More than just Gray days ahead at St James' Park
It used to be called the Rothmans but when the bible of football was slammed on my desk on Monday morning - aka the Sky Sports football yearbook - the usual turn to the Newcastle United pages rubber stamped the achievements of last season.
The Coca-Cola Championship kings from last season are back in the Premier League.
Some sections in football have missed us, some won't be too glad to see us back - but whatever way you look at it, life will never be dull with Newcastle United around.
Already pre-season pull outs, such as the Guardian's laughable attempt to preview the season at St James' Park, have made their opinions clear - and Andy Gray has already tipped us to go down before a ball has been kicked.
But for me the start of the new season is the first step of finding our feet back in the big time.
We go back to Manchester United first as major underdogs and emerging from Old Trafford with anything will be a bonus in the eyes of some.
Yet, refreshingly, the mood coming out of the Toon camp is "why can't we get something from Old Trafford?".
Getting back to the footy bible, which when stacked upon previous volumes can block out awkward sunlight, or make a cracking doorstop, the stat that sticks out for me the most regards the potential that still exists at St James' Park.
It read: "In the previous nine seasons to the 2009/10 campaign, Newcastle United had been the only club to break into the so-called "Big Four" clubs on as many as two occasions.
"They achieved fourth place in 2001/02 and finished third the following season."
It doesn't seem that long ago and it probably seems a while away yet but getting anywhere near European positions next season would mark incredible, incredible progress - but the potential of such a massive fanbase and superb atmospheres at SJP makes it a tough place to come for ANY team when we're on a high.
And while many members of the squad that went down remain at NUFC, the attitude has changed within the camp.
For once going into the season, we're not a club in turmoil, for the 10/11 campaign and turmoil, read Aston Villa FC and James Milner - sounds familiar doesn't it?
The 2008/09 season featured a battle of opinions between Wise and Keegan before his departure rocked the entire city, Milner-gate didn't help and then Xisco-gate and Nacho-gate really polished us off by the start of September.
With Joe Kinnear in charge and Chris Hughton picking up the pieces in between before Alan Shearer handed the tough task of saving the Magpies, it's little wonder it ended in tears at Villa Park.
Changing attitudes in the squad have made it a much happier camp and the togetherness within the group is there for anybody close enough to the players to see, it's hardly surprising.
Andy Gray knows the game well enough to make his mind up before a ball is kicked.
But pundits aren't always right.
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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.
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The risible Louise Taylor has already sharpened her poison pen in preparation for the season, and the armchair pundits from all channels (Lauro chief amongst them) will he predicting a swift return to the Coke can. But, stepping back, the only person that seems even more intent on consigning us to a relegation scrap is Mike Ashley.
The so far underwhelming summer signings have been made up with crocks and OAPs, as if the kitty is under lock and key. We largely have the same team that we had in April, and it looked vulnerable then. We have little proven strike power and certain key players are way off the pace. Add to that an indifferent pre-season, and you have to admit they all have a point.
If we had sensibly committed ã15-ã20m to squad strengthening we could laugh at the jaundiced hacks and pundits, but we haven't so we can't - not yet..
As my dear lady wife keeps telling me, it is more often than not the pessimist that gets run over by the optimists car, and not the other way around.
I can't fault her logic really, but I do try.
I did point out to her that the juggernaut currently idling in first gear at Old Trafford is a finely tuned machine ready to roll at a moments notice.
She, in her wisdom then pointed out that all we have to do is remove a single spark plug to inhibit the performance of the said juggernaut.
As I say, it is almost as difficult to refute her logic sometimes as it is to apply it in the heat of battle.
Andy Gray is, in my humble opinion (and I am ever so humble) brain dead. That being the case, we should apply to the courts to have his life report system turned off.
I have no idea what will happen at Old Trafford, except...
A) We will not be awarded a penalty under any circumstances.
B) They will be awarded a penalty if they do indeed need one.
C) Extra time will only be added as and when they require it after consultation with SAF.
