Shay Given Worried About Relegation

After the exit of three top players Shay Given has said in an interview that he is worried that Newcastle could be relegated.

I get the concern but let's wait until the window is closed before making that statement.

Sunderland had a virtually new team after 17 signings last season and none of them had played in the PL and their manager hadn't managed there either.

They were nailed on relegation favourites and got into Europe.

It just shows that pundits, as well as fans, often get their predictions wrong.

This isn't a relegation squad

OK, we need first 11 reinforcements and there is plenty in the kitty to bring them in.

But we've still got Tino, Hall, Burn, Thiaw, Botman, Schar, Jo, Ramsey, Miley and Barnes... and Wolt, Wissa and Elanga should be straining at the leash to show the new manager they can turn it on in a Toon shirt.

We've also got a new 1st team keeper in Hornicek, plus Toure and Bamba who should bring energy to the subs bench and even to the first 11, not forgetting boy wonder Steur.

And even more importantly...

We've got a new young manager fully energised, massively ambitious, and who has a reputation of managing and developing young players plus the huge ego's of the big players he handled in Saudi.

If Shay Given and some fans think we re behind the likes of promoted teams Coventry, Ipswich and Hull then IMO they need to give themselves a good shake.

Reasons to be positive

I'm actually more positive about the new season than I would have been with Eddie.

Eddie was brilliant for us, but last season his emotions were becoming more downbeat as the PL campaign stuttered and spluttered on.

He looked a broken man after the home defeat to Sunderland when yet again we lost a lead and ended up conceding the double to the Mackems.

It was the low point of a poor PL season.

My view at the time was that the squad would see the change in Eddie's demeanour and their motivation levels would fall.

A leader who isn't inspirational and positive, is no leader.

Plus, pneumonia is a debilitating illness that can take months to fully recover from but Eddie, to his credit, probably came back too early and the stress and criticism he suffered towards the end of last season undoubtedly took its toll.

His battle had been fought, and in the end the battle he faced this season was one too many. I believe his heart was no longer in the job and he made the right decision.

Baggage shelved in left luggage

Matthias Jaissle comes in fresh, motivated, and full of ambition

The baggage of a 12th place finish last season, Isak and the latest exits, the indifferent form of last season's signings , and doubts over Eddie's tactical flexibility can now be shelved in the left luggage department.

Jaissle doesn't carry that old baggage, instead he brings bags of enthusiasm and a fresh approach to a club and fans that needed exactly that. An injection of hope.

Had Eddie stayed that baggage would have lingered and patience among fans to a bad start to the season would have been short and possibly brutal, especially at SJP.

Cheers instead of jeers

Our expectations have still been lowered, but the difference is most fans at SJP will react to early set backs by cheering even louder instead of the jeers that would surely have rung round if Eddie were still here.

That positive reaction will send a message to young Matthias and his squad that we understand the challenge and are right behind supporting them every step of the way.

Relegation?

I'm not even thinking about it.

And you can bet Matthias Jaissle, his training team and the squad aren't either.

Now, we need to plan well, buy well, and dream big.

All hail Jaissle and the new Toon era.

Let's start by beating Isak and the scousers on the opening day.

What a start to the new era that would be,

HWTL. Toon, Toon, black and white army.

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