‘I think we can beat anyone if we play like that.’

Those were the words of Eddie Howe after Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Spurs at the weekend, lifting the Magpies up into 4th in the Premier League. It was a statement from Newcastle about the level that they are now competing at.

The table is tight and there’s a long way to go, so it would be a huge achievement if Newcastle were able to secure a top-four spot, but the way they have started the season shows us they can compete with the so-called big teams in the league.

There is a different feeling around Newcastle now, and there’s a sense from the opposition that they are on their way to being one of the top teams in the league, with extra funding they have in each transfer window.

But the current team is playing well and this win against Spurs came without one of the key players Allain Saint-Maximin who is injured, as well as the new man Isaak. Almiron was impressive and grabbed his goal, and he is one of the most improved players in the squad since last season after finding his feet this season.

You could tell it was an emotional time for Bruno Guimaraes who also became a father for the first time in the same week, and the mood at Newcastle is clearly a positive one.

Defensively, Newcastle are the best team in the Premier League so far conceding just 10 goals in 12 games.

I think Eddie Howe has shown a lot of us that he is dealing well with the pressure of building a strong successful team. 

We have all seen teams rise to being one of the top clubs, and I was part of one. It takes a lot of time because it’s like playing chess, but the speed Newcastle is doing it at is down to the club, but the quality of football is from Eddie and his calm mind.

He was questioned in the beginning but went and got ready for the biggest job of his career. He now has to keep focused on trying to get his team playing Champions League football next season, because then he might need an even bigger squad and more top talents to add to what he already has.

Some people thought Trippier made a mistake in going to Newcastle but now they have to take that back because he believed and saw what was possible, and it’s happened at a speed that none of us expected. Especially when you have a team that was playing to stay in the Premier League last season, and now wants to be where the big ones need to be at the end of the season, in the top four spots. #mmlove