Newcastle are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup thanks to a convincing 4-1 victory over Stoke City, thanks to Michael Owen, Claudio Cacapa, James Milner, Damien Duff and from an old friend and new manager Kevin Keegan.

Rich

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Sums it up quite nicely, don’t you think?

This is mental, this is ludricous, this is brilliant… this is Newcastle United.

Would we really have it any other way?

Signing off from the desperate 0-6 reverse at Old Trafford on Saturday evening, I wrote these words: “If ever there was time for the genuine “return of the Entertainers”, then this must surely be it.”

Keegan’s was the first name mentioned following that sentence, but I still couldn’t believe my eyes when news broke at around 4pm on the day of the Stoke clash that he had actually signed a three-and-a-half-year deal and agreed to come back as our Messiah.

You’ll have read all about it by now, and I hope you’re as excited as I am, so let’s get to the football. It had everything. A deserved red card for Emre, who should be forced to train in a Dunce’s cap for the entirety of his three game suspension, what an idiot… although as usual, if Rennie had acted upon the initial indiscretion by Eustace then our little Turk might not have boiled over… again. It had good goals from both sides and it had a resounding victory for the team that had ten-men for over 60 minutes.

I still think we’d have won had Keegan’s return not been announced a few hours before kick-off, but not quite in such a euphoric manner. The gloom was lifted, N’Zogbia shone so brightly in the centre of the park, no doubt eager to show the new manager that he’s already the best player on our books at his tender age, Milner looked reborn, Owen notched a typical effort and looked lively and Damien Duff scored his first goal for us since West Ham away last season. Everything clicked, it was fantastic.

Being stuck down in Hull with an exam at 9.30 on Thursday, I couldn’t make it, and I was gutted, but I already have my train tickets sorted for the weekend and I’ll be in my usual seat in the Gallowgate barring any disasters. I’m sure I’m not the only one who simply cannot wait. We’ve beaten one set of burley cloggers with flair and relative ease, wouldn’t it be magic if we could do it again?

Special times ahead.

Man of the Match: Charles N’Zogbia”

Tom

“As I wrote this morning, I had a good feeling about tonight’s game. Little did I realise what a good feeling it would turn out to be. The events of about 4.20 pm turned everything on it’s head. I was sceptical about the possibility of Keegan coming back. Will he be able to repeat what he did before? etc. But when it happened, I found myself grinning like an idiot and jumping up and down like an over excited 8 year old who’s had too much Vimto.

The effect was there for all too see. Arriving at the ground people were happy, enthusiastic and optimistic. It was like we were all de-mob happy and were ready to have a bit of a laugh again. We got off to a good start when the banner as they usually do, and it was passed into the North East Corner to cheers and applause after the stewards were unable to grab ahold of it as usual.

At first the team seemed a little bit nervous, but with the atmosphere well and truly behinfd the team they soon settled down, and played football. Yes Football? Remember that? when you go to attack your opponent’s goal and play the ball along the ground. Emre was sent off after 35 minutes, but you would have never guessed that we were a man down as we tormented a Stoke side that seemed incapable of dealing with a side passing the ball around. Their reaction to Newcastle passing the ball between themselves, was to clatter in with clumsy challenges. I believe that under Keegan, we will be able to show that we have a decent side after all. Players like N’Zogbia, Duff, Milner, Emre, Owen and Martins should all thrive with his brand of attacking football and I for one am really looking forward to this - with a degree of caution, I admit.

I don’t know how this will turn out, but I doubt it will be dull either on or off the pitch, so strap yourself in and lets see where this next chapter of Newcastle United takes us.”

Jonny

“Wow. Yesterday really summed things up.

Our new manager is Kevin Keegan and boy did his announcement spark something. The fans were amazing and the players certainly gave it their all.

Everyone was lifted by the announcement of the Second Coming and after that, Stoke really stood no chance.

The football we played was great, we controlled the game and Stoke barely took any of the posession. We played how we should play every week, regardless of whether they’re a Championship side or not.

Charles N’Zogbia and Damien Duff were like new players and Owen looks back to his best, trying to feed off everything that he was given.

I’m happy and I’m looking forward.

MOTM: Mike Ashley and Chris Mort - perfect appointment.”