Since Kevin Keegan made his shock return to St James’ Park, the football world has been waiting for a swift turnaround in the fortunes of Newcastle United.

Admittedly, they have faced some tough fixtures - going to Arsenal twice in four days would have been tough for any side. But it is almost an unwritten law in football that a new manager brings an upturn in fortune to his new club and apart from Michael Owen’s goal against Middlesbrough, the Toon fans have had almost nothing to cheer.

Special K has been in charge for two home games against weak Premier League opposition in Bolton and Middlesbrough. Newcastle were woeful in both and probably should have lost to Boro on Sunday.

'Keegan has never before had to face a relegation battle at any of his previous clubs as manager'


It now means that the Magpies have not won a league fixture for two months, their last victory coming at Craven Cottage on December 15. Looking ahead to their next four fixtures it is difficult to see them getting many points from Aston Villa (a), Manchester United (h), Blackburn (h) and Liverpool (a).

This would leave them going into two clashes in five days with Birmingham and Fulham, two sides who have been in the relegation mix since very early on in the season and who will have readied themselves for the ensuing relegation scrap.

The malaise at Newcastle runs deep. Players such as Stephen Carr, Alan Smith, Damien Duff and Nicky Butt have been struggling for form for most of this season and in some cases for longer. There was a surprising lack of activity at St James’ during the time Keegan had in the January transfer window and if anything, Newcastle exited the window weaker by sending Czech defender David Rozehnal on loan to Lazio.

The Toon squad also features very few players who you would want in a relegation scrap. Shay Given is undoubtedly a class goalkeeper, Steven Taylor will always get stuck in and Joey Barton (when not in jail) on his day can be a devastating figure in the centre of midfield. However, there are too many players who would struggle to adapt to a relegation dog-fight, for example Owen, Mark Viduka or the inexperienced foreign defenders Claudio Cacapa and Jose Enrique.

Keegan may not be the 'Messiah' that Newcastle fans expected him to be. His tactical limitations are well known after they were highlighted so clearly when he was England manager. And he has never had to face a relegation battle at any of his previous clubs as manager. Whilst he has succeeded in bringing clubs up into the Premier League (Newcastle, Fulham and Manchester City), he has yet to drag a team away from the relegation zone. The fact that he didn’t watch any football for so long after he left the City job could also leave him and the club desperately exposed.

Looking ahead at the fixture list, Newcastle’s home game with Sunderland with four games remaining on April 19 could be the most important fixture for the future of the club, Mike Ashley - and Keegan’s prospects of staying in football and not returning to his own business, aptly named the 'Soccer Circus'.

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