The Mark Ellis Blog

Dismal is possibly the best way that you can describe it - yes, we're talking about the Derby result on a Saturday. But, does the defeat really mean much to the powers that be at St James Park ?  I suspect we all know the answers to that particular question.  For Newcastle, it was another self inflicted kick in the nuts - a heady combination of selling your best player in the days before the window shut, your loanee talisman forward getting sent off in the fixture before, every other striker being injured and then there's the abject lack of movement in the transfer market.  Despite having copious notice that Cabaye would be going at some point, it seems that no effort has been made to try and target or line up someone to replace him.  It's pretty basic stuff, but clearly too basic for NUFC. Was it a shock - not at all. Sunderland have had a resurgence in results in the past few weeks, but having said that, I watched them on New Years Day against Villa and they ...