After an interesting transfer window, Chris Hughton finally got to show Newcastle fans his vision for a Newcastle team, and while even the most pessimistic of fans had been relatively happy with the signings brought in, even the most optimistic wouldn’t have predicted such a result.

Having brought in 6 faces in the transfer window, he had an ideal opportunity to field them all in a new look side, but with a back four who had only been assembled days previously, some thought this could be a tactical disaster against a free scoring Cardiff side which had scored 13 goals in their last four games. It was Newcastle who took the initiative, and the defence needn’t have worried, as Andy Carroll turned in a loose ball from inside the 6 yard box to open the scoring. Minutes later, he broke free into the box and hit a shot across goal, which came back off the far post only to be turned into his own net by Gábor Gyepes. Despite Cardiff player Ross McCormack thundering a fine volley off the bar from some distance, the game was over by the 15th minute when Carroll scored his second, and Newcastle’s third, with a deft header from a fine Simpson cross.

The match petered out towards the end of the first half, and with Newcastle comfortably ahead the defence soaked up any pressure comfortably, and impressively considering three of them had two appearances between them. The second half began as the first had ended, and Cardiff, who had been so good of late, looked toothless, especially Newcastle old boy Chopra who was marked out of the game by Mike Williamson. With few chances to note, Hughton decided he was not content with 3-0 and took off debutant Leon Best in exchange for Peter Lovenkrands. Yet again, Hughton got it spot on and Lovenkrands found himself on the scoresheet within ten minutes of his arrival after prodding the ball into the net from a Wayne Routledge through ball. He completed the scoring for Newcastle late on with a fine placed finish inside the box, and there was no way back for Cardiff City. Admirably, the Bluebirds did keep fighting, and their strikers did manage to get a goal when Chopra passed through the back line for youngster Wildig to calmly slide past Harper, but it was too little too late and the match ended a delightful 5-1.

Hughton has every right to be proud of his team, and of his tactics which were spot on for this game, the team having a much better balance, which can be mostly credited to the arrival of Routledge to play on the opposite side to Jonas Gutierrez. His newly formed back 4 held out well, and his introduction of Lovenkrands couldn’t have gone better. It is always a great showing to beat any team in the top 4 places in the league, but to do so comprehensively is a showing of our credentials to win this league.

To read other opinions on this match, and to input your own, visit the forum .

After a long and turbulent off season talk of owners, managers and players leaving could finally all be ignored for a (hopefully) glorious 90 minutes of football, as Newcastle kicked off the new season with a trip to West Brom. Having played for West Brom and managed Newcastle, Sir Bobby Robson received a very warm minutes applause before the game, before the action got underway.

Former England, Newcastle United and Ipswich Town manager Sir Bobby Robson has died at the age of 76.

Robson was one of the most respected and well-liked figures in the football world and his managerial career took in further spells with PSV Eindhoven, Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona.

He had been battling cancer for the past 15 years and set up the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation to help with the earlier detection and treatment of the disease.

Robson's final public appearance came at St James' Park on Sunday when tens of thousands of fans turned out on Tyneside to support a charity match to raise funds for his foundation.

Robson was capped 20 times by his country and was a hugely-popular player during his time with Fulham and West Bromwich Albion.

He took England to the brink of the World Cup final during Italia 90 only to see their hopes dashed in a dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat by West Germany in the semi-finals.

A statent issued on behalf of his family read: "It is with great sadness that it has been announced today that Sir Bobby Robson has lost his long and courageous battle with cancer. 

"He died very peacefully this morning at his home in County Durham with his wife and family beside him.

"Sir Bobby's funeral will be private and for family members only.

"A thanksgiving service in celebration of Sir Bobby's life will be held at a later date for his many friends and colleagues.

"Lady Robson and the family would very much appreciate it if their privacy could be respected at this difficult time."

From the BBC: 

Controversial Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton could make a surprise return for the Magpies in a pre-season friendly against Shamrock Rovers on Saturday.

