It doesn't seem long ago that the football world was gnashing its teeth over Alan Pardew's appointment as Newcastle manager, coming as it did at the expense of the popular Chris Hughton. I wonder how many Magpies fans would be willing to swap things back now, after a quite brilliant start to their Premier League campaign? The early-season table shows the Geordies as the 'best of the rest', positioned pleasingly behind the top three, and unbeaten. The key has been Pardew's summer recruitment - both ambitious and forward-thinking. I've enjoyed watching Yohan Cabaye for years in France - a hidden gem in Ligue 1 with Lille. Once fit, Davide Santon will prove every bit the equal of the now-departed Jose Enrique. Newcastle's ship seems a steady one. With this new-found harmony, the results and performances have duly been delivered. And that can be no coincidence. If Newcastle's start has been blistering, Blackburn's had barely been bumbling along until last week's remarkable encounter with Arsenal. Seldom has a match, nor the respective fortunes of two managers, see-sawed quite so much over a Premier League 90 minutes. For a club widely-expected to struggle, nailing that first win was imperative, coming off the back of a decent draw at Fulham. Unlike Newcastle, Rovers secured their Carling Cup progress inside regulation time, beating League One strugglers Leyton Orient - a first Blackburn goal for Simon Vukcevic could put him in line for a first Premier League start. But back to Newcastle for one final observation before I hit the road north - Leon Best has scored nine Premier League goals in 2011; Andy Carroll just two. ......................... From bbc sport, they have changed their tune havent they, it seems people may finally taking notice of newcastle, instead of the normal bull****,
