Having plunged well into the depths of the relegation zone after a dismal draw at Hull City, and then defeat at home to Arsenal 3-1, things are grimmer than ever on Tyneside - no surprises there then.

We are now third bottom of the table, with the gap between us and our rivals getting bigger and bigger by the week. It seems no-one, repeat NO-ONE (thanks Mr. Cashley) is going to help us in our bid for survival. Chris Hughton is clueless, Joe Kinnear is ill and equally quite clueless, in my humble opinion, whilst out of our current squad, I have faith in not one of them. Of all that I thought could perhaps save us was Obafemi Martins, but after his weakest of all weak penalties ever against Arsenal, my faith is even lost in him.

After Martins, who is there? Michael Owen? I think not. There is no way he wants to play for us and how I wished he had left at Christmas time, the sight of Owen angers me these days. Perhaps I am being harsh, but for me he does in no way justify his £120,000-a-week wages and could be one of the reasons we go down.

Prior to his latest injury set-back, anyone remember his dire form, missing chances left, right and centre, scoring perhaps one in nine? Thought not. Some will always defend this little man. I would, but unfortunately can't as I have seen the light. It is players such as Owen who are the epitomy of what went wrong in the first place at our supposedly big club.

Owen, for me, is another prime example of a player robbing us in broad daylight without giving anything back in return. To Martins' credit, at least, even if he is on stupid wages, he appears to genuinely care about the club and its supporters. He comes out to the local papers and declares his love for the city and the club. Owen, on the other hand, has used us as a stepping stone, and this, unfortunately Michael, has not worked. No 'big team' in the Premiership will buy him, simply because of his horrendous injury record, so a trip abroad might be his only option once we, rather predictably, are relegated.

That is my honest opinion as well. Looking round the squad, there is very little Premier League quality or pace, whilst only a couple of first-teamers deserve to pull on the shirt, nevermind pick up their thousands out of the club's money. Smith, Geremi, Butt, Owen, Viduka, Duff, Ameobi, Coloccini, even perhaps Guttierez, have been pitiful. In fact, if we were relegated, at least it would be a relief to see the back of this deadwood and perhaps in the long-run, relegation could be a blessing in disguise.

Looking up (quite literally), the remaining fixtures fill me with dread. Here they are:

Chelsea (H), Stoke City (A), Tottenham (A), Portsmouth (H), Liverpool (A), Middlesbrough (H), Fulham (H), Aston Villa (A).

In my book, I make it that if we fail to win (yes, win) against Boro, Pompey and Fulham, then we WILL be relegated. Other than perhaps Stoke City away, I cannot see us picking up any other points anywhere. Like they say though, football's a funny old game, and with any luck, perhaps this pathetic excuse of a football team can astonish us all and pull their finger's out of their diamond-encrusted rings. Pigs might fly, you may say, but hey, perhaps one of them really can prove themselves as footballers and become local heroes! Hmmm, I have my serious doubts.

If anyone can do it, for us, you would have to say our best bet is probably in the shape of Michael Owen. Even though I'm sick of him and his motionless, passionless facial expression (he only has one), I confess, if anyone steps up to the spot again this season, I certainly hope it his him. Having said that, Chris Hughton will probably though, choose Xisco or himself instead I reckon, going by his recent decision making. Anyway, QPR, Blackpool and Coventry away next season should be exciting!

HOWAY THE LADS!!!!