Quantity and quality
It was a feeling that at one stage I thought I'd never feel again.
The feeling I'm talking about is the walk (or stumble in some cases) to St James's Park where you aren't wondering whether the team will win, but by how many goals that the Magpies can win by.
Yes, I admit it, I have got a little bit carried away by the win at White Hart Lane after years of returning from London with nothing but a real battering.
And while the good folk of Reading (Royals fans are still getting used to being called Premier League Reading) are likely to survive in the top flight for another year, I wonder if they'll be feeling as bad as we did back in October.
Back then a late choker sealed the points for the rampant Royals as Big Sam's Newcastle failed to turn up.
As much as I don't want to remember that day, what I do remember was the Toon fans chanting the name of James Milner as Newcastle struggled for width against a poor side.
In a season of ups and downs though the corresponding fixture couldn't be more contrasting.
Long gone is Big Sam and his ProZone machine.
Long gone is frustration in the stands and a slide down the table complete with a defence that couldn't stop leaking goals.
And going into the home clash with Reading the situation couldn't have changed more dramatically since last time out.
The doom and gloom began to evaporate after the 1-1 draw with Birmingham but the relief that the long hard winter was coming to a close after Fulham was evident around St James's Park come the final whistle after the 2-0 win.
It wasn't vintage was it?
But Tottenham certainly was, it was certainly one in the eye for the London Press boys who were waiting to pounce on another capital no show from KK and Co.
Instead they were treated to an attacking, entertaining and sparkling performance from Keegan's boys who in the end ran riot.
And that brings us very nicely on to Reading at home and why most Newcastle fans will go into this one on a high and hoping to all but secure a place in the Premier League for next season.
It may be another summer of dreaming rather than plotting a route to Plymouth Argyle but at least we can dream again thanks to KK.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
It's great what an away win can do. For the first time in months I feel completely fearless when thinking of the last few fixtures. I don't even fear Everton away or Chelsea at home. I'm now confident we can get something out of those games. Reading seemed like a really tough game a few weeks ago but now I can sit back and listen to the radio rather than on the edge of my seat. And the best bit about this run of form is I can look forward to watching the highlights which I haven't looked forward to for awhile now. Lets just hope we can get a few past them and be just as exciting as last years home game to Reading.
I was arguing the point about Allardyce V Keegan to a red and white optimist this week, when he came out with a corker, he was banging on about how we hadn’t given Allardyce enough time and that Sunderland were going to splash big money in the summer then out it came. . .
‘Well Paul, you know I don’t think I’d swap any Newcastle player for any of the current Sunderland squad, maybe Owen, but even then Jones is a good bet you know’
I hadn’t had much to drink- only a couple of pints- so I decided to ask him to confirm what I thought I’d just said, sure enough he did, to my utter amazement so I asked him how he could back up a bizarre statement such as this?
He said simply that Newcastle side aren’t playing as a team and that the players are of very limited ability.
I asked him another question- ‘Did you see the Spur’s game?’ he said ‘Just the highlights’ and that ‘Well, Spur’s have nothing to play for’ to which I just raised a smile and nodded to him and said ‘Fine if that’s what you think, If that’s what Spur’s are like under Ramos (Not Professional) then we will at least finish above them next season’
Fair play to him, he supports his Sunderland, but there’s delusional and there’s downright loony.
I hardly had time to pull him up on his original point about Keane spending big in the summer, I merely said that he did that last summer and spent something like £45m, and here he is STILL signing Manchester United reserves and ex-team-mates with no pace.
I finished up with a final retort- ‘I hope Kevin gets anywhere near £45m this summer, as I know who I’d trust with the chequebook’ he looked at me, realised he couldn’t really come back with anything solid and just to add a bit of pinache to my argument, during the ensuing moments silence, the bell for last orders sounded.
If it wasn’t a knockout, I think I at least won on points.
Roll on the summer.
Ding Ding!!
Paul.
Yes we played well and its good to go into this game with realistic expectations of a big win... however... I can see this being a 0-0 or a 1-0 win for us in the 75th minute etc as Reading will most certainly come here and park the bus. I just hope that fans / columnists have the foresight to understand that some teams won't come here to play football and sometimes we won't be able to break them down and if it is 0-0 please lets not go the other way and say how uncreative we were etc!
Heading up Barrack Road expecting a victory and a multitude of goals, aye Lee, those were the days.
I think that if Kev is backed in the summer (and I see no reason why he won't be) then we'll start to see the mags rapidly improving year on year as they did under Keegan last time around.
I also think he's a bit wiser tactically this time around and has made a canny appointment in Chris Hughton.
Next season's gonna be great.
