As we go into the second worldwide break of the season, how are you all feeling as Newcastle United followers?

Nonetheless pessimistic?

Glass half full?

There are some amongst us that might have you ever imagine the great ship Newcastle United has run aground.

I’m not considered one of them.

In reality, positivity continues to be entrance and centre.

Sure, the performances we’re witnessing (Manchester Metropolis sport aside) as Newcastle United followers are just a little drab and uninspiring, that’s one thing that no person can disguise from, however that’s not a real concern for me.

I’ve seen Newcastle sides come out of the traps initially of a season and win sport after sport in type and I’ve additionally seen us have a few of the most appalling begins possible. Depressing festive returns, poor run ins, you’ve all seen and skilled them, so the truth that we’re simply going alongside crusing regular is of trustworthy aid to this supporter.

I might assume Pep Guardiola is aware of a factor or two about soccer and after our glorious sport towards them the opposite week, he got here out with some pleasantries and a telling remark that the supply of our issues final season was our horrendous harm listing. Humorous that he may see and acknowledge it however some painted the state of affairs because the administration not getting the most effective out of the severely depleted squad. Unusual.

I remarked earlier than the Man Metropolis sport that the tactic this season appears to be to nearly maintain one thing again in video games. I steered closely that this was a response to final season’s aforementioned harm disaster.

Tuesday morning noticed an article seem on The Magazine by Eddie James which appeared to echo my idea that if you happen to higher the earlier season’s outcomes, that stands you in extremely good stead for the present season’s achievements and it’s a idea that greater than holds water.

Some will rightly level out that if different groups higher their very own outcomes from their respective campaigns then it means little. Nonetheless, all WE can do is IMPROVE on what went on final season. It’s a must to take the possibility on others enhancing their lot and hope not a lot of them obtain this.

Going again to August, we took a degree from Bournemouth down on the south coast the place we misplaced final season. This was following on from beating newly promoted Southampton at St James’ Park. We may solely draw at residence to newly promoted Luton City final season. Enchancment all spherical.

Eddie Howe and his administration group can have identified that towards Manchester Metropolis we might couldn’t merely sit again and play the identical method we have now executed in different video games this season, because the tide would probably have been too nice. He can even have identified that with out the lacking Rodri and De Bruyne they might a minimum of be acquired at extra readily than with these two glorious gamers within the facet.

The end result was a pleasant wholesome level towards a facet we misplaced to final season AND a high 4 facet at that.

We adopted that up with an admittedly poor show down at Goodison Park however crucially got here away with a degree on the highway from a spot we misplaced 3-0 final season. Folks moaning about our away kind? Nicely at each Bournemouth and Everton we have now improved on two of these video games. Wonderful margins and small “victories” are what’s wanted.

This season we’re sat on the identical quantity of factors as final season (12) after seven video games and are progressing within the League Cup, regardless of having needed to begin a spherical additional again attributable to a scarcity of European soccer.

As different teamw within the high half begin stepping into the thick of European (and home) cup campaigns, we onboard the SS Newcastle have much less uneven waters to navigate.

We’ve got a house tie towards Chelsea facet to return and right here’s hoping for one more cup run.

Nonetheless, first up is Brighton at SJP, the facet that most likely ended our sensible probabilities of Europe final season with a 1-1 draw. It was as dissatisfied as I can lately keep in mind being after that sport in Might and for me nothing lower than three factors will suffice this time spherical. That can proceed the development and set us up properly going into November.

All we are able to do is enhance ourselves and, the Fulham sport aside, we’re doing that sport on sport. The performances are of little consequence if the mixture factors enchancment are maintained towards final season’s identical fixtures.

We’ve acquired thus far this season largely with out each our first and second alternative strikers, to not point out the lacking Sven Botman and possibly, simply possibly, because the season progresses and (hopefully) the accidents keep comparatively clear, we are able to come on stronger and stronger.

Though a pure born pessimist, I’m pretty assured it should occur…