08 Jan 2014, 11:47 pm
#219
(08 Jan 2014, 11:16 pm)aureolin I don't think they hold the trump card at all. Both clubs have cooperated out of good will, but are not obliged to change kick off times to suit. Northumbria Police can't refuse to police it, as it'd still go ahead anyway, unless a court order was issued.
Parking the bus is a non starter when you have an average team at best. Say what you will about Man Utd this season, but they still have 4 quality strikers.
Not trying to pick a fight or argue, but your telling me, Police absolutely have to co-operate with clubs requests, and cannot effectively place a boycott on policing derby games, it happened in the past where police have threatened to pull out of policing matches, not Northumbria though, think it may have been Lancashire Police in dispute with Wigan or Bolton and that may have been down to money, I cant quite remember...
I am sure if Northumbria Police wanted to be stubborn, they coule take the issue up with a court, citing say, concerns for public safety, whether anybody would buy that though is a different matter.
As for Man Utd, on paper, they have one of the best squads on paper, whether Sunderland park the bus or not in 2 weeks is irrelevant, they can go into the game with some expectation, and Sunderland have always played ok down there in recent years...I am still convinced of an all Manc final, but it is the cup, anything can happen, if Boro can beat Arsenal over 2 legs(2004) or Bradford can beat Villa(last year) then Sunderlands very average team has every chance of bettering Man Utd
*Edit: Just to add to this, the Police issue will probably be irrelevant come May, with next seasons big games being with Middlesbrough and Leeds Utd
