Newcastle full-back Habib Beye has already done the unthinkable and uttered the dreaded words “we’re too good to go down.”

The 32-year-old is convinced the Magpies will stay up but I’m not so sure.The former Marseille defender said:

We can still have a respectable season. We won’t go down. We have too much quality.

There are still 31 games left to play and a lot of points and pride at stake.

I remember this time last year we made a good start and we were doing well, but after that it turned bad so it shows how it can change.

We made a good start against Manchester United and Bolton.

But it becomes harder because of what has happened.

It’s not even November yet and the Senegal man has the R word on his mind and after the Magpies’ recent displays he has ever right to be worried.  It’s an all too common cliche in football, but one which might well come back to haunt the Toon Army come May.

The North-East club have endured a dreadful start to the current campaign, slipping to third from bottom in the Premier League table and seeing Kevin Keegan resign along the way.

Ahead of Monday’s tussle with Manchester City the Geordies are football odds of 5.5 for the dreaded drop.They are in desperate need of a lift and some Premier League points, but if you take a look at the St James’ Park squad it looks weak.

Barring Michael Owen, who is injured again, the Geordies are an ordinary team. Frontmen Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins are, when fit, a handful, but in midfield and defence Joe Kinnear’s men are a shambles.

It’s difficult to try and select a Toon defender who would make it into any average top-flight side. And the midfield is just as unconvincing with Nicky Butt and Damien Duff past their best.

Joey Barton is plagued by off-the-field problems, Jonas Gutierrez is injured - leaving youngsters Danny Guthrie and Charles N’Zogbia to lead by example.

It’s a sorry state of affairs on Tyneside and the bold Beye might just be proved wrong.

By Phil Tomlinson

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