Is this really the new expectation from Newcastle United fans?

Of course we all want to forget the Ashley era (rightly so), but those years of neglect will take time to overturn.

The idea that Top 4 is now an expectation rather than an ambition, is nuts. There's still a big gap between us and the Big Six in terms of finances and squad strength.

With FFP rules in places, you can't cheat that process. You have to gradually bridge that gap. Of course it doesn't mean it's impossible to compete right at the top (as we showed in 22/23), but it does mean that it can't be an expectation for that to happen consistently (yet).

As for the managerial situation, Howe has so far done a phenomenal job. European form in his first season to keep us up with ease, a 4th place finish and a cup final in his second season, and then 7th place in his third season while being surrounded by loads of new challenges and issues.

It's easy to say what he could've done differently in hindsight, but often those takes come with the assumption that those changes would've resulted in a different result. For example, Hall not playing instead of Burn earlier, or Howe prioritizing the recovery of Joelinton and Pope in the recent match vs Man Utd by not starting them.

There was more than good reason to make both the decisions he did in those examples, but it's not reasonable to pin this season on those moments by assuming that doing differently would've guaranteed more points.

Add in the injury crisis, the lack of squad depth we have, the fixture congestion - and you can't reasonably expect performances not to drop to some degree.

On the topic of squad depth, we're miles off any of the Big Six sides. We haven't had enough time to build the depth that they have, and it's why we're still relying on some of the guys from the Rafa era. Same goes with the academy, they all produce much better quality talents, because of what they've invested in the academy.

And on both counts - squad depth and academy products - it takes time, and it takes long-term investment over multiple years. You can't shortcut it. So to expect us to now be on par with those teams, despite being inferior in a lot areas which aren't rectifiable immediately - is illogical.

Howe's produced an impressive trajectory no matter how you look at it. He's proved that he's ready for this level, he's built a philosophy that works, and with further improvements to his skillset, and his squad, there's no reason why we can't keep improving.

I've mentioned before the patience that Arsenal showed with Arteta, and how it's paid off with him. But if you look back at history, every elite manager was given time to become elite. It doesn't just happen overnight. You have to be given the chance, and we need to give Howe the chance.

The sport often rewards patience and long-term thinking. And the idea that we already have to be better than 3 of the big 6 every season - or else it's a failure - is just wildly unrealistic. Maybe one day it'll be fair, but with our resources right now, you can't possibly expect that as an absolute minimum.