It wasn't the 2-0 defeat that hurt - it was the fact there were a lot of players out there on the St Mary's pitch - in Toon colours - who couldn't give a f***!
The 'Toon Clique' has been disbanded - on Mike Ashley's orders.
The tough-tackling; tough thinking; Gang of Five who were proud to wear that Newcastle United badge.
Joey Barton was/is a nutter - but he gave 110%; Kevin Nolan could "wind them up and hit them with a sucker punch"; even Andy Carroll would batter defenders before they got to him (Alan Shearer style).
And they had a little clique that would close the dressing room door and meet after a poor performance and put EVERY player in their place.
No prisoners - if you weren't up to it - you were told.
But Alan Pardew's new system of "respect and let's be nice to each other" is struggling.
Some arses need kicking, and sadly, there is NO NATURAL LEADER IN THAT CAMP to do it.
Skipper Fabricio Coloccini leads by example - just as Peter Beardsley used to. And that is fine when you're winning matches. You don't need someone shouting orders when the ball is going in the opposing net.
But in these trouble times we NEED a Bob Moncur; John McNamee or Wyn Davies.
Or for the kids new to the game - a John Terry, Paul Scholes or Steven Gerrard. Someone to LEAD!