Living the dream
A nightmare season which saw the club relegated from the Premier League to the Championship, the first time the club had been relegated since 1989.
Things had been fairly positive at the start of the new season, with “messiah” Kevin Keegan in charge as manager during his second coming. However events quickly turned sour, after a disagreement with Keegan and the board, saw the fan’s hero walk out on the club for a second time.
An awful run of form then followed under caretaker manager Chris Hughton and the shocking appointment of Joe Kinnear although a health scare saw Kinnear forced to resign as manager in February and once again Hughton and assistant Colin Calderwood took over, as the club headed towards the unthinkable.
Up stepped Geordie hero Alan Shearer, who was appointed as a temporary manager for the last eight matches of the season. A brief spell of optimism didn’t last long as Shearer only managed one victory during his time which saw Newcastle relegated after one final inept and gutless display at Villa Park on the final day of the season.
A season that had begun with such enthusiasm from supporters, such positivity, ended in tears and agony. It felt like it wasn’t real – it felt like a nightmare. Many feared the end of Newcastle United, but what seemed a nightmare at the time, was in fact the beginning of a dream.
Two seasons later…
The 2011-12 season was always going to be crucial, with fans fearing second season syndrome, they needed some hope, a sign of ambition from owner Mike Ashley, who had sold our local number nine hero and prized asset Andy Carroll for £35 million to Liverpool the previous January.
Ashley and Pardew had promised to re-invest the money wisely.
Demba Ba came in on a free, along with Sylvain Marvauex. Yohan Cabaye came in for a nominal fee, but fans awaited the announcement of our new number nine!
News came that we had lost our inspirational captain Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton was soon to leave too on a free transfer. Where were our goals going to come from? Where was our creativity now that Barton was leaving?
To add to the disappointment, our best player Jose Enrique was to leave for big spenders Liverpool who had invested hugely during the summer transfer window and under “King Kenny” would be serious title contenders.
All our big names were gone and replaced with freebies and crocks! Where were our big money signings? Fans were tired of hearing the same excuses from the board. “We won’t rush into signing players”, “We won’t be held to ransom”, “We will invest when the right opportunity arises” and so on.
It was going to be a nightmare season.
That signing that made a statement of intention. A manager that was gutless and had no backbone to stand up the the board. He was merely here to back pay loan debt… “Ashley, Lambias and Pardew… they were all peeing in the same pot.”
Yet, eleven games in, against all odds, and with Pardew amongst the favourites for first manager to be sacked, Newcastle United remained undefeated. Firmly in the top four fighting amongst the Champions League contenders.
Newcastle would go undefeated in their first 12 games of the season. A new club Premier League record.
Everybody knew it couldn’t last, but as supporters we’d enjoy the ride while it lasted. Disappointment would strike us when we actually faced some of the big boys in the league. We hadn’t really been tested yet and we’d been very fortunate.
Wins had come away at Sunderland and away at Stoke but we were yet to really be tested according to the pundits. This despite being 12 games into a league which the same pundits repute to be the toughest and best in the world.
Victories came against Everton, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea. The run of form that would inevitably end has continued, the dream has remained alive, and now with just one game remaining in the season, incredibly, a dream of Champions League Football is actually still possible.
A season that had begun with supposed turmoil, a season destined for disaster could very well end in tears, but this time they could be tears of joy.
Regardless of what happens on the final day, Newcastle United have given us some remarkably good memories this season. Undoubtedly the Premier League team of the season for achieving above and beyond anybody’s expectations.
As much as our relegation season didn’t feel real, I am struggling still to let the ecstasy of this season’s achievement sink in. For what was shame back then, is now equalled if not overwhelmed with pride right now.
