Only once since 1997 have Newcastle United had more points in a 38-game Premier League season after 12 matches as they do now.
Having banked 21 points so far, Eddie Howe's side trail Alan Pardew's class of 2011/12 by four points which underlines what a mammoth and sometimes under-rated job the ex-Crystal Palace boss achieved at St James' Park that season. It was 10 years ago that Pardew led his team to fifth place but Howe's current team has picked up more points than Sir Bobby Robson did in 2001/02 and 2002/03 when the Magpies finished fourth and third.
Although, there's still some way to go before fans can dream of nights like Feyenoord and Juventus again. With 26 games left though the current Toon team have given themselves a platform to emulate the team of 20 years ago.
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Yet Howe and co can edge past the class of 11/12 if they pick up wins in their next two games at home to Aston Villa and Southampton. Because, despite picking up a good point at Man United in autumn 2011 during match day 13, Pardew's side were beaten 3-0 at home to Chelsea in their 14th game and then went on to a four-game slump.
For all the talk of the past, though, Howe has challenged his players to write their own history while also encouraging them to dream of Europe at the same time. In some ways, Howe will appreciate the fact that his team still have the distance to accelerate into in terms of points tallies.
This week he said: "We can achieve special things with this group. Physically, technically, tactically we performed at a very high level at Tottenham. I think we can beat anyone if we play like that."
And that's what it feels like at the moment, the Magpies fear nobody and Premier League rivals have Newcastle down as the team they don't really fancy playing right now.
Inevitably, teams will try to work out the way Howe is going about his business but just when you thought Newcastle were becoming a bit predictable they started conjuring up new set-piece routines against Brentford resulting in a goal for Bruno Guimaraes then went to Man United and Spurs and took the game too them rather than parking the bus.
This weekend's clash against a Villa team waiting for new manager Unai Emery is an opportunity to really bolster that points tally. Howe will want to see the levels he saw at Spurs maintained, emerging after that game to say: "It was a really good performance today, probably the best performance since I’ve been here."
The aim ahead of the World Cup break will be to stay in a European place for Newcastle. As things stand the bookies still expect the top four to be Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.
The truth is United climbed into a top four position before most people expected it. But those who have watched Newcastle work tirelessly in every game won't be surprised.
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