Top North East Club in the Premiership

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />Newcastle???4/5Middlesboro??5/4Sunderland??..9/1NewcastleGraeme Souness needs to deliver the goods this season, or Freddie Sheppard is going to send the boys round. He can't do worse than last season's 14th place surely, but the 200/1 on offer with Stan James to win the Premiership is surely out of reach. More enticing though is Newcastle's price of 10/1 without the Big Three. Souness has to galvanise the troops though and it all could go belly up if we see a dressing room revolt. It never seems far away at St James' Park. They are 33/1 to get relegated. A big price but if you are a Black Cat or a Boro fan it would be worth it just for the wind up value. Alan Shearer has spent the summer recovering from his second charisma by-pass operation and is looking to make a splash in his last season in the top flight. If you think he's still got it, then you can back him at 25/1 to be Top Premiership Scorer??and by the way?he's creosoted the fence again so he should be in high spirits. The 'will he won't he' saga regarding Micheal Owen means that even if he becomes a Magpie, he won't be starting the season. You'll get him at 12's. Get a free twenty five pound bet at Stan James!MiddlesboroughBoro fans will be basking in the fact that they finished 7th last year, and with a settled side now things could get even better. How much better though? They're surely not good enough to win it, despite the quote of 250/1. The fourth spot is theoretically up for grabs though, and without the Big Three, Boro are quoted at 12/1. They are well capable of getting there. It was like watching weekly episodes of Casualty last year at the Riverside and if they can stay injury free, the side has a lot of star talent. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for Top Premiership Scorer is a runner at 33's and with Yakubu at 25/1 and Viduka at 50/1 the Boro are going to score a few this season. You'd be thinking slightly off centre if you thought they would go down, but stranger things have happened. Like the Magpies they are 33's for the drop. With a squad bigger than the wife's family, surely not.The tempting bet has to be the 5/4 to end ahead of the Toon. They did it last year?why not this season? Get a free twenty five pound bet at Stan James!SunderlandIf you managed to stay awake during a Mick McCarthy interview, you'll have noticed that there's not a lot of dosh in the coffers at the Stadium of Light. Their whole season could be like watching a Survival Special. You're likely to be sectioned if you take the 1500/1 on them winning the Premiership, or even the 200/1 to finish 4th, but Stan James have tempting bets based around the drop zone. The Mackems are odds on, 4/5 to go straight back down and they'll be plenty of Geordies betting on just that. Even better would be to back them to finish bottom at 4/1. The celebratory pint goes down better when it's paid for, but if you suspect the Black Cats will sweep all that nonsense aside and stay up, then you can back them at 10/11. Stevie Elliott and Jonathon Stead are going to have to perform up front, but the boy Stead is a real talent and could just be their saving grace.A good season bet would be to back Sunderland at 5/6 in their match bet with West Brom. You're sure to get a good run for your money here?even if you have to wait for the last day. And the 9/1 to finish above the other two clubs?who knows?Get a free twenty five pound bet at Stan James!