Alan Pardew: “We're in good shape.
“The feeling in the local media and press and our fans is one of optimism.
“That's felt on the training ground as well. It's felt by my staff and some of my staff have been here for 25 years.
"There's a genuine feeling we've got a decent side here and I think we need a couple of results under our belt and then see how quickly it grows.
“There are a lot of new players, though. Someone said to me, are we carrying a bit of negative history for last season but only half the team were playing, the other 50 per cent are new.
“We are kind of half carrying it and half not. The one half are all bubbly and asking when we're going to win.
“It was our home form last season, with seven wins away from home. I'd be willing to take that, the home form was the problem and it's a huge week with Palace on the horizon let alone Villa and Gillingham.
“The new arrivals really helps lift the players who were here last year.
"That's massive I think. When you've had a disappointing season one of the points I've made to Mike (Ashley) and Lee (Charnley), and the disappointment on the back of Cabaye's departure, is that it's important for new players to come in quickly. We did that and I'm pleased with that.”