Being the 18th "richest club in the world" ... and taking on a man with more money than royalty ... the Toon fans expected happy time ahead.
Instead we have an owner who looks on the verge of walking away with a megga-million pound profit, having spent a season "having fun" at St James' Park.
But Nicky Butt has warned Newcastle - the fans and the club - we cannot afford a repeat of last season's "embarrassing failure" as we head to Old Trafford already shitting our pants.
Instead we have an owner who looks on the verge of walking away with a megga-million pound profit, having spent a season "having fun" at St James' Park.
But Nicky Butt has warned Newcastle - the fans and the club - we cannot afford a repeat of last season's "embarrassing failure" as we head to Old Trafford already shitting our pants.
The ex-Manchester United and England midfielder says the "hurt" of a relegation scrap must be avoided at all costs.
Butt has won the Premiership six times, and he gets as embarrassed as ourselves when the media predict troubled times ahead for our great club.
Butt: "Last season was embarrassing for us and it wasn't nice. It was a failure. We didn't perform well and we finished right down the bottom of the table.
"This year we have to improve and get back up the table where we should be. Going off last year's finish is not something to be proud of. It hurt me and the rest of the lads.
"It will be a tough year because every club is improving, everyone is throwing money at it and getting better, buying better players. If you stand still you can go backwards.
"We have not put a target on it, but I am sure the coaching staff have. Success has to be firstly to do better than last year. But I say success would be to be in the mix there for the European places."