It was fairly clear that something has had to change at Newcastle United.
Last season was an absolute disaster, with the team opening with no wins in the first eight league matches, and ending with a run of eight straight defeats as part of a greater run of 11 defeats in the final 13 games.
Big changes have been made off the field, with owner Mike Ashley saying he is in the helm for the long term and he wants success. Seemingly this is a change of heart from his publicly perceived ambition of harvesting the cash, although given Newcastle spent around £45million last year, its not as if he hasn't been that afraid of spending before.
Nevertheless, a new management team has been installed, while high ticket players have been purchased at a total cost of over £30million. More should be targeted, but a quick integration may negate the need.
Knowing what the results will be is a challenge given Newcastle make their lives out of unpredictability. After all (more or less) the same squad contrived to follow 5th place in 2012 with 16th and a relegation near-miss a year later.
Nevertheless, as an attempt to speculate the Mag's direction, here goes nothing.
What Would Be A Great Season?: Making good on the noises that Newcastle United are targeting a top 8 position in the Premier League, and a trophy run. Even better would be a run like in 2011/12, even if that's perhaps unlikely.
What Would Be A Horrible Season?: The defensive issues resurface, leading to a limp in form and yet more relegation dangers and/or consistent defeats.
What's The Likelier Outcome?: Had it not been for a cataclysmic run of eight defeats in a row, Newcastle would have most likely finished midtable, and that seems a fairer bet than either extreme. Or at least should - predicting anything related to Newcastle can be a fallacy.
Key Player: Georgino Wijnaldum. The Dutch league Player of the Year was the club's first signing of the summer, with £14.5million pocketed by Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. The attacking midfielder looks like being a key option, and has had a lively pre-season. The hope is that he can provide some attacking energy and impetus.
Needs To Improve: Once again, question marks have to be raised on Newcastle's defenders. Only relegated QPR conceded more than the Magpies' 63 concessions last year, and with Newcastle only keeping two clean sheets in pre-season, its fairly clearly that more has to be done to tighten up the back.
Will Be Missed: Jonas Gutierrez. The Argentine was seemingly on a single-minded mission to keep Newcastle in the league on the final game of last season, with his all-action display yielding an assist and a goal. Plenty of those who coasted through the second half of the campaign could learn a lesson from him.
Good That He's Still Here: Ayoze Perez had been linked with moves away after a fantastic first campaign on Tyneside. The youngster will be a great asset in the future for Newcastle, and it will be exciting to watch him progress.
Why Is He Still Here: Mike Ashley is the obvious one, but bodging him is unlikely to happen for the moment. In terms of players, there is a wide playing field. The utterly inept Mike Williamson, aimless Yoan Gouffran and hopeless Emmanuel Riviere lead the way in the awful stakes. Questions can also be raised over other performs, be it captain Fabricio Coloccini, wantaway midfielder Moussa Sissoko, ball-donater Chieck Tiote, injury-prone Steven Taylor and even last year's top scorer Papiss Cisse, who is out of contract in May and missed 10 games last year through unnecessary suspensions.
Incoming: As well as the new face of Steve McClaren in the dugout and a whole new backroom team, Newcastle have been active in the transfer maket. Only 3 players have moved to the North East, but big fees have been spent. At £14.5million, Wijnaldum is the third most expensive purchase in the team's history, and the priciest that isn't an England international striker. The midfielder is no doubt key to the attack strategy. A big fee has also been spent on Alexsandar Mitrovic, who moves from Anderlecht for £13.5million. The Serbian striker arrives with a big reputation for goalscorer and lunacy, and will be interesting to watch. Also moving from the Belgian capital to the North East is Congolese defender Chancel Mbemba, who is an £8.5million capture. Northampton youngster Ivan Toney has also joined, although he will presumably be in the development squad for now.
Outgoing: The big out was Jonas, who was released less than a month after his heroics. Also leaving on a free is Ryan Taylor, who had spent most of the time out with injury since 2012. Taylor joins Championship side Hull City. Davide Santon has made his loan at Inter Milan permanent, while highly rated on FM young'uns Adam Campbell and Remie Streete are released. John Carver and Steve Stone - widely regarded as the architects of the awful form that nearly relegated the Toon - are also gone.
The Manager: Steve McClaren is the new Newcastle manager, having previously turned down the Mags three times last season. This has been seen by some fans of Derby County as providing a distraction that ultimately cost them promotion last year under McClaren.
Something To Keep From Last Year: In all truth, nothing.
Something To Improve: The hideous excuse of a defensive unit.
Pre-Season:
Gateshead (A) 2-1 win
Club Atlas (Milwaukee) 2-1 defeat
Sacramento Republic (A) 1-0 win
Portland Timbers 2 (A) 4-3 defeat
Sheffield United (A) 2-2 draw
York City (A) 2-1 defeat
Borussia Monchengladbach (A) 1-0 defeat
A Word On The New Kits: The new home strip was unveiled shortly before the decisive game with West Ham on the final day of last season. Like a number of Puma kits unveiled this summer, its aesthetically poor, with the worst part being blue lines over the black stripes in the same colour as the (outdated) wonga logo. Poor effort. The away kit is in Puma's diamond design, with a white/grey main colour and blue detailing, while the third kit is a dark blue number with a broken sash that is one half pink and one half white. A word also on the training wear, which is pretty hideous.
Personal Starting XI:
Krul - Janmaat, Mbemba, Taylor, Haidara - Sissoko, Colback - Wijnaldum, de Jong/Cisse, Aarons - Mitrovic
Likely Starting XI:
Krul - Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett - Tiote, Colback - Sissoko, de Jong, Wijnaldum - Mitrovic
So, the all important final question...
Where Will We Finish?
McClaren and the players have been making noises about a top 8 league spot and a cup run, possibly a trophy. The latter might be achievable - Capital One Cup Quarter Finals reached last night, while the FA Cup is a trophy Newcastle are overdue a tilt at. The league however is an odd one, given eight teams fancy themselves in the "best behind the top 6" spot. Newcastle can easily beat and lose to many of these squads, and in truth, a middle of the road spot seems likely enough.
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