2010 sporting highs and lows
Dec 31 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
The North East’s biggest two football clubs have made steady progress in 2010. Durham were a big disappointment, but there was plenty to celebrate in basketball and speedway. Chief sports writer Luke Edwards looks back on the year’s highs and lows
CHRIS Hughton should have been reflecting with pride on what Newcastle United have achieved this year – instead he has returned to London to start the hunt for a new job.
After 11 months of calm at St James’ Park, where Hughton had been a reassuring presence in the manager’s chair, it has been a tempestuous end to the year for the Magpies.
After the shock of relegation to the Championship in 2009 and the fear of what could follow, Hughton did a wonderful job to guide Newcastle to the Championship title back in May, a relentless march back to the Premier League given the crowning moment it deserved in front of a full house at St James’ Park.
Newcastle were not always the most attractive side in the Championship, but they always looked as though they would emerge as the best in 2010.
Bland in his press conferences, the affection Hughton is held in was down to achievements alone and the manner in which he was relieved of his duties still leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Football, though, should never surprise us with its cruelty and new manager Alan Pardew has the job of ensuring Hughton’s good work this year does not go to waste.
Something special has continued to grow at United over the last 12 months in terms of team spirit, commitment and desire, although United fans move into the New Year hoping it survives another six months of a relegation battle.
For the first time since Sir Bobby Robson became manager more than a decade ago, Newcastle had a shot at long-term stability, but they wasted it.
It has still been a good year in terms of what has been achieved, but it has ended on a sour note.
Hopefully, Pardew will be around long enough to try and achieve something similar.
A five-and-a-half year contract suggests the board want just that, even if the lifespan of a Newcastle manager has been perilously short under Mike Ashley.
In contrast, Sunderland have been serene.
Steve Bruce has continued to improve the squad and, despite the home defeat by Blackpool this week, the Black Cats have a realistic chance of qualifying for Europe.
Bruce has done a fantastic job, making the most of the backing he receives from chairman Niall Quinn, constructing a young side which has spent 2010 proving it can hold its own against the best sides in the country.
A propensity to slip up against the weaker ones is a chink in their armour – Sunderland have lost to all three teams promoted to the Premier League last season – but the Black Cats are on an upward curve.
