... but now Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew says has set his sights on gaining a place in European competition at the end of the current season.
Pardew's side faced a tough opening game against Manchester City in their first Premier League match of the season going down 4-0, but the Toon boss thinks his side can be a challenger for a place in Europe come the end of the campaign.
Newcastle were involved in the Europa League last term and Pardew spent the entire season MOANING about it.
But, accused of lacking ambition, he has put the record straight ... and says Europe is now a target.
What a way to run a railway - as they say in some quarters.
Alan Pardew: "Last year was difficult for us, not only with the extra games but also because it was compounded by an injury crisis.
"We will be better armed next time we go into Europe and that's where we want to play."
Only one game played, but we have seen the 20 teams and can get some idea of who is "hot" and who is "not".
1 Manchester City
2 Manchester United
3 Aston Villa
4 Chelsea
5 West Ham United
6 Fulham
7 Liverpool
8 Southampton
9 Tottenham Hotspur
10 Everton
11 Norwich City
12 Crystal Palace
13 Stoke City
14 Sunderland
15 West Bromwich A
16 Arsenal
17 Cardiff City
18 Hull City
19 Swansea City
20 Newcastle United
Man City, Man United and Chelsea are back to business, with Aston Villa the surprise package on opening day.
Newcastle can get some inspiration from the fact things can only get better, as they prop up the rest.
Newcastle United Fixtures ...
Saturday August 24
15:00 Premier League Newcastle United v West Ham United
Wednesday August 28
19:45 League Cup - 2nd Rnd Morecambe v Newcastle United *Sky Sports
Saturday August 31
15:00 Premier League Newcastle United v Fulham
Saturday September 14
15:00 Premier League Aston Villa v Newcastle United
Saturday September 21
15:00 Premier League Newcastle United v
Hull City
Monday September 30
20:00 Premier League Everton v Newcastle United *Sky Sports
Premier League fixtures ...
Wednesday August 21
19:45 Chelsea v Aston Villa
Saturday August 24
12:45 Fulham v Arsenal
15:00 Everton v West Brom
15:00 Hull City v Norwich City
15:00 Newcastle United v West Ham United
15:00 Southampton v Sunderland
15:00 Stoke City v Crystal Palace
17:30 Aston Villa v Liverpool
Sunday August 25
16:00 Cardiff City v Manchester City
16:00 Tottenham v Swansea City
Monday August 26
20:00 Man Utd v Chelsea
NU-MAD - WE TELL IT AS IT IS!
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Squad Numbers ...
1 Krul, Timothy Michael
2 Coloccini, Fabricio
3 Santon, Davide
4 Cabaye, Yohan
6 Williamson, Michael James
7 Sissoko, Moussa
8 Anita, Vurnon San Benito
9 Cisse, Papiss Demba
10 Ben Arfa, Hatem
11 Gouffran, Yoan
13 Yanga-Mbiwa, Mapou
14 Remy, Loic
15 Gosling, Daniel
16 Taylor, Ryan Anthony
17 Amalfitano, Romain
18 Gutierrez, Jonas Manuel
19 Haidara, Massadio
20 Bigirimana, Gael
21 Elliot, Robert
22 Marveaux, Sylvain
23 Ameobi, Foluwashola
24 Tiote, Cheik Ismael
25 Obertan, Gabriel Antoine
26 Debuchy, Mathieu
27 Taylor, Steven Vincent
28 Ameobi, Samuel
29 Vuckic, Haris
33 Good, Curtis
34 Tavernier, James Henry
36 Dummett, Paul
41 Newton, Conor
42 Alnwick, Jak
44 Streete, Remie
49 Campbell, Adam