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SIGN HIM: We should break the bank to get Jonny Evans here permanently

FOR the first time in years, I managed to escape any kind of ribbing following our 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday.

In a rather old-fashioned setting, I sat next to the radio with a cup of tea, hoping we'd pull off a result. The tea was still warm when I realised that this was not going to be the case.

In fact, I knew we weren't going to get anything from this match as soon as I heard that Paul McShane was going to be turning out for us, following the injury to Phil Bardsley.

But after the final whistle, I simply turned the radio off, sighed, shook my head and continued my holiday.

Because I was in Cornwall, in a part of the county that, if the world were at war again, chances are the inhabitants of this particular village wouldn't know, nor care.

Try to close their post office down however, and there's a witch hunt.

But that's for another day.

I was allowed to continue with my day and almost forget about the result. No texts - no reception, no sneering plastic mags swaggering by, no workplace humiliation, nothing. Just the sound of the sea and the odd seagull. Bliss.

Of course, I'm saying it was bliss because we'd lost. If we'd have won, I'd have been livid. Middle of bleeding nowhere, no reception to send gloating messages to my Newcastle-supporting friends, no-one to show off to in town.

Although I still think we won't go down, nay, I know we won't go down, I'm disappointed that Sunderland weren't on form at Sid James' Park. It's the one game that the fans expect the players to put in a shift, more than 100 per cent, a few meaty challenges.

Instead, we looked toothless really. One up top didn't seem to bear fruit and as soon as their second went in, we had a mountain to climb.

We've beaten Newcastle with a worse team than we put out on Sunday. It's all about who wants it more on the day. Kevin Keegan had his team prepared and you could see they wanted it more.

I'm not questioning Sunderland's desire, but in derby matches you simply have to raise your game a degree.

I don't want to jump on the bandwagon of hate directed at McShane this week, but it is clear to see that he doesn't possess the quality we need at this level.

It's a shame, he had a good start, but he has had plenty of chances to prove that he is good enough and he's failed.

But the fact that Keane picked McShane goes to show how weak our squad is at the back.

The close season should see us pick up a few defenders, strength in numbers. The first signing we should be securing is that of Jonny Evans. We need to break the bank to sign him - and it should be Keane's first priority in close season.

But there are still games to go, namely Saturday against Middlesbrough.

We're the nearest they have to a derby in this division, indeed, some people say it is a Wear Tees derby - even the club's website.

But I don't buy into that. Our derby is with Newcastle, and Newcastle alone. Middlesbrough are a small town in Yorkshire and the three points on Saturday will feel no different than any of the other we have got this season.

At least this week I'll be able to see the match.

2:08pm Friday 25th April 2008

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