Newcastle needs a Newcastle

Is it just me or is Newcastle FC like the Chicago Cubs of the English Premiership? There's the whole Michael Owen fiasco (think Mark Prior and Kerry Wood), they can't close even the easiest of fixtures (see yesterday's two goals given up to lowly Fulham in the final 8 minutes), and despite having the most passionate--and desperate--fans in the Prem, the product on the pitch consistently dissapoints. And unlike the Cubs I actually like Newcastle. I want to see them do well. They have a world-class keeper in Given, new signing Obafemi Martins is a straight baller, and summer catch Damien Duff is on my all-name team. They should be so much better than they are. But they suck, and it's for the same reasons why the Chicago Cubs continue to be cellar dwellers year after year: unrealistic expectations. Yes, we know about the legacy, but I'd ask any Newcastle supporter the following question: 'What have you done for me lately?' National treasure Alan Shearer is gone, and despite having arguably the coolest stadium in the Prem (love St. James' park--awesome architecture), your fans are a bunch of rabid drunks who smell like hot garbage and your players have been known to come to fisticuffs on the field. During a game. Totally unacceptable. So throw everything you've got at Fernando Torres and hope for the best because unless you're bringing in a pure striker to go surgical on some poor keeper, then go ahead and kiss this season goodbye. You Newcastle fans are pretty used to that.