This weekend marks the final day of the 2011-2012 Premier League season and incredibly Newcastle fans are still dreaming…
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83 Comments
Fantastic little read that like, whatever happens on the weekend, it’s been a great season and everyone involved deserves credit
JJ- When you see our story laid out on paper like that ,its actually all a bit mental what’s happened really .I mean it really did look all doom and gloom at the start of the season didn’t it .I must be honest I was very worried about where goals would come from other than Ba ,who I always thought would do well as he’d been great for West Ham ,but I never expected our defence to be so tight or Tiote to be THAT good
.As for Cabaye and the resurgence of Benny and that man Cisse what can you say .We mustn’t forget the role of Krul either ,some game saving shot stops along the way.Then ofcourse there is Pards who has mostly done an outstanding job save for a few blips as all managers do ,you only have to look at Sir Alex royally fecking it up against Citeh to know it can happen to any manager. Yes stuff of dreams not nightmares so far. 
ben arfa in france squad!!happy for him
I see Inter Milan and Juventus are supposed to have HBA on their respective shoping list according to the mirror
Has all that really happened in only the last year? It’s been a real drama, Disappointment, tears, frustration, low expectation, low self-esteem even. Have to say though that after the Keegan shambles they seem to have sucked up and turned this funny old boat around.
Mad as owt.
Kimtoon – same old lazy journos I’m afraid. Muck raking knows no bounds. Still annoying though isn’t it?
Nicely written JJ. You have to ask yourself where would we be without that year in the wilderness. Would we have pushed on had we stayed up, or did the relegation fire the squad (and club) to bigger and better things?
Anyone supporting Birmingham tonight?
Wouldn’t be great if they go to final,and beat their former owner’s and reach back to PL.
I agree with ILM, great read JJ.
I have to say I’ve enjoyed each of the last 3 seasons all be it each one for differing reasons.
I’m really looking forward to this weekend and whatever happens I’m extremely proud of my team
The Champs league year sorted us out good and proper, no doubt about that in my mind. We’d still be wrangling with joey and Kev over their lousy contracts right now, be lying 6th bottom.and probably trying to sign Emile Heskey, Charlie Adam and Charles N’Zogbia for next seasons’ push for mid-table. We would be sponsored by Grundfos Pumps.
Fantastic season far above my expectations (I predicted ninth at the start). The manager has been much better than I expected and seems to be improving in many ways. We have achieved miracles with some fairly average players (Simpson, Williamson, Perch) who have all played well for the most part. Ben Arfa and Santon are coming along in leaps and bounds. Will Ba stay with us and recover his scoring form? Hard to say right now but he has been an absolute saviour for us this season. Would love to see Saylor get a full season under his belt with Colo as his partner. Three or four more excellent signings and we may even challenge for third next season. Howay the lads!!!
KimT…For all it’s not nice reading about our players being linked with the “big” European clubs, I would have been shocked and amazed if it wasn’t happening. Hopefully they’ve all taken note that the grass isn’t always greener.
I agree Tsunki….though it hurt at the time, it gave the club its excuse to dump the wasters. They’d still be there now, milking us dry in mid-table oblivion.
I am still getting the “your a selling club” crap from my workmates…..though, other than Carol, I can’t think of anyone we sold who was at the top of their game at the time.
Clinath…out of all the ones who’ve been sold, the only one who probably didn’t want to go was Geremi
… and he obviously wasn’t at the top of his game……he wasn’t even at the top of my game
Great read, really puts things back in perspective. Only comment was that whilst JPK was a surprising choice of manager, I would have expected him to keep us up given his pedegree. His opening press conference alone was a highlight of a disasppointing season. This season however. WOW. Wonderful.
excellent read JJ. it has taught me to be more patient with the toon. If I were ashley I would of been long-gone after the abuse he got over Carroll, Barton etc.
the only thing that can spoil this season would be lack of incoming talent through the summer. It would be a crying shame if the club failed to take advantage of this season’s growth.
This lad is on trial with us at the mo apparently: https://twitter.com/#!/valentingjokaj
Don’t think he’d cost much mind. Ergo, he’s probably shoyte!
I think the club will find next season much more challenging as we now have much higher expectations. Staying in the top five will not be easy and we must continue to spend wisely but we must spend and bring in several more players to stay ahead of teams like Chelsea. The European games will put a lot of pressure on our thin squad if we don’t add to it. Let’s hope Ashley continues to spend. It would seem to me that 15-20 M pounds would be reasonable this summer to push us into the top four or at least try to. A lot will depend on what Chelsea does. Arsenal is clearly already spending more than usual and will stay third next season by the look of it unless we improve significantly. Not sure about Spurs. Will they be consistent top 5 finishers? Not clear to me.
