The Toon Army is singing again !

[22.08.2010]  Newcastle United 6-0 Aston Villa

You can be excused for thinking this was just another high scoring match in the Premier league. But the real Geordies know the pain they have gone through before their spectacular comeback into the Premier league.

Newcastle united has always been special for me. I cannot forget the scene whenever I used to  pick Newcastle as my team in FIFA 05 (06-10) game, and  they show the stadium from the goalkeeper's view. Its just breathtaking ! Or whenever I watch the movie 'Goal' , it gives me goosebumps when they show the stadium !
It has one of the best fan bases in the world, an amazing stadium which is filled no matter who they are playing.

This is the story of Newcastle United, who were down in the dumps, making news for all the wrong reasons on and off the pitch 2 years ago, how after being written off by everyone revived and fought back their way into the Premier League.

2008-09 season - The Doom
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Kevin Keegan, the legendary manager of Newcastle had just resigned from the club after a month into the new season, over the disagreement with the owner on the players he was forced to buy. This resulted in a big protest of fans outside the club asking for Keegan to return and the owner Mike Ashley to leave the club.Mike Ashley put the club on sale.

In a surprise move former Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear  took charge of Newcastle on 26 September 2008 initially on a 10 week contract. The intention was that he would manage the club until the owner Mike Ashley had sold it. Kinnear's contract was extended and he was then confirmed  to manage the club until the end of the season. But Kinnear had to undergo a heart surgery in February and had to be relieved of his managerial duties.

This allowed Alan Shearer, the most loved player of Newcastle to take charge as manager. Still the top scorer for Newcastle and in the Premier League, Shearer was looked upon by the fans as the man to lead them in the right direction.

But the damage was already done and Newcastle Utd got Relegated to the Championship on the final day of the season after losing to Aston Villa. It was a heart breaking moment for Newcastle fans. Shearer resigned from the job.Following their relegation, the club was put up for sale again for a price of £100 million by owner Mike Ashley and this was put up on the club's official website.

 Then came the lowest point in Newcastle Utd's recent history. They were beaten 6-1 by Leyton Orient in a friendly, before the Championship season began. The club was up for sale, manager-less and were from top to bottom in complete disarray as no one knew who was going to be in charge in time for the start of the season.

Also, a number of the first team squad players did not want to stay at St James’ Park, this led to a players’ meeting in the away dressing room immediately after that match where the unmotivated were told in  certain terms that they were not wanted at the club anymore.
Many experts predicted that the club was on a death spiral and it was not a surprise if they got relegated again to lower divisions.

2009-10 Season - The Revival begins
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The Assistant manager Chris Hughton was  appointed as the care taking manager.
Star players like Sebastian Bassong, Oba Martins, Mark Viduka, Habib Beye and Michael Owen who seemed to be happy to pick up their massive wages whilst they sat on the sidelines nursing their latest injury, were offloaded. What was left was an admittedly less talented squad, but a squad nonetheless who were willing to fight for the club.
The team slowly started to gel and started winning games. In October, Chris Hughton was appointed as the full time manager and Mike Ashley announced that the club was no longer for sale, reporting that he had been unsuccessful in finding a buyer who could produce proof of funds, despite reducing his asking price to £80 million.
 The start of the 2009-10 season in the Championship saw the club placed top of the table at Christmas with an 8 point lead and a defensive record of only 12 goals conceded in 22 games. Manager Chris Hughton was named Manager of the Month for August, September and November 2009.

On the 5th April 2010 the club secured automatic promotion with 5 games remaining . Newcastle were promoted back to the Premier League after just one season away, 316 Days after being relegated on the final day of the 2008/2009 season against Aston Villa. Newcastle secured the league title . The club finished the season with a 1-0 victory at QPR on 2 May, completing a total of 102 points earned during the season which is a club record and the first time the Magpies had achieved 100 or more points in any league campaign.

2010-11 season - The new beginning
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Newcastle began their new Premier League season with a tough away match against Man Utd which they lost. But they erased whatever bad memories of relegation they had by beating the same Aston Villa 6-0, to whom they had lost and got relegated one year ago.






The new striker Andy Caroll scored a hat trick,  already showing signs of becoming a great player.
Is he the new No.9 ,after Alan Shearer to bring back the glory days at Newcastle ?
Time will tell.

Newcastle United will not win the Premier league.
They will not qualify for the Champions League.
Yet, they are a special club and hope we see them play in the Premier League for many more seasons to come......