Chris Hughton may not have admitted it before kick-off but a victory in last weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby has gone a long way towards securing the Newcastle boss and new deal at St James’ Park.

The constant, somewhat unwarranted speculation around Hughton’s future masked what has been a very decent start from a Newcastle side relying on more or less the same personnel that took them down two years ago. Kevin Nