Cautiously optimistic?

I borrowed, with permission of course, this article which I seen on a message board as I thought it posed an interesting question. Have a read and see if you agree, or disagree.

On the 24th May, 2009, it seemed like there was no way back for Newcastle United. However, we were proved wrong. In fact, there is an argument for suggesting that relegation was a blessing in disguise.

Since that day, the club has progressed significantly. Relegation allowed us to shift on the finished 'stars', the Owen's and Viduka's of this world, and allowed us to build a team of hard working players, who play for the shirt and for the fans, not just for the cash.

It has also allowed the players to right some wrongs, not just with the fans of our club, but to the journalists and pundits who had constantly written them off. Look at Joey Barton, Fabricio Coloccini and Kevin Nolan as prime examples. Barton, and rightly so, has be constantly criticised for his wrong-doings off the field. He constantly told us he would deliver but never did. This season, he has been one of our best players, and to be honest I can't think of a better English midfielder than him on current form.

Fabricio Coloccini came in to a sinking ship in his first season. He was a scapegoat for the media because of his price tag, when in reality I can remember Steven Taylor making just as many clangers, but that doesnt get mentioned because he's local, much like Henderson at Sunderland. Coloccini is now probably our most important player, certainly our best defender. Just look at last season, the games we lost were when he was absent, he really is an ice cool defender who is starting to look like he was worth every penny.

And Kevin Nolan, 10 goals from midfield half way through the season. If this was Gerrard, Sky Sports would have a tug-a-thon. Nolan gets criticised for his lack of mobility by some, but when doesn't play we don't half miss him. He pops up with crucial goals, leads the lads on and off the pitch and has a good relationship with the fans, being honest in interviews and constantly communicating. He's a proper captain, unlike that money grabbing midget who couldn't wait to get gone.

We've built a good squad, with a young team that we can hopefully be proud of in the future. The clubs intent is clear to see, with 5 year deals being handed to everyone who they want to be a part of the future. We have the likes of Krul, Gosling, Vuckic, Ferguson, Ranger, Kadar, Simpson who are all going to improve as the years go on. Every game provides more and more experience, and I can honestly believe that we can be excited for the future.

Another player who benefited from the relegation was Andy Carroll. If we had stayed up that day, he would have never got a chance. He was 5th in the pecking order, behind Owen, Martins, Viduka and Ameobi, but now Carroll is probably the most promising talent that this region has produced since Alan Shearer. He has almost been symbolic, a real figurehead in our revival. If he can keep on the back pages instead of the front, we're probably going to have another England number 9 on our hands. Let's just hope he's not motivated by the bright lights of London and Manchester, and does what Shearer did before him and lives the dream.

Mike Ashley, although many fans will fail to see, has put this club on a sound, finiancial footing. Don't get me wrong, I don't like the bloke, I've chanted about the 'fat cockney barsteward' as well, but I'd much rather take this approach, keep wages and fees to a minimum, buy youth and develop them, than splash out millions on ageing stars. Yes, they fix the short term, but the long term future is what we really need to focus on, especially in an age where footballers are becoming multi-millionaires.

Obviously, the sacking of Chris Hughton was abysmal. He steadied the ship, kept a real dignified approach when the country was laughing at us, and I for one will be forever grateful for what he done for our club. But he is now, like it or not, history, and his chapter in our history will be fondly rememberd by every fan of this club. Thank you Chris, you truly are a Geordie.

Now I'm 28, I've been going to the games since I was 4 and I've seen plenty of false dawns, and I understand that this could be one of them. But I can't help feel genuinely excited for the future. In our first season back in the Premier League, we're exceeding expectations by sitting in the top half. We're getting better by the weekend and I think the fans understand that we don't have to play one touch football every weekend (although I have been impressed by the level of football under Pardew, surprisingly), despite common media misconceptions.

We have two of the top four scorers in the Premier League, we have a midfield enforcer in Tiote that we have lacked for literally years, we have a defence that we do not need to worry about, unlike the past, and we have one of France's brightest talents on a permanent deal, waiting to come back from injury. I can't help but think that had Ben Arfa played in the games at home when teams sat back, like Stoke, Fulham, Blackburn etc, he could have won us that type of game. But ah well, that's all to come.

But with this owner, you never know whats round the corner. Carroll could leave tommorow and Barton next week and we'd be back to square one. It's just waiting really, but surely even he see's and understands now?

So is it really a new start, a refreshing sense of dignified optimisim? Or is it yet another false dawn?