And it all gets worse for the Toon.

A few weeks ago, I posted a blog on Newcastle's horrendous new kit, which in hindsight isn't as bad as some others, but does make them look like custard creams. And judging by their first performance in that kit, they feel a need to play like that as well. They lost. 6-1. To Leyton Orient. It was an average team, mixed full of seasoned pros and youth:

Tim Krul, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Joey Barton, Damien Duff, Kevin Nolan, Jonas Gutierrez, Alan Smith (c), Oba Martins
Subs: Danny Guthrie, Xisco, Geremi, Andy Carroll, Kazenga LuaLua, Tamas Kadar, Fraser Forster, Ben Tozer, Ryan Donaldson, Darren Lough, Wesley Ngo Baheng

All those in italics are first team players, yet Newcastle still fail to win what should be easy games. Many people who support Championship clubs thought one of the following would be seen on the back of the 'papers come May:

1. Newcastle bounce straight back up with the highest ever points total.
2. Toon do a Charlton.

Following their dire draw against Leeds this week, I have to admit that I am turning from the former to the latter. And I honestly believe that so are a lot of the so called 'Toon Army'. For me, the only reason they still go to see NUFC is in the hope that this preseason is all about giving other teams a false sense of security. I thought the same about Palace a few years back. It never fulfills the optimism that it gains.

So it is more than likely that these pre-season games are not merely blips, but an example of the struggle to come for the largely arrogant club that is Newcastle United, who once thought that anything and everything was s*** if it wasn't in the top half of the Premier League. Well, look in the mirror Toon Army, because you are now part of that 's***', and it won't be as easy as you thought.

Gibbo