Having smashed Manchester United in their Theatre of Dreams for only the third time in 52 years let Newcastle United's resurgent stars gatecrash 2025 by overpowering another of the self proclaimed elite Tottenham Hotspur in their own equally vulnerable home.

Let every Geordie bask in winter sunshine whatever the weather outside - we ended the year with five victories on the spin and in four Premier League wins conceded not a solitary single goal. Now in a new year the Toon march on to face another big club with trembling foundations.

Spurs have won just once in the last seven league matches and have conceded 13 goals in their last three home games across all competitions. Last time out against Wolves was the 15th game in which Tottenham had fallen behind at home in 2024, which is a record, and it was the first time they finished a calendar year in the bottom half of the table since 2008-09. They are in the same fragile condition as Man U, not knowing what to do defensively where they insist on playing a ridiculous high line, so the Geordie foot needs to go firmly on the accelerator one more time.

Keep it going. I pleaded with United to play the team not the badge at Old Trafford - confront what was in front of them not the historic reputation of the club - and they did it splendidly. Do it again boys!

Same Old Trafford, same old story? Not on your life. Newcastle had only won twice there in the league in more than half a century but were so professional it was a joy to watch. They blew Man U away in the first half hour scoring two goals, netted a magnificent third through Alexander Isak that was ruled offside, and saw Sandro Tonali strike the post. The Red Devils were in such disarray with a midfield pairing of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen as static as Grey's Monument that a wide eyed manager Ruben Amorim was forced into a panic change after just half an hour. The match had been killed stone dead by the Mags and from then on in game management was the order of the night. It was carried out magnificently.

The midfield trio of Bruno, Tonali and Joelinton dominated the engine room, Anthony Gordon tortured them early doors, Lewis Hall looked like Luke Shaw's England successor on his own patch, but above all Alexander Isak proved once again that he is the best centre-forward in the Premier League and probably Europe. More elegant than Erling Haaland, a better finisher than the No 9s of Arsenal Liverpool, Aston Villa et al. Everyone wants him but no one more than we do!

After sinking to 12th with an unbalanced midfield which teams were running through with the ball, a defence conceding goals, and a real outside-right problem Eddie Howe has emerged from his personal problems with all the answers which has transformed the whole picture. Now we view our club from fifth top of the Premier League, in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, with five wins on the bounce.

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Wouldn't it be nice if somehow the club found a way to confirm our right to dream of Europe and a bright bold future. The gates to the transfer market swung open upon ther first strike of New Year's Day inviting in anyone who can sneak a bit of the crinkly stuff past financial fair play.

What will the next month hold for Newcastle? Well according to Eddie it will probably be quieter than a morgue at midnight but we cling to the hope of unexpected joy as he must.

Paul Mitchell is about to conduct business for the first time since he got to know the club and its manager. He controversially announced upon first arriving that United's current transfer policy was unfit for purpose. Will it be now on his watch? Will we see evidence of his new thinking in United's January actions? Will wiggle room be craftily created to allow incomings? Or will we as time passes by be fed the line about a financial straitjacket making signings virtually impossible?

If business is to be done Mitchell may need to sell before he can significantly buy but then plenty are available. No, not Isak. You don't sell the crown jewels and replace with papier-mache. Arsenal and anyone else can take a long walk on a short pier.

The list I'm talking about includes Miggy Almiron, Sean Longstaff, Kieran Trippier, Martin Dubravka, Matt Targett, and Harvey Barnes. Any could leave with our blessing though maybe not all for the sake of maintaining numbers. Callum Wilson and Jamaal Lascelles are not on that list only because they are injured and therefore unsellable.

As for incoming it is well documented that an outside-right is priority with a right sided central defender also high on the wish list, a need highlighted by book happy Fabian Schar worryingly being suspended both at Spurs and at Arsenal in the Carabao Cup and Emil Krafth out injured. A quality young back-up keeper and back-up striker would of course be welcomed too though they may be delayed until the summer.

Of course United have been linked with plenty of names already. So here goes, would we welcome any of the following: Anthony Elanga, Bryan Mbeumo, Antoine Semenyo, Maghnes Aklouche, Bukayo Saka, Mo Salah, Stanley Matthews, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roy Of The Rovers, Little Lord Fontleroy, Wallace and Gromit. I know it's getting silly now but, hey, I didn't start it!

Happy New Year to all of a black=and=white heart, fans and those who perform on behalf of supporters. Thanks for efforts given, thanks for hope and pride restored. Now may support arrive from above to give Eddie and the lads a real chance of sustained success. 2025 could be a mighty year with a little help from our friends. It has turned out nice, hasn't it, despite the weather forecast.