Nice to see Gary Neville’s chosen 2 toon goals in his top 3 goals of the season http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11096/7739722/Gary-s-golden-goals
I don’t believe you can foresee how well we will do next season until we know if we are in Europa or CL.
Money might be spent if we qualify for the CL.
It could make a huge difference.
TC
who is he? knows German so guess he’s grown up or is living there.
@Mark
You were the one abusing Ashley so surely you would have ignored all your abuse if you were Ashley.
How much do ya reckon it’d cost us to get Debuchy? Cabaye could help with them being good buddies to get him for a cheaper fee than competitors. If Chelsea are really interested in Simpson we could sell him for £6m and generate two or three million from getting rid of the fringe players to buy Debuchy, who would fit into our 433 if he is as fast as I’m led to believe, thats why alves works so well for barca (and to a lesser extent walker for spurs).
Have to agree Troy @24. If we are in Champs League Ashley may spend more. I still think even if we are in the Europa League we must spend a fair bit, at least 15 M pounds. Don’t really understand our reluctance to pay for another decent CB. To me Saylor is an injury risk with his style of play and his previous record. Willo just isn’t the final answer if we intend to stay in the top 5. Marveaux is still almost a complete unknown quantity and is also injury prone. Should we hang on to Obertan? Not sure he offers enough at all to keep him. What about Vuckic? He is injured yet again now. Peter and Smith gone so we will have room in the squad. Guthrie and Simpson may be gone as well. Should be an interesting summer. Big challenge for Pardew and Carr with this much success happening so quickly.
Great stuff JJ and I’ve popped £8 on a final day treble which is wins for us and West Brom plus a draw for Spurs.
This will leave us 3rd and will pay for the trip to Barcelona
It will all come down to ambition now. How much does Ashley have? We will have to spend signigicantly in the summer or prepare for some disappointment next season. If Ashley really wants Champs league for us he will have to prove it. The club will make money this season and even more next season. Now comes a new challenge, keeping us in the top five. Let’s see if Ashley modifies his method to keep us up there. Now finishing 7th or 8th sounds very disappointing. How times have changed.
Good Afternoon lads… Yes next season will be critical for me.. Either we continue challenging at the top half of the league or we drop to mid-table with European games… Champions League would be a lot easier to continue developing… Loads of cash and a relatively less packed schedule
On another note what do you think? Would we rather win Europa League or Get to the group stage of the Champions League?
Whoarya
…I like the idea, quite novel. I might chuck a fiver on it myself for the hell of it, at 70/1 
@20 Es isch so kalt!!!! #newcastle = It is so cold :’)
Aye, because spunking a load of money on players has done wonders at Liverpool
i was saying this about simpson two years ago……….taxi for simposon deffo ,london bound not sure what club lyk
remember this beaut from two year ago kicking up a storm. How times have changed
“The first team squad that won the Championship this year will form the basis of the team for next season in the Premier League. There is no plan for new capital outlay on players.”
Canny 1st goal in the Europa final….not Cisse standard like but good none the less
Date Bet Type Stake Selection(s)
04/02/2012 Single £10.00 Premier League Top 4 Finish 11/12
Newcastle @ 22/1
Come on the toon!
MANA goes without saying mate i think,CL gives you game time than euro lge,maybe you dont remember but brings back great thoughts to me last time i felt this way was when we won it in 69
ILM i agree, but remember it is that great daglish buys,think you remember the great buying and selling at the toon have said from the out-set he would stuff l/pool up
Good Luck with that Steve
So Blackpool to final then.
I dont want another swansea in PL.
Pretty good read there JJ see it just proves your not as daft as Richie says
AOD whats the craic with the play offs, I have been flat out all day
DAVE flat oot all day,well get your ass then
b/pool 2 nowt up
off*
Ice im fuking wrecked with all the shit she decides to get done on the house, I was up @ 7 yesterday ripping half the bathroom out yesterday so that she could get the floor tiled, went to work then had to start back into the house, the same shit the day again, only I had to plasterboard the ceiling that she got plastered because the plaster had all started cracking and went boast
This should be worth a listen next Friday night.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18008021
DAVE thats a shit mate these things are sent to try us and by god do they,remember your not 21 noo
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7742798/
Well,Blackpool on aggregate is 0-3 now.
