Newcastle United assistant coach Graeme Jones and Sandro Tonali before the Brentford game
Newcastle are dream busters who game by game rip away the fabric of ambition to leave us facing little more than myths.
As much as it hurts, as much as we don't want to face unpalatable reality, I'm afraid we have no alternative. It is a myth that United are the same team as last season. A myth that we are making progress rather than taking a significant step backwards. A myth that 'intensity is our identity.'
And now another myth has been exposed - that before 50,000 loyal and desperately supportive Geordies urging endeavour, St James Park remains a fortress that is keeping us alive. It is not.
United have been beaten before their own by Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Barcelona, Manchester City and now Brentford. Held by Chelsea after leading 2-0. By Spurs after again leading.
In proving that home comforts no longer exist the final myth has also been exposed . . . that United are battling to make Europe's elite competition once more next season.
What in reality we're battling to do is save our domestic season being over by the weekend.
If United don't win at Spurs on Tuesday night and get knocked out of the FA Cup at Aston Villa on Saturday what is left from the time a short while ago when we won the Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League? Now tell me we're not going backwards but are striding on towards winning the Premier League by 2030.
Really, those words appear utterly hollow right now. It feels more like we're parked down a cul de sac and don't know how to back out.
Let us look at a few facts if we dare without getting desperately depressed. United have now given up a monumental 19 points from winning positions this season and in their last three matches have conceded four goals to Liverpool, three to Manchester City, and three to Brentford who have done the double over us.
Even ou[r lucky mascot Bruno couldn't save us.](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-dressing-room-statement-33384332) United have never won without him but couldn't even draw with him after he earned a penalty and converted it to pull Newcastle level at 2-2 with only 12 minutes of normal time remaining.
The Magpies and their followers are paying a heavy price for a botched summer. Their top scorer was prised from their grasp under toxic conditions and an increasingly manic foray into the transfer market saw them splash £124m on two strikers who cannot burst a balloon as well as a string of under achievers. Wissa, Ramsey and Ramsdale haven't registered on the Richer scale while Woltemade and Thiaw have faded after a promising start.
All that was compounded by doing absolutely nothing in the January transfer window when a defence creaking with age was not replenished.
What we have next is by PL standards a clash of two deadbeats. Spurs at home have won just two out of 12 with four drawn and six lost - the fourth worst record in the land - while Newcastle's away record is identical to Tottenham's home one. Played 12, W2,D4,L6,Pts10. One daren't and the other can't! What a stand off. Two great clubs scratching round for domestic morsels while both are unbelievably still in Europe. Though for how much longer?
As for United, fighting valiantly to get back into the Champions League and so keep their blue chip players like Sandro Tonali, I'm afraid that is looking a forlorn hope unless Eddie Howe can become a miracle worker overnight . . . before Tuesday and Saturday.
Every Geordie is thankful for what we've achieved and will never forget. Let no one dare point the finger at those who care because amid their passion they acknowledge disappointment. The heart still beats to the same tune and that is written in contrasting black and white. Those old enough to have lived through the relentless years when families passed power from father to son and Mike Ashley cast a depressing shadow across Tyneside are still loyally here living, hoping and dreaming. They merely want some of what they have been promised.
However right now reality, cold and stark, stares us in the face. May this season be only a temporary setback and may answers come as quickly as questions have over recent weeks.