Tim Krul: "Being able to train for a full week will make a big difference.
"We will not have any Europa League games next season and that does have an impact on the training as well as the freshness of the first-team squad.
"Next season we will be right up there, I have no doubt about that."
Or is he just making the "best of a bad job"?
And that comes from a player who said last season: "The European adventure is fantastic and playing teams like Benfica is what this club should be doing every year.
"Who knows, a good result in Lisbon and we could go all the way. That's what the fans deserve."
So, Europe is out of fashion this season, is it Tim?
Try telling Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City, Spurs, Wigan (?), Swansea (?) and Arsenal.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES:
Motherwell (A) July 16
Rio Ave (A) July 20
Pacos Ferreira (A) July 23
Blackpool (A) July 29
St Mirren (A) July 31
Braga (H) August 10
WE TELL IT AS IT IS - NO BULLSHIT!
Follow Newcastle Utd-Mad on Facebook:-
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newcastleutd-mad/199695536844554
NEWCASTLE UNITED FIXTURES ...
Saturday August 17
15:00Premier League Manchester City v Newcastle United
Saturday August 24
15:00Premier League Newcastle United v West Ham United
Saturday August 31
15:00Premier League Newcastle United v Fulham Saturday
September 14
15:00Premier League Aston Villa v Newcastle United
Saturday September 21
15:00Premier League Newcastle United v Hull City
Saturday September 28
15:00Premier League Everton Newcastle v United
Saturday October 5
15:00Premier League Cardiff City v Newcastle United
Saturday October 19
15:00Premier League Newcastle United v Liverpool
Saturday October 26
15:00Premier League Sunderland v Newcastle United
Saturday November 2