The Magpies have experienced a whirlwind 2015, starting off with narrowly avoiding relegation under Steve Carter before making a number of noteworthy changes in the summer.
One of the biggest decisions was the appointment of Steve McClaren, a manager who while excels in the coaching side of the game, has in the past struggled to overcome difficulties
Newcastle’s opening third of the season has reflected their 2015 in general, with high points, low points, training ground bust-ups, controversy and of course another defeat to rivals Sunderland.
But in spite of the club sitting in the bottom three ahead of the Magpies’ trip to Tottenham Hotspur, McClaren predicts a brighter future and one which may swap popular opinion on the club.
“I fully expect us to be stronger in the second half than we are in the first. It’s not so bonkers inside the club — it looks it, though, doesn’t it, from the outside?” McClaren explained.
“The reason we’re in the trouble that we’re in, is that they haven’t been able to put in a performance week in, week out, which the fans expect.”