Barton's Newcastle career looked to be over after his sending off at Liverpool in May led to a dressing-room bust-up with caretaker manager Alan Shearer.

The 26-year-old was suspended but with Shearer's future at the club unclear, Barton has returned to training.

The former Manchester City player has been linked with a move to Birmingham.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is still trying to sell the club leaving the future of some players uncertain. Barton, who has played once for England, was a controversial figure at City before joining Newcastle for £5.8m in 2007.

He has started only 26 matches for the Tyneside club, with another six appearances off the bench.

Michael Owen has completed his surprise move to Manchester United after the free agent signed a two-year deal with the Premier League champions.

The 29-year-old ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid striker's contract with Newcastle ended earlier this week.

"Michael is a world-class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Owen had also been linked with Everton, Aston Villa, Stoke and Hull.

But instead he becomes United's second summer signing after the recent addition of Antonio Valencia from Wigan.

"Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish," added Ferguson.

Owen said United's interest in him came as a surprise, adding: "I had just begun to talk to other clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me on Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him next morning during which he told me that he wanted to sign me.

"I agreed without a moment's thought. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands.

"I am now looking forward to being a Manchester United player and I am fortunate that I already know so many of the players here.

"I missed pre-season last year and am pleased that I will be starting from day one.

"I'd like to think that everyone was quite surprised with my medical.

"I've obviously passed them before, and my fitness is high. A lot is made out of it but I certainly don't feel like I'm injury prone.

"I want to thank Sir Alex for the faith he has shown in me and I give him my assurance that I will repay him with my goals and performances."

From Sky Sports:

Newcastle United have suspended midfielder Joey Barton until further notice.

The 26-year-old was sent off for the fourth time in his career in the Magpies' 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Manager Alan Shearer entrusted the former Manchester City man to cope with the pressure on Merseyside, but was left fuming after Barton was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Xabi Alonso.

Newcastle have not divulged the reasons behind Barton's suspension, although it is believed to stem from an alleged bust-up between Shearer and the midfielder in the aftermath of the defeat.

This latest move by Newcastle could well end Barton's career on Tyneside after he was backed by the club following his release from prison last summer.

"Newcastle United can confirm that Joey Barton has been suspended from the club until further notice," read a statement on the club's official website.

"The club will be making no further comment on the matter at this time."

Our unbeaten record continued on Sunday, and Joe Kinnear's managerial record at Newcastle got even better, with our annual win against Tottenham. Despite their the confidence of their lovely fans, with one claiming "the cheerleaders look more fearsome [than any of our team]" (although which cheerleaders he's been watching I have no idea), they once again left disappointed from a fixture which they have only won three times since the birth of the Premiership.

The sporadic match reports couldn't miss such a fantastic result, so they return, with the aim of being more regular (but I'm sure I said that before).

Newcastle headed on their longest journey of the season, all the way down to the south coast, to play a match that no one had held much confidence going into. Portsmouth were unbeaten in 5 league games and Crouch and Defoe had formed a somewhat formidable partnership, so Newcastle fans could be forgiven for thinking their record of two clean sheets on the road, and unbeaten in their last 4 games, would end abruptly. The players on the other hand had other ideas.

After a long drought of match reports, they're back, and I'll try and get them going regularly again.

A gutsy performance gave us a very important point, as the defence held strong against what should have been a good Chelsea side. Despite being battered constantly for 90 minutes (26 shots to our 2) a good team performance kept the score level for the whole match, and stopped us shipping yet more goals.

The losses aren't coming as much as a surprise now for Newcastle fns as the crisis at the club deepens, and our team once again failed to deliver as we came up against a side whose manager had left in similar circumstances to Keegan less than 3 weeks ago. Unlike Newcastle, however, West Ham quickly replaced their manager, and succeeded in limiting the damage of Curbishley's departure, bringing in a former Premiership favourite, Gianfranco Zola.