Before the first ball of the new Championship season was kicked, you wouldn't have been alone on putting a few pounds on Newcastle to immediately return to the Premiership, following their dismal Premier League campaign in 2015/16.
The chances of being promoted at the first time of asking seemed even more likely when it was announced that Rafa Benitez would be staying on as manager (less than a year after being sacked by Real Madrid let's not forget).
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However, following two defeats in their first two games back in the Championship against Fulham and Huddersfield respectively. A third defeat tonight against Reading, could spell the end for Newcastle's season before it's even really started.
If Newcastle can't return to the Prem at the first time of asking, it could be very difficult for them to get back into the top flight anytime soon and we could be looking at the new Leeds United or Nottingham Forest.
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I think it's fair to say that the club is rotten at the core and you have to feel sorry for the loyal Toon Army, who follow their team week after week, just to be disappointed over and over again (and Arsenal fans think they have it bad!)
Since Mike Ashley bought the club in July 2007 for approximately £134 million, things have gone from bad to worse for the owner of Sports Direct, his unwillingness to appoint good managers and not allowing managers to sign their own players has left Newcastle in this position and the disdain for him amongst Newcastle fans is clear to see.
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That mixed in with Graham Carr as Head Scout, who has been responsible for almost every player coming into Newcastle in the past seven years, the former Tottenham scout was once loved in the town for signing players such as Chieck Tiote, Mathieu Debuchy, Yohann Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa, but he has seen his own stock, much like Newcastle's dip in the past few years, for trying mistakes such as trying to find the next Thierry Henry in Yoan Gouffran.
Since Rafa has come in, things have changed slightly, he made it clear to the board that he needed to be in control of transfers and so far this transfer window they have signed: Vurnon Anita (made his loan permanent from Ajax), Dwight Gayle, Mohamed Diame, Grant Hanley, Ciaran Clark, Matt Ritchie, Jesus Gamez, Isaac Hayden, Matz Sels and Stuart Findlay.
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It's fair to say that they have been very busy and have brought in a decent range of players, Jesus Gamez with his vast experience with Atletico Madrid, Matt Ritchie with his obvious ability, Dwight Gayle a proven goalscorer and Isaac Hayden a very versatile youngster with a lot of potential. Not to mention two centre backs, which to many fans has been the biggest area in need of improvement.
With the departures of Gini Wijnaldum for a tidy £25 million to Liverpool and the apparent imminent departure of Moussa Sissoko to Real Madrid (I know, crazy right!?) Newcastle definitely have money to spend.
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There is also no doubt that Benitez is a great manager and I think it was surprising to everyone that he stayed on as manager.
The Championship is much more difficult than the last time Newcastle were in this position though, due to the influx of foreign talent and money in the second tier of English football, shown by two losses in their opening two games.
For Newcastle's fans sake though, I hope the Toon can pull themselves together and lift themselves up the table, they undoubtedly have, on paper, the best team in the league, but a few more defeats and it will be virtually impossible for Newcastle to gain automatic promotion, even at this early stage.
Newcastle face Reading at St James' Park tonight, kick off at 7:45pm
Words by: Jack Flannigan
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