Newcastle Fans Need to Lower Expectations?

I have been a Newcastle supporter for all my 32 years. When the season begins, I always have expectations and aspirations just like every other Toon fan.

Now I can only speak for myself, but I believe most NUFC fans will agree: My expectations have never been to win a cup or the league, however I have always aspired to both.

The so-called experts and TV pundits always pipe out the same old dross—we need to lower expectations, we are too demanding, etc. My only expectation is that the players go out on the pitch and do the job they are paid very, very, very well to do, and I think I and every paying member of the Toon Army have a right to expect that.

So I don’t agree that I need to lower my expectations. Do you think they are confusing expectations with aspirations? If they are, then I disagree again, and no I’m not an argumentative sod. Okay maybe I am.

If I need to lower my aspirations, what do I lower them to? Mid-table mediocrity? Relegation? Never winning anything? I don’t want to lower them, since there would be no point in football then, would there?

I believe here lies the real reason why we are one of a kind, a special football club. When we don’t get what we expect, we do something about it, because the club runs in our blood—its part of us.

Now I don’t agree with fans booing. I never have and never will. However, I do understand people just express themselves in different ways.

When we nearly slipped into the old third division and almost certain oblivion under the Mckeag regime, we demanded change and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Remember the "sack the board" days? If we were like other fans in the country, we would have just turned away or just found another club to support.

But we couldn’t, coz its in the blood.

Now things have changed and I EXPECT us to be challenging for UEFA cup place every year. With the money players earn nowadays, I EXPECT them to play with passion and pride.

Since the premier league began, we are the fifth highest points scorers, so it’s not too much to expect is it?

I will always have aspirations and dreams, coz I am a romantic. Honest, ask our lass! Because that’s what football is all about, isn’t it?