We're being told that a win at home against newly promoted Leicester would be enough to kick-start Newcastle's season; that it would represent a turned corner for the Magpies and that from there it will no doubt be all plain sailing. Why else would Mike Williamson claim that exciting times were ahead? Why else would he proclaim Pardew a fantastic manager? And most importantly, why else would Mike Ashley not have sacked the man on the verge of leading Newcastle to their worst ever Premier League start? But even if Newcastle can overcome Leicester - with the help of Papiss Cisse who is suddenly in the mood for goals, perhaps because he's not playing on the wing - the games immediately afterwards look daunting to say the least. Even in the darkest days, NUFC fans would expect a win against Leicester, but Spurs, Man City and Liverpool, even on their worst days, are an entirely different kettle of fish. Admittedly the luxury of the Man City game is that three points aren't at stake, but a victory there would no doubt go some way to improve feeling given the fanbase's thirst for a Cup run (as well as providing Pardew with a nice little excuse of fixture congestion should he need it). But playing against Spurs and Liverpool - neither as impressive as their finest form last season at all - is daunting at the best of times, and while victory isn't really expected, it is now necessary to start clawing our way back up the league. And unfortunately, no matter what the result at Leicester, it simply will not matter if the team crashes back into the relegation zone with two big losses in the following two league games. If you were a gambling man, and even the most optimistic Newcastle fan, there would surely be little to incline you to put your money on Newcastle in either of those games, which is why the heat should not be taken off Pardew if a win does come at the weekend. No doubt the media and PR spin machines will churn up as soon as that result comes, if it does (and it's by no means assured), saying that Pardew has turned the corner and that good times are back again. He will be able to ride the temporary and over-blown tide of good will away from the sack race a little, but he should still seriously look at himself when it comes to ten games and that Leicester victory is the only one. That may seem like pessimism, but there is only so much terrible football we can be forced to endure without the default expectation being another uninspiring draw or worse.
