Noise. Deafening noise. Hair-raising, deafening noise. That's exactly what had been missing from St James' Park over the past 18 months as Newcastle United was dragged away from its traditional roots, careering uncontrollably from one disaster to another and destroying the relationship between the loyal, adoring supporters and their club. Yet on Sunday a tsunami of noise that had built up gradually over a summer when optimism had slowly dripped back into the hearts and minds of the Toon faithful - courtesy of a slight tidal shift from the Magpies' hierarchy - crashed down over the famous old stadium and made a welcome return to Tyneside. Things are still not how they should be at Newcastle United, far from it, but the opening Barclays Premier League match of the season against Southampton seemed to signal very definitively that a sea-change has taken place on Tyneside. The late-Alan Pardew and John Carver eras appear to have been banished to a distant time, hopefully never to return, and the life and soul is gradually being allowed to return to a football club that relies on those facets. It seems strange to be writing this seeing as Steve McClaren's brave new era at Newcastle United only began with a 2-2 home draw, but it was not necessarily the result that was significant - it was the manner about which the ex-England boss' side went about their business, and about how the Toon Army fed off that positive energy displayed out on the pitch. Even before a ball was kicked on Sunday, there was a buzz around St James' Park that has not been present in recent months and even years. Mike Ashley's frugality, Alan Pardew's perceived arrogance and John Carver's ineptitude helped put paid to that for far too long. However, with signings as ambitious and exciting as those of Georginio Wijnaldum, Chancel Mbemba and Aleksandar Mitrovic having arrived on Tyneside for an outlay of close to £35 million this summer; with Ashley having declared that the Magpies will now look to win a trophy rather than just survive in the Premier League; and with McClaren, Ian Cathro et al attempting to implement a passing brand of attacking football so far removed from the turgid stuff seen on Tyneside last season that it is on a whole new planet - suddenly, Newcastle United fans can be inspired. This "evolution not revolution" - as McClaren termed it not long after taking over - is still very much in its embryonic stages, but Magpies supporters are daring to believe again. They encouraged the team from the very first minute and cheered every tackle, pass and shot, while refraining from getting on the players' backs when things didn't go according to plan. In fact, even when Graziano Pelle put Southampton ahead, the crowd's positivity filtered back through to the players and drove them on. If the noise when Papiss Cisse equalised was deafening, then the noise when Georginio Wijnaldum put Newcastle ahead was thunderous and tumultuous. Yes, the Saints levelled things up and finished the game the stronger as the Magpies tired, but the Toon faithful stuck by their team until the end. Put simply, they have been allowed to believe again. As was so infamously displayed on a banner by Newcastle fans last season, they don't demand a team that wins - they demand a club that tries. Mike Ashley appeared to have sucked the very soul out of Newcastle United by the beginning of 2015 and fans were turning up to games last season out of habit, not because of the yearn they have always had before to see their team run out on to the pitch in their famous black-and-white stripes and entertain them. On Sunday, the noise generated by 50,000 vocal and passionate Newcastle supporters clearly indicated that they are willing to believe in their club again. Make no mistake about it, there still needs to be far greater "evolution" at Newcastle United in the days, weeks and months ahead - but the reappraisal of the Mike Ashley way has at the very least begun. If the reformation is carried through to its conclusion, then Newcastle United Football Club will be back. And that noise, that deafening noise, will be a weekly feature once more. And not a moment too soon. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCulture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.