What a change 2 wins makes for the Magpies; almost clear of relegation now and the promise of a bright end to an otherwise disasterous season. Those players who have repeatedly dissapointed throughout the season,will not have escaped the experienced eye of KK.I expect a few P45's to be issued at the end of the season, together with one or two shock departures. A mixture of age and attitude; combine to leave us with an unhealthy squad, undoubtedly in need of massive restructuring.A minimum of 6 players will depart and we need to bring in, at least 8.Absolute quality from the top drawer is not an option, as stated previously Newcastle has little to offer them and we,ve already had experience of the gold diggers. Let hope that KK has,nt lost the knack of spotting a good prospect and fills the ranks with some decent players.
Well said Lee. For the first time in months I am genuinely looking forward to Saturday. I was on holiday when the Toon destroyed Tottenham and when my text update read one - nil Spurs I feared the worst. However the response was magnificent, now all we need is Ashley and Mort to show the same ambition and we can, dare I say it, start to believe again in better times. One thing that noone can level at Keegan is that he's poor in the transfer market. Let the good times roll!
I also can't keep from feeling all axcited about what the future will bring for NUFC! And I know I shouldn't after just one beautiful victory, but I want to. It's simple as that.
It's like that with The Toon... People from Tyneside are so passionate about what's supposed to represent them... That's is why I didn't fall in love with some other club - because I feel the same. That's why I stich to Serbian national team - because it's MINE, no matter how bloody irritating it is...
Cmon, let's give Reading one of those wallopings a la Sheff Wednesday (8-0)...
Howay The Lads!
Lee mate, take a cold shower asap!!
Now that's not to say I don't think we're on the up under KK but I think a few need to just settle a bit. Probably too doom and gloom for you as ever though.
I was there on Sunday and it was a real delight to watch the lads playing with such confidence. It is amazing what the results/performances against Birmingham(2nd half) and Fulham have done for the team.
Bringing in Chris Hughton could well be the best signing this season, he has the ability to sort out our defence once and for all! It is also nice to see that KK has stuck with his winning team and now they all seem to be playing as a unit rather than as individuals.
I am sure we are already safe as there is no way Fulham or Bolton are going to pass 35 points let along 40!! Role on next season, hopefully some good buys in the summer and who knows for next season, although we have been here many times before!
Well done KK, we new you would get there in the end...!
Lee
Prediction: Newcastle 1 - Reading 2.
Heading for the hills now so cannot be reached!!!
mabeye a tad optimistic but nevertheless a fantastic peformance by the boys on sunday i am lookinmg forward to the match and i belive we can win.
everything seems to be geling into place in the wummer i would bring in a centre half ,creative midfielder,striker (cover) and perhaps a winger
howay the toon
Nice comment about the highlights Lee, for the first time in donkeys I actually searched for a pub to watch MOTD in!! I have to say the thing I was most impressed with during the spurs match is the clear sense of camaraderie that the team is showing, willing each ither in and battling for every ball. I`ve never been a fan of Butt, yet I can`t remember a better display from any defensive midfielder this season! No one else seems to have mentioned that it was a clever free kick by Geremi as well, clearly something he and Viduka cooked up during training... instead the commentators just wanted to criticise spurs...always the other team that plays worse rather than us that play better...
Anyway, looking forward to reading tomorrow, Joey is dragging the ball closer and closer to a goal, so my moneys on him to get the first tomorrow, followed by a brace from Martins and a cheeky lob from Owen.. 4-0 the toon...CMON!!
I'm not a Newcastle fan (please be gentle) but they are a team I always want to see do well. They deserve to be a Premiership side and I'm glad they've had a few wins under their belt recently.
Hopefully that form can continue to the end of the season now and beyond as I also like Keegan and would wish him success.
After the last few games hopefully morale and confidence has picked up within the side, so good luck!
PS. I'm a Brighton fan!
Joe
www.fourthewinfootball.com
Saturday night 5-15p.m. Newcastle 3-0 Reading. Sunderland born Jac Mills, stay in them thar hills. Your prediction was not so much an educated guess as a mischievous bit of stirring, as there were no grounds on current form to even dare to suggest that dumb score. I bet you use a pin to pick a Grand National winner, or a lottery number.
i hope Harper gets the credit he deserves and when Given is fit he continues to keeps his place.Given should be told to wait his turn, for a change.
Geremi is the most useless corner/free kick taker in the premiership! Once milner and Emre get back in the squad they should take corners and free kicks because when Geremi takes corners he always hits it to the first man! Viduka cant run he always jogs! His goal at St. James last week he took a touch but if we had of been playing Man. Utd or Chelsea he would of had to shoot first time! Everyone was good on Saturday apart from them two! Alan Smith never even warmed up to come on! shame on Edgar for losing his place! I think KK should sign Jose Antonio Reyes, Mouro Zarate, Aaron Lennon and Scott Brown!
From Andrew Mitchell 11