But, before retreating further into misery and contemplating life and the universe through the bottom of a glass (as we did after this game), a sense of reality has to intrude at this point.

The day that we drew at Stoke we were in a state. Goalscoring, defending, everything. 

Regardless of whether we had plans A,B or whatever, regardless of whether Redknapp was ever a genuine candidate or whether the Keegan move was off the cuff, we were in the clarts. 

And as for the transfer thing - having somehow got rid of Woodgate previously (Freddy's finest hour), we have to say we breathed a sigh of relief when the Teesside hippy opted not to rejoin us.

While his talent remains evident, getting him on to the pitch has required massive efforts from the smoggy support staff - and after inheriting Viduka, taking another riverside reject in similar circumstances was a risk we just don't consider worth taking.

There's also the small matter of Woodgate's off-field reputation, which may or may not be unfairly portrayed and gossiped about, but again is something that we're not really up for in the current climate.

Keegan may well be frustrated at not being able to bring in a new face, but there would be something classically Newcastle about signing someone with four players unavailable and out of the country.

And when considers the last three players that have arrived here in January, we're hardly heartbroken at not adding to the list that consists of Oguchi Onyewu, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Amdy Faye.

Three games in then, and our expectations upon the arrival of Keegan remain unchanged - it's the earliest of early days and so far we've underlined the fact that we're in a slump. 

He wouldn't be here if everything was lovely.

The briefest of introductions before a Bolton home game that was inevitably built up to being a cross between a Hogmanay party and a remake of Gladiator, but featured two dour sides with the mark of Allardyce cancelling each other out.

Then following closely behind, twin tortures at the Emirates against a side of genuine talent and cohesion.

What appears to have dampened enthusiasm slightly was the fact that the instant KK magic touch failed to reproduce what he'd done previously and conjure up a victory from somewhere.

If football has changed since Keegan last picked a team, it's that management is no longer a doodle on the back of a fag packet. 

Whether it's gone too far from that style into pseudo science and statistics though is a moot point. Certainly, footballers don't seem any more intelligent than they used to be - just greedier.

An off-field revolution on Barrack Road had started last year and continues apace, as it becomes more and more apparent to those now in command precisely what has remained flawed and rotting in the last decade.

Be it youth recruitment and development, dubious transfer practices or even the opening hours of the ticket office and pricing issues, there's at least awareness where previously there was complacency.

And while the appointment of Dennis Wise left us bemused, attempts at implementing a new structure - at least there's a recognition that it's no longer enough for uncle Arthur and Terry Mac to move salt cellars round a canteen table.

The judgment has already been made though amongst vast tracts of the media, where the case for the persecution is advanced on a daily basis.

Regardless of the fixture list, regardless of issues of form, fitness, injury or unavailability, Keegan has already failed apparently - and is shuffling towards the exit door muttering his previous infamous mantra of "it's not like it was in the brochure."

What a load of rubbish. 

Sunday marks the start of the real work - and of the renaissance, hopefully. 

For others to try and judge KK and us on the events of January is nothing short of scandalous, but not to collect three points against the Smoggies is unthinkable - loading the bullets for those whose agenda is increasingly evident.

Biffa