If we'd gone down I'd expect us to come straight back up and think Newcastle will, no matter who they bring in.
For me that's not the issue ........ it's that, from their early season £80 million arrogance, they've suffered the humiliation of relegation
Their shameless sucking up to Ashley, after his trophy & PL promises, means they can't even console themselves by turning on him as usual.
They daren't say a single word in case he ends their pre-teen love affair with Benitez.
My thoughts are more with Sunderland, Allardyce & Short, whichever players they bring in and how we progress. Watching the Mags puffing their chests out, at Rotherham, and acting as if none of this has bothered them will be a laugh. But Newcastle will just be a sideways source of fun watching them playing at home to the likes of Burton and suffering the occasional embarrassment.
If Benitez comes in they'll have to totally hand over the club to him and keep their fingers crossed that he doesn't buy the wrong players and fail.
If they come back up we'll have a year on them and need to make it count, especially with the financial advantage we now have.
Despite what's being said Newcastle are a club in turmoil.
They have ridiculously highly paid players who obviously want away, more highly paid 'unsaleable' wasters, a mad imbalance throughout the side and a 'strike force' that's a mixture of the offensive and the ineffective ........ whichever manager gets Ashley's pieces of silver they have a massive job on their hands.
For once Sunderland aren't in turmoil and can calmly add good hard working players who actually want to be here .......... Haway Sunderland.