Up Next: A Cheap Imitation of Eddie Howe's Top 4 Heroes or an Impressive Upgrade? It's Aston Villa...

During Sunderland's heartbreaking seven-year absence from the Premier League, there have been a few fanbases who have willingly stepped in to fill the void as rivals for Newcastle in recent years.

There's been the bitter spat with Evertonians after the sale of Anthony Gordon and their signing of famous mackem shot-stopper Jordan Pickford, and the annual meltdown of Mikel Arteta's league hopes with Arsenal at SJP; with three wins in four years for Eddie Howe's men first denying the Gunners a top four spot; and more recently, the title.

With Aston Villa; there's a little bit more nuance...

Perhaps alongside Everton and maybe Nottingham Forest; Aston Villa and Newcastle have been regularly seen as 'the best of the rest' outside the 'Superleague Six'. Two 'sleeping giants' with incredibly passionate fanbases and once impressive trophy hauls that have since gathered dust in recent decades. Both dropped out of the top flight in the 2015-2016 season, and both were back in the Premier League by 2019. Since then, it's been an extraordinary rise for both; as Newcastle and then Villa upset the applecart by wrestling a top-four spot from the clutches of the usual cash-rich suspects.

As a result, there should be a sense of camaraderie between the clubs; two outsiders who are shaking things up and upsetting the rich cartel at the top of the bottle-necked Premier League.

Unfortunately, it hasn't panned out that way...

To quote George R R Martin... 'The North Remembers'...

Newcastle have been involved in the relegation of a few clubs recently. There was Burnley in the resurgent 21-22 campaign and then the hapless Sheffield United last season. Newcastle had the unfortunate honour of hammering the final nail in the coffin of both sides, yet the fanbase treated it as just another match... just another three points.

Aston Villa? Not so much...

Often gaslit by the Villa fanbase as 'just one guy with a banner'... Villa Park was decked out across the Holte End and beyond with huge anti-Geordie messages such as 'SOB ON THE TYNE' and 'WHO'S YOUR MESSIAH NOW, ANT OR DEC?' - a lot of effort and detail went in... perhaps to levels even Sunderland fans wouldn't have bothered going to. Newcastle were relegated at Villa Park that day amidst a canvas of ridicule and pettiness... and the Villans even repeated the trick a few seasons later, throwing beachballs on the pitch to halt Newcastle attacks to ensure Villa played a huge part in a second Newcastle relegation party in the space of seven years.

It's fair to say Newcastle have enjoyed some form of revenge over the Sob on the Tyne brigade since... with SJP scorelines of 6-0, 4-0 and 5-1 being celebrated a little more exuberantly than if they were against, say... a Wolves or a West Ham...

If a fanbase with no geographical or historical rivalry is so invested in your club's downfall... it's only right to rub it in their faces once in a while if you smash them up on the pitch...

The parallels since that strange rivalry in 09 are rather uncanny...

But... leaving petty history aside for a moment... the arrival of Aston Villa to SJP on Boxing Day has many tantalising narratives swirling around it.

Villa, just like Newcastle, have struggled for consistency in the Premier League since achieving Top Four last season. While Newcastle endured a terrible injury list, a torrid December, and the 10-month ban of marquee signing Sandro Tonali during their return to the Champions League, Aston Villa have struggled with the loss of two FFP casualties in Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby, watched star striker Ollie Watkins lose his shooting boots and be usurped by young understudy John Duran, and persist with a high line that looks nearly as kamikaze as Ange Postecoglou's at times...

The struggles of both teams post-Top 4 has been a damning indictment of the limitations placed on clubs that accelerate quicker than expected thanks to FFP. Villa were forced to sell two stars and reinvest modestly with youngsters from the Championship and free transfers from relegated Luton Town. Newcastle, in desperation to cling onto their own big names, decided to sacrifice up and coming talent and avoid any notable starting XI signings for over a calendar year. It's been a frustrating period of stagnation for both clubs on and off the field in recent months.

Recent Upturns in Form and the Implosion of Big Six Regulars offers a source of Optimism for Newcastle and Villa

Just a few weeks ago, and this season already looked like a write-off for both clubs. Newcastle were displaying their best 'Spursy' impression by nicking points off the top teams and then losing to the likes of West Ham, while Villa suffered a run of eight games in all competitions without a win throughout the entirety of November.

However, Newcastle have won their last three games by an aggregate score of 10-1, while Villa have won four of their last five in all competitions; although a late implosion at Forest has blotted their copybook during that period.

There still seems to be an underlying frailty in this Villa team, with just two league clean sheets all season. Pau Torres endured a nightmare debut at SJP 16 months ago, and in-form speedsters Alexander Isak, Antony Gordon and Jacob Murphy must be licking their lips at the sight of the leggy Spaniard in defence.

There is also the drop-off of Ollie Watkins; who has four goal involvements in his last three games against the Magpies. Unai Emery's reliance on understudy Jhon Duran has become a bit of a crutch; with frailties in defence being bailed out by Duran's incredible assortment of wonder goals. The Boxing Day clash at SJP serves as a contest between two of the league's most in-form strikers. You feel if Newcastle can keep Duran quiet, they won't have to worry about many other goal-threats...

And while both sides have been far from consistent this season; their blushes have been spared by the self-destruction of half of the regular 'Top Six'. Man City are in crisis mode as injuries, poor transfer windows, and the ageing squad at Pep's disposal has brought about a disastrous run of form. The circus that is Manchester United continues just over in Salford, and Spurs have solidified their reputation as the most unpredictable team in the league. It means both Newcastle and Villa have a golden opportunity to stake a claim for a Top Four spot and put their shaky early form behind them.

A win for Eddie Howe's men will take them above Villa and build some real momentum for the first time this season, and I'd be lying if battering the Villans wouldn't bring me some petty satisfaction.

The North Remembers, Villa. And as for the Ant and Dec Messiah talk, I was never a big fan of Saturday Night Takeaway or I'm a Celeb anyway...