Top dogs!

Well it's got the the point now where the title of North East top dogs has been decided, and with five games remaining it is Newcastle who hold the honour this time around.

Of course it doesn't really mean anything, not when Newcastle finish above Sunderland anyway. This is a title that only applies when Sunderland finish above Newcastle. It doesn't happen often...

We are now 17 points ahead of the dirty inbreeds from down the road, and with only 15 points to play for it means that Sunderland and the Pixie Leprechaun are unable to catch us, despite their team being "light years" ahead of ours according to some of their own fans.

The fact is that they are not as good as us. Results in derbies proves this, our form over the season proves this, our league position proves this. They are yet again inferior to us, despite a rather impressive mid-season bounce which saw them break the top-ten for a brief period.

It's that point I want to focus on in this article. Ignore the backbiting and snide remarks if you like - it's just banter - but on a more serious note, wasn't it nice to see both sides in the top ten and challenging at the right end of the table for the first time in a long time?

Don't get me wrong, I still despise them and find them a constant source of amusement and always ALWAYS want to beat them and finish above them, but from a regional perspective isn't it better for both sides to be challenging at the right end of the table as opposed to the wrong end?

The answer of course is yes. The North-East is known for it's passionate and fervent support of their football teams. We both have big grounds and a passionate fanbase and having both sides at the right end of the table can only be a good thing for the region. It increases interest.

They'll be a threat next season depending on the kind of funds that Ellis Short gives Martin O'Neill. Even if he doesn't get a great deal I'm sure O'Neill will get the best out of what he's got. So will Alan Pardew though. He's done it since he took over from Chris Hughton and I'm sure it will carry on. It'll be interesting to see how it pans out next season.

So yes, we're top dogs this season, but next season the battle will resume as both sides look to finish above each other once more.

I just hope it's being held in the more visible top half of the table!