FOR one night only, the Wear-Tees derby warrants a change of title; Woe-Tears is a more appropriate summary of the seasons being endured by Sunderland and Middlesbrough. The prospect of relegation looms over both North East clubs, while pressure engulfs Mick McCarthy and Steve McClaren, neither of whom has been granted funds to invest in the transfer market.
With Newcastle United lurching between crisis and respite, the region is not enriching the Barclays Premiership, unless a staple diet of rumour and internecine conflict can be counted. There was more yesterday as McCarthy reflected on Sunderland’s humiliating departure from the FA Cup and McClaren used political language to illustrate his frustrations.
Middlesbrough’s decline to fourth-bottom of the table is far more dramatic given the quality and experience of the squad, early-season ambitions of qualifying for Europe for the third successive year and McClaren’s recent successes. On Friday, the manager finally signed a contract extension that stretches until 2009, but it would be inaccurate to describe his position as comfortable.
Last week’s squall about McClaren’s deal emanated from a local radio phone-in featuring Keith Lamb, Middlesbrough’s chief executive, in which there were also some withering evaluations of the team’s style of football and the impact made by his signings. Those concerns are shared by many supporters, but McClaren did not appreciate the comments; his belated response was tetchy.
“Teams in adversity have to stick together and ignore what’s going on externally,” he said. “We ignore the media, we ignore certain sections of fans and we ignore what people are saying within the club.”
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McClaren expressed displeasure at yesterday being “instructed” not to bolster his squad before tonight’s closure of the transfer window, although he was told resources would not be made available more than three weeks ago. “It’s frustrating, he said. “We have ten injuries and I said we needed help.”
The manager planned to move on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Ugo Ehiogu and Ray Parlour, as well as fringe players such as Massimo Maccarone and Szilard Nemeth, who has since left for Strasbourg. It is understood, however, that having released £50 million for new players during McClaren’s five years in charge, club officials were reluctant to lose established Premiership stalwarts at such a delicate time.
Of last summer’s signings, only Yakubu Ayegbeni has been an unqualified success — Emanuel Pogatetz and Fabio Rochemback have been patchy — and McClaren’s attempts to arrange deals for Jason Euell, Nigel Quashie, Martin Latka and Didier Agathe did not meet enthusiasm. In light of the league position, a decision was taken to go with what they have.
The ambition of Steve Gibson cannot be questioned, but the chairman is a realist who has suffered this situation before. Panic purchases, or even loans, are not an option and the priority for the club is to maintain their status, take stock and start again. “Every business has kinks,” a source said. “We need to get to the end of the season and look at things then.”
McClaren is not in imminent danger of dismissal and the same applies to McCarthy, although Sunderland’s 2-1 defeat by Brentford has caused huge consternation at the Stadium of Light. Still “seething” on Sunday morning, the manager did not feel able to lead his team in training, “because I may have said something I regretted. They are the sort of performances that cost you jobs.”
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After the fillip of their 1-0 victory away to West Bromwich Albion, the mood has soured. “I understand how angry the manager is,” Gary Breen, the captain, said. “People have talked about Brentford’s performance mirroring their manager, but we did not do that for ours.”
SUNDERLAND (possible; 4-4-2): K Davis — J Hoyte, G Breen, S Caldwell, D Collins — L Lawrence, D Whitehead, T Miller, J Arca — J Stead, K Kyle.
MIDDLESBROUGH (possible; 4-4-2): M Schwarzer — S Parnaby, A Davies, G Southgate, E Pogatetz — G Mendieta, L Cattermole, Doriva, S Downing — J F Hasselbaink, Y Ayegbeni.
Referee: A Wiley
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CHARLTON ATH v WEST BROMWICH
THE Valley was the scene of West Bromwich Albion’s only away win last season and it was an impressive one, with Robert Earnshaw scoring a hat-trick in 17 minutes (Tom Dart writes).
Bryan Robson, the West Bromwich manager, will give Jan Kozak, the midfield player captured on loan from Artmedia Bratislava, time to acclimatise before handing him his debut. “I just feel he needs a little bit more football with the players before I throw him in,” Robson said.
Ronnie Wallwork is suspended after picking up five bookings and Steve Watson is doubtful with a groin injury. Zoltan Gera is to see a specialist about his lingering groin injury.
For Charlton Athletic, chasing a fourth successive home victory, Jay Bothroyd scored a fortunate winner against Leyton Orient on Saturday but may be back on the bench as Marcus Bent, who was cup-tied, returns.
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CHARLTON ATHLETIC (possible; 4-4-2): T Myhre — L Young, J Fortune, H Hreidarsson, C Powell — J Thomas, R Kishishev, M Holland, D Ambrose — D Bent, M Bent.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION (possible; 4-4-2): T Kuszczak — M Albrechtsen, C Davies, N Clement, P Robinson — J Greening, J Inamoto, S Watson, D Carter — K Campbell, N Ellington.
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Referee: P Walton.
FULHAM v TOTTENHAM
ALTHOUGH they have the worst away record in the top flight, Fulham have not lost at Craven Cottage in the Barclays Premiership since October 1 (Tom Dart writes). “They are a very good side — they have shown that throughout the season at home,” Jermaine Jenas, the Tottenham Hotspur midfield player, said.
“We’re all footballers who love getting on the ball and knocking it around. Many teams in this league, if they can hustle you out of your game, that is what they are going to do. Fulham like to pass it around. It should be a very interesting battle.”
Jenas has recovered from concussion suffered during the goalless draw with Aston Villa ten days ago. Edgar Davids is doubtful with a knee problem and Teemu Tainio has a sprained ankle, but both could still play. For Fulham, Sylvain Legwinski and Moritz Volz are back in the squad after injury.
FULHAM (possible; 4-4-2): A Niemi — L Rosenior, Z Knight, A Goma, W Bridge — S Elliott, S Legwinski, S Malbranque, L Boa Morte — B McBride, H Helguson.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (possible; 4-4-2): P Robinson — P Stalteri, L King, M Dawson, Lee Young Pyo — J Jenas, M Carrick, E Davids, T Tainio — R Keane, J Defoe.
Referee: H Webb.
TELEVISION: Live on PremPlus from 7.30pm (kick-off 8pm).
WIGAN ATHLETIC v EVERTON
AS A former Liverpool player, David Thompson knows he will be in for a fierce reception at Goodison Park this evening, but after three injury-plagued seasons when he wondered if he would ever regain full fitness, any barbs that come the winger’s way will doubtless feel like music to his ears (James Ducker writes).
Thompson is just thankful to be playing again and having started his Wigan Athletic career with a bang thanks to a goal against Middlesbrough on his debut, the 28-year-old will be hoping to maintain that form against Everton, the club he supported as a boy.
“It’s great to be back playing again,” Thompson, who joined Wigan 12 days ago after being released from his contract at Blackburn Rovers, said. “I’ve settled in great and feel like I’ve been here for a while. I could have stayed at Blackburn and seen out my contract, but I wanted to go out and prove that I could still play.”
WIGAN ATHLETIC (probable; 4-4-2): M Pollitt — P Chimbonda, M Jackson, S Henchoz, L Baines — J Bullard, P Scharner, G Kavanagh, D Thompson — N Mellor, J Roberts.
EVERTON (probable; 4-4-2): N Martyn — T Hibbert, D Weir, A Stubbs, N Valente — M Arteta, T Cahill, P Neville, K Kilbane — J Beattie, J McFadden.
Referee: M Dean.