It's all about winning games, stupid

My nerves are shot to bits enough at the thought of this week's so-called Survival Sunday (so-called by Sky, natch, who have to give a name to everything) without all the conjecture in the newspapers about whether our game against Manchester United will be conducted in the spirit of the game.

Hacks are filling much space with allegations that United, while thinking about Rome in midweek, will field an understrength side. Without foundation whatsoever, they then suggest that the three north east clubs are poised to commence legal action if they lose their Premier League status as an indirect consequence of such a team of rookies being turned over by the Tigers.

What is interesting, as well as mightily unnerving, is that the stories are continuing despite flat denials from Middlesbrough, Newcastle United and Sunderland that they will consider suing someone if they go down this weekend (and Boro's inclusion in the whole non-saga is moronic anyway, as their abject goal difference means they will still go down if we lose 3-0 and they win by a lesser scoreline). It's the classic Fleet Street mantra - if there is no story, invent one.

Assuming Boro will go, it will be the fault of not Hull City, nor Manchester United, if one of the other two north east sides fall by the wayside with them. They have played dreadfully by the standards their fans and their budgets set for them, and Newcastle players and decision-makers especially should not be able to look anyone in the eye after such a woeful season. If one of them goes down, it will be their fault entirely. Whichever one stays up will do so purely because someone contrived to be even worse than they were.

While there is lineage in the collapse of biblical proportions which the Tiger Nation has witnessed since the turn of the year, the bigger story is just how bad Newcastle United have been when one considers the greater resources at their disposal. Concocting rubbish about whining in a lawyer's office because the best team in the land may choose to rest one or two distinguished superstars a few days before a game infinitely more important than a trip to the KC Stadium shows a craven desire to whip up controversy that will shroud the real issue of the incompetence of north east football.

And, as has been pointed out regularly, many would prefer Manchester United not to play the stiffs and kids as they will be keen, hungry and anxious for a performance that may prove the difference between a place on the bench in Rome and a seat in the stands. Any team selected by Sir Alex Ferguson will be good enough to beat us. The fate of Newcastle United in particular, as the one team in the must-not-lose position, lies first and foremost with themselves. And this means, weirdly, the fate of Hull City lies as much with Aston Villa as it does with either of the teams which take to the stage at the KC.