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In years gone by, it was commonly accepted that everyone loved watching Newcastle United. Not me. I’ve long been frustrated at the ludicrously disproportionate focus on them in the media and with the attitude of a vocal section of supporters who believe, for some reason, that the Magpies are a universally admired outfit. I was almost ashamed to be brimming with pride when their relegation was confirmed in front of a Villa Park crowd of which I was part. I believed football had given the club a much needed bloody nose.

This season that’s changed somewhat. Perhaps it’s my reduced exposure to their exploits, or my self-imposed distance from the Premier League as a whole, but despite these not being the supposed golden days when I steadfastly refused to accept Newcastle as some kind of perverse ‘second club’, I now find myself looking forward to watching Chris Hughton’s side. For my money they are one of the Premier League’s most entertaining teams at present, an idea supported by the glittering form of a triumvirate of flawed but talented players.

Back in May 2009, when Newcastle’s relegation became more likelihood than possibility, we debated on the twofootedtackle Podcast whether relegation might be a positive development for the club in the long term. It was counter-intuitive but it’s important to take stock of exactly where Newcastle United were at the time. According to the table they were one of the worst teams in the division. They had a handful overpaid players who were incapable of doing their job. Above all, they were managed by Alan Shearer thanks to the most extreme example of the club’s apparent fixation on idolatry.

My take on the situation was that relegation might be a necessary tonic for Newcastle. It would be painful and messy but could ultimately prove cathartic. The big ‘if’ was that for any good to come of a horrible setback Newcastle would have to address their predicament in a sensible, realistic and unhysterical way. They did just that, and now they seem to be reaping the rewards.

Back in the Premier League, Newcastle head into Wednesday’s home clash with Blackburn Rovers in a very respectable fifth place in the table having won their last three consecutive league matches. The credit for United’s stellar season in the Championship and their superb start to 2010/11 goes to Hughton, the man who stepped aside so that Shearer could scratch his management itch in a no-lose situation. Hughton is one of those coaches who had carved out a niche as the reliable caretaker, having occupied the position at both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle.

Under his guidance first as caretaker and then permanent manager, the Magpies simply did what they had to do last season. No nonsense, no hype, just 102 hard-earned points and a well-deserved return to the Premier League. It was a mature and ruthless season the likes of which haven’t been seen at the club for a good number of years, and it’s done them the world of good. The recent speculation about Hughton’s future, wherever it originated, has been sickening. From the outside he looks to have done as good a job as anyone could have expected. That’s made all the more impressive when one considers the shambolic state of the outfit he re-inherited from Shearer.

Perhaps even more glowing an achievement for Hughton is that he has got some clearly difficult characters playing close to the best of their ability. The first of these is Joey Barton, who finally seems to be past the worst of his addiction, its effects and his troubled family life. It’s been obvious for a while that Barton is a very good footballer, but his spiky character and serious problems off the pitch have undoubtedly hindered his progress. It’s good to see him doing well and off the front pages because, as footballers go, Barton seems like a clever guy when he’s in good mental shape. His criticism of certain England internationals showed insight and bravery lacking in most of his peers.

Barton is in stunning form. His calmness in the face of vicious treatment at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers early in the season suggested a cooler character and he’s gone from strength to strength. At present, I think Barton is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and the best UK passport carrying passer in England. Considering the competition, that’s no mean feat.

In the Magpies midfield with Barton, fellow Liverpudlian Kevin Nolan is also in the form of his life. At Bolton Wanderers, Nolan took on the role of leader and earned what many thought was a step up to a berth in the Newcastle team. This season and last, Nolan has been United’s fulcrum, a driving and dominant influence who carried much of the burden as United had to knuckle down and get a dirty job done last term. This year, he sits atop the Premier League goalscoring chart following a hat-trick against Sunderland on the last day of October.

Of late, Nolan has been drawn into the rollercoaster life of Andy Carroll. A court order resulted in the 21-year-old striker briefly taking up residence at Nolan’s home in an ill-fated and arguably ill-advised response to an alleged incident involving Carroll and his ex-girlfriend. Like Barton and Nolan, Carroll is at the top of his game and possibly in contention for an England call-up. He’s bagged six goals in the Premier League this season, including strikes against West Ham United and Arsenal on days when another player might have been entirely distracted.

The allegations about Nolan and in particular Carroll’s private lives have remarkably had no detrimental effect on their form. That’s a surprise in itself, but they are bound to become distracted if the circus surrounding them continues. Carroll is quite clearly a troubled man with an apparently thunderous temper, but he’s also turning into a very decent Premier League football player. And right now, he’s part of a team that’s doing it right - at least on the field.

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Tags: Andy Carroll, Chris Hughton, Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan, Newcastle United