Former Toon Midfielder Happy With Toon Start!
John Barnes: "Just two weeks into the season and a number of critics have already made their minds up over certain club's fate. For me, it's far too early to make sweeping assumptions but I must say I have been impressed so far by all three club's from the North-East.
"My old club Newcastle had a great performance against Manchester United and expectedly they followed this up by beating Bolton 1-0 which is a superb start for Kevin Keegan.
"I've been particularly impressed with Newcastle's Argentine new boy Jonas Gutierrez. He showed lots of energy at Old Trafford, worked up and down really well and proved himself to be a quality player.
"Fabricio Coloccini is one of the those players we've all known about for a long while but Kevin did well to capture him. Both these new boys have started off incredibly well, though there's a long way to go."
He was joined by his former Scouse team-mate Alan Hanson in praise for Newcastle's impressive draw at Old Trafford.
Hanson: "Newcastle too, four points out of 6 with Manchester United away and Bolton at home. They played much better at Old Trafford than they did against Bolton, in fact they were relatively lucky against the Trotters.
"However, it's been a great start for them. What you've got to have at this stage of the season is a foundation to work on and Keegan has given Newcastle fans just that.
"If they'd got beat in the first game and drawn the 2nd game then 1 point is a chasm of difference as 4 points brings optimism, everyone's on a high, the confidence is there and it sweeps along with you and you've got to keep it going, so that win was very important."
1997/98 J.Barnes 33/7 7
Some say he scored a wonder goal against Brazil then made a career on the strength of it. But that was far from the truth. A class player, but far past his best when he joined Newcastle. Finished the 1997/8 season as Newcastle's top goalscorer in the Premiership ... just 7. Had very little pace when he arrived from Liverpool and some said it was an "old pal's act" by Kenny Dalglish. Joined Charlton Athletic after Newcastle.
"However, it's been a great start for them. What you've got to have at this stage of the season is a foundation to work on and Keegan has given Newcastle fans just that.
"If they'd got beat in the first game and drawn the 2nd game then 1 point is a chasm of difference as 4 points brings optimism, everyone's on a high, the confidence is there and it sweeps along with you and you've got to keep it going, so that win was very important."
1997/98 J.Barnes 33/7 7
Some say he scored a wonder goal against Brazil then made a career on the strength of it. But that was far from the truth. A class player, but far past his best when he joined Newcastle. Finished the 1997/8 season as Newcastle's top goalscorer in the Premiership ... just 7. Had very little pace when he arrived from Liverpool and some said it was an "old pal's act" by Kenny Dalglish. Joined Charlton Athletic after Newcastle.