'All is not fixed' - but 'exciting sparks' before summer rebuild
[BBC] [Getty Images] Doesn't it feel like the end of term? The sun is shining and the homework you have doesn't matter quite as much, so you can just have fun all the time. Or was that just my approach to the end of term (and, also, most of the rest of term)?
Maybe it doesn't feel this way to fans of other clubs who are really gunning for a big finish to their season, but to me at St James' Park this weekend, watching us dominate (a terrible) West Ham felt like maybe everything will turn out all right. Our last home fixture of this season had everything. Kieran Trippier's goodbye to the home fans, the correct line-up, goals from our younger players, a win, Will Osula doing a little Michael Jackson tribute with a sparkly glove.
If only it hadn't been the 37th league game of the season. The thing I liked most was the team selection and subsequent attacking football we were able to play. All is not fixed at Newcastle United, and the summer will prove pivotal, but it was buoying to see the team work together smoothly and dominate in attack for the majority of the game.
Problems we've seen over the season - dropping points from leading positions, form failing after half-time - were problems no more this weekend. Additionally, we saw Nick Woltemade back on the scoresheet after a dip in confidence (not helped by some media outlets insisting he doesn't work at Newcastle). There were exciting sparks in this, our penultimate game of the season.
We needed that. We need to take the same sparks to Fulham this weekend, and into the summer if we truly are to rebuild. I know there will be movement of players this summer - but if we can hold on to the bulk of Sunday's starting XI, then next season has so much potential.