So we have a full house, a night match, Manchester United as opposition.

So what if it buys mike Ashley a few extra roulette chips, as a fan what matters to me is being part of a throbbing mass of people all United in a common cause.

With Obertan likely to be missing for a month, is this a chance for Shane Ferguson.

A possibility could be Jonas moving to the right against Manchester United and Ferguson coming in on the left. That would be my preference ahead of Sammy Ameobi.

Hardly a fit defender in sight, Rooney upsetting the Red-Nosed one and De Gea less than reliable, can United take advantage of Man.U’s problems?

Facing a dodgy keeper, injuries and naughty boys, Tiote and Ba to leave behind a very nice late Xmas present as they head off to Africa.

30 points at halfway is an excellent start but it will only mean something if Newcastle United can finish the job off.

Long-term injuries, Tiote & Ba off to Africa and negative transfer noises – can Alan Pardew perform a bigger miracle and match that first 30 points?

Even though there is no obvious replacement on the right wing, if the stories of Obertan’s foot injury prove correct then maybe it could prove to be a bonus to Alan Pardew.

If he has to remove the misfiring Frenchman, then it will give both some breathing space as to whether he should play.

So then we can just sit back and relax watching the African Cup Of Nations, or hope Senegal & Ivory Coast get knocked out as soon as possible and the players don’t get injured or sold.

Good luck to both players…and Alan Pardew!

Memories can be hazy but Neil Dick is in no doubt that that night in 1984 at Anfield will stay with him forever.

Is there anything better than been part of the travelling black & white army descending on another city?

Thanks to our friends at www.tynesideprints.com we had a beautiful signed print to give away and help make somebody’s Xmas extra special.

Steven Dodds was the lucky winner and he correctly told us it was Alan Shearer’s name on the giant Toon shirt that was draped over the Angel.

Newcastle struggle to get a full best eleven out and if Ashley kids himself that Alan Pardew has been given enough support to build a reasonable squad then we are in for long-term problems.

The Demba Ba and Tiote sized holes that are about to appear sends a shiver down my spine.

There are some dates that stick in the memory and nobody who was there will forget New year’s Day 1985.

We bring you a Video classic from The Mag You Tube collection, Peter Beardsley slaughter the mackems, happy viewing!