white soap opera not letting anybody down after an emotional seven days in Toonland.
But while the off the field distractions will iron themselves out in the fullness of time, come 5.30pm at Upton Park, many of us will just be glad that the emphasis will finally be on football again.
Nobody needs to be reminded of the importance of this game from a black and white point of view.
He arrived here as some bloke who used to play for Tottenham and Aston Villa and left as a figure that helped write an important chapter in the history of Newcastle United.
Colin Calderwood left the club's Benton base with his head held high after playing a crucial if under-stated role with United in the last 18 months.
For a bloke who has been the big chief of both Nottingham Forest and Northampton, Calderwood somehow managed to perform his duty as first team coach without treading on Chris Hughton's toes and maintaining the respect of United's senior players.
The mere suggestion that Chris Hughton should go as manager of Newcastle United is nothing short of football madness.
Talk that it's time to go for Hughton leaves me cold, as the former Republic of Ireland international is THE reason Newcastle United have not imploded in the last 12 months
Against all odds Hughton brought the United players together at a time when it could all have gone pear shaped in the Championship.
Profile
Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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