Off to Final.
Now i rather Blackpool back to PL,not west ham.
Chrs Rod, nice 230 quid hopefully to pay for the first CL away game
think I’d prefer Blackpool over West Ham – Hooloway tries to get his team playing football rather than fat same hoofball
Shame for Hughton who’s done an amazing job at Brum after having to sell/release something like 15 first team players !!!!!
Ice theres not much you miss lad
hopefully he’ll be a good one
Ice wheres that other fuker
I haven’t seen much of him on here in a while.
Blackpool back for me ,I miss Ollie , and his teams play nice footie too.
DAVE never seen him for ages,richie said hes back in the slammer but say nowt we dont want it getting aboot
Ice he must be in the slammer I heard the bizzies made a big bust on a look up full of lead and copper
It’s a shame for Hughton but I would love to see Blackpool get back up. They deserve another crack at the prem IMO.
MDS you on?
Am I reading the Fox Line up right…9 games being shown on various FOX Networks and only the Newcastle vs. Everton is online? The others on TV? And I bet that’s a subscription base? That’s seriously incredibly crappy.
Hope there’s some good streams going that day.
DJG @ 58, agree. Would like to have seen B’ham up, but now hoping that Blackpool can pull of the win and come back up. B’Ham can come next year.
Norcal-its on foxsoccer.tv but not on any television that i can find. FSC is showing spurs – fulham
They suck. That or I am just cheap.
I guess next year I will have to sign up for that.
Hey, don’t let RVP’s goal win this vote…
https://www.facebook.com/foxsoccer/app_269178896507913
Although…nice collection of some nifty goals this season.
Norcal problem is that all matches start at the same timethis week.
We are lucky in Oz my American friends… When all the games are played at once, Foxtel shows one game as its main game and all you have to do is hit the red button on the remote and it brings up links to all the other games. All you have to do is scroll through until you see the game you want and hit the select button.. It is a brilliant set up, even if Newcastle aren’t playing, you can pick and choose your games.. Mind you, it is not for free and costs me a wad of cash each month.. but it is worth it
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2142059/Manchester-Uniteds-new-kit-looks-like-tea-towel-say-horrified-fans.html
Update on Curtis Good…
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1105029/Good-still-on-Newcastle
Norcal & MDS
You’re not alone in your anger at Fox Soccer for not televising the game in the States: http://www.newcastleunited.us/2012/05/thanks-fox-soccer-for-being-your-clueless-selves-335.html
its quiet on here this morning…..
Sssssh, i’m trying to catch up on me sleep
Ive got a feeling that Ba will get back on the scorers sheet against Everton. Also I think Cisse will bang in a couple… 3-1 to the Toon.
Sorry Prem, as you were mate
No probs. Hope yr right re Everton. A win keeps things open. Nothing else matters.
Yeah, I think it would be nice to cap the season with a win regardless of what happens at the other grounds.. It will finish the season off nicely
and help comfort us through all the transfer speculation that will ensue 
…
If I was to hazard a guess, I reckon we will be linked with 47 players during this transfer window.
I think Newkie had a link to a site that keeps track of that kind of stuff.. It will be interesting to see the final number. It is a joke when you think about how wrong the press and footballing pundits get it.. Its going to be a long off season..
I”ll get you up to 100 post – JJ
Good write up by the way mate…
We better win – I’m gannin .!
It was 4 nowt at Wigan the other week. Shit result, great trip tho.
just 24 to go now….
sheezz my maths is sh*t
Can’t see anybody leaving unless they get their heads turned by mega cash. Te London clubs are no longer a step up. Liverpool are out of it so that only leaves the Manchester Clubs and abroad.
don’t you get lonely on those footy trips though Troy? You know, not having any mates and that
.. I worry about you 
getting into Europe this year might provide the safety blanket we need to retain our better players this year… Hate to think who might be poached if we hadn’t made it
off to the pub now to watch a band and have a few beers… check out – Dead Letter Circus & Birds of Tokyo if you like to hear some good aussie bands..
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