We have been here before and we have been here very recently. No, no, we are not talking about the euphoria which greeted the manner of Newcastle United's performance on Saturday - although both the reception and the playing style were Keeganesque - rather, we are talking resignations.
More precisely, we are talking about rumours of resignations. Tyneside, as they say, is "awash" with stories that Kenny Dalglish has either formally tendered his resignation or is giving the matter serious consideration. Not only that, go the rumours, Sir John Hall is also on the verge of pulling out his substantial stakeholding in the club.
"Rubbish", said Dalglish in his programme notes. The focus for the alleged friction is the sale of Les Ferdinand to Tottenham Hotspur and yet by 10 minutes to five o'clock on Saturday it seemed strange to be even thinking of Ferdinand.
He belongs to the past at Newcastle and, judging by the way Dalglish's five new signings gelled with their team-mates, a different era too. Shay Given, Stuart Pearce, Alessandro Pistone, Temur Ketsbaia and Jon Dahl Thomasson were all making their debuts and had the team stuttered this would have been a useful excuse.
They did not, though Given looked very nervous, and instead clicked with such a fluency and appetite for business that they could have scored six. However, when Benito Carbone cancelled out Faustino Asprilla's second minute volley with an overhead kick straight from the playground, Wednesday seemed to have quelled Newcastle's ardour, and could scrap and chase for a point. Until half-time this was a plausible outcome, but after the break Wednesday simply disappeared inside themselves.
Newcastle immediately recognised diffidence and pummelled them mercilessly. Only Wednesday goalkeeper Kevin Pressman prevented a hammering. Save after save, starting with a lightning dive to block a Philippe Albert header just before half-time, kept Wednesday's interest alive until 18 minutes from time.
Then, as he had done all day, Asprilla arrived right on cue and he was off again cartwheeling towards the corner flag. With Alan Shearer a conspicuous presence in the crowd, the thought occurred that without him and Ferdinand Asprilla could be a liberated man.
Newcastle United: Given, Watson, Pistone, Albert, Pearce, Beresford, Batty, Lee, Ketsbaia, Tomasson, Asprilla. Subs Not Used: Srnicek, Beardsley, Howey, Hughes, Pinas. Booked: Batty. Goals: Asprilla 2, 72.
Sheffield Wednesday: Pressman, Atherton, Stefanovic, Walker, Nolan, Blondeau, Pembridge, Donaldson (Di Canio 62), Carbone, Hyde (Collins 58), Whittingham (Agogo 77). Subs Not Used: Clarke, Humphreys. Booked: Hyde, Blondeau, Stefanovic, Atherton. Goals: Carbone 8.
Referee: P Jones (Longhborough).
