Newcastle United - Devoid of Hope

In a cold and wet away section on December evening, Newcastle United supporters packed into Highbury to see their side face Arsenal.

Sir Bobby Robson's men knew a win would send them to the top of the league. Could Newcastle end their London hoodoo? They had not won in the capital for 30 games. There was a nervous anticipation among the travelling Toon Army that night, finger nails bitten to the very limit.

Newcastle ran out 1-3 winners, sending the Geordies home jubilant, knowing their side sat at the top of the Premier League.

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A side full of promise, heart and desire. Everyone was pulling in the same direction from the owner right down to the tea lady.

Newcastle would end the season in the Champions League places. Fast forward to today, the club is lost and left on its haunches. The famous roar of the St James' Park crowd, now sounds like a wounded lion screaming for help.

Newcastle supporters do not expect to be challenging for the top four. Those on the outside continue to follow the rhetoric of "Deluded Geordies", when in reality they just want their club to at least show some ambition. The club the size of Newcastle should be able to compete with the likes of Bournemouth and Wolves in the transfer market.

Newcastle have been on death row for 12 years, locked up with no hope of survival and starved of the escape they crave.

St James' Park is frail and in desperate need of repair. The hierarchy's definition of repair is to literally paint over the cracks:

This is the worst position Newcastle have been in under Mike Ashley's ownership. A toxic atmosphere, a fanbase devoid of hope, a threadbare squad and a newly appointed manager who doesn't fully understand what he's walking in to.

Newcastle are going for the easiest option instead of an ambitious or logical option. Steve Bruce was never going to turn down the opportunity to manage Newcastle again.

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The former Sheffield Wednesday manager is described as "A safe paid of hands", a safe pair of hands with an average win percentage of 38.5%, that is by no means safe. In fact Bruce was 11th on the list of potential successors to Rafael Benitez. There is nothing about Bruce's appointment that is remotely positive for Newcastle.

Now that the club have a manager in place, they must start to sign players. Newcastle have been left chasing the pack yet again, with three weeks left until the transfer window slams shut, the club have a mountain to climb.