Newcastle United are in a vastly superior position than the last time they upset the Premier League apple cart. In 2011-12, Alan Pardew had the Magpies punching well above their weight.
Ahead of the season, off-field turmoil - a perennial occurrence under Mike Ashley threatened to derail their season. Unrest at failing to invest the £35million Andy Carroll money heightened further when Joey Barton was axed just two games into the new campaign.
A drastic summer overhaul also saw established first-team stars like Kevin Nolan and Jose Enrique leave the club. Replacing them was a contingent of French-speaking players, with Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba the standout names.