Pr-season turmoil appears to have been replaced by pre-season trepidation brought on by massive under investment in the playing squad required to maintain our presence in the premier league.
A change is as good as a rest as they say.
I have faith, I have hope, all I require is a little charity. I will look to the various match officials in the ensuing weeks for at least a small donation of this.
I'm surprised Mr Gray could get his tounge out of Lampard/Terry/Gerrard/Rooney's backside long enough to speak. I'd take what he has to say with a pinch of salt after all this clown keeps telling us how great all these players are yet we all saw at the WC that they are nothing but average (at best) at international level.
Let them all have their say, sit back, take it all in then come May when we're looking forward to another year in the PL tell them what you think of them. We'll stay up not because we're great but because EVERY team outside the top 8 is average/poor with nothing to choose between them. We'll finish anywhere between 9/20, where? Not sure but I'm certain there'll be at least 3 teams below us.
Mr Gray and most of the Media " Experts" have become more and more patriotic only to the football "Elite" because the "Elite" refuse to communicate with any one who does not "Toe their Line". We are as good as anyone in the bottom half of the current Premiership line up and when our "Top 4" supporters helps the Team to maintain the spirit we showed last year we will make Mr Gray and the like eat their words!
I think I have been a fair and consistent supporter over many years and only criticise occasionaly when I really feel strongly about the way the club is being run etc, but one thing I do get fed up with is kept being told about the POTENTIAL of NUFC. We've had this fictitional
"potential" for as long as I can remember and it is yet to be realsied in terms of actually winning something. Fair enough we have had our moments with top four finishes, Europe and Champions League campaigns and a few cup finals, which to be honest I never really though we were going to win and come home with the cup and unforunately was right on each ocassion. A lack of investment this season means we are not going to reach our potential yet again and I expect we will sruggle along in the bottom half of the table, but not be relegated as Andy Gray and his cronies seem to think we will be. In reality there are only 2 relegation places to worry about, because even the most optimistic forecasters cannot see Blackpool staying up and for once, there are teams in the Premier League who are in a worse position than ourselves and a lot less stable. I would like to see a steady progression without any wild forecasts, predictions or expectations about qualifying for Europe, with perhaps a good run in the League Cup for example and begin to put ourselves in a position where we can actually realise this massive potential we all keep getting told we have. And I cannot wait for the season to start!!
In Taylor's defence, she highlighted the, shall we say, more negative aspects of Ashley and his relationship with Keegan, long before you did. The Guardian have little time for NUFC, but if we keep banging on about the hostility of the southern press, we're feeding them more ammo - besides, the guy who writes for the Times (Calkin?) is easily the best journalist on NUFC in the country...
This is an early warning not to read the london based press or turn the sound up on the tv when we're on skysports. they just don't want to see northern teams take the palce of london based clubs. they know we have the biggest and best support in the country and just take a pop at us anywhere they can. its old boring newzzzzzzzzzzz
regardles of what has happend at our club we went down because our over paid strikers got a sick note from their mothers for most of the season.
theres nothing worse than a scotsman gone kockkaknee -andy gray, gordon rammsy -say no more!
laads laaads laads - come on - we're whingeing before a ball has been kicked!!!
TeddyB - the Guardian - roots in Manchester - not generally thought of as a southern press rag.
Again "Northern teams taking the place of Southern Teams" - it's nto just us thats unfashionable - look at Fulham, West Ham and - in the past - the likes of Charlton, Palace etc.
It's exactly this sort of self-pity that gives us a bad name.
Roots in Manchester. Years ago. If you think it's a northern paper, you ought to try reading it. You should also read the full post where I praise the Times writer as being by far the best on NUFC. Did it go over your head or through the hole in it?
errrm - you praised a non-existent writer in The Times - proving that errrm - maybe you dont read it as much as you would like to think.
ta ta for now Teddy Boy
I spelled the name incorrectly - George Caulkin. Mea Culpa. (look that one up) Keep taking the tablets, relton. Maybe that hole will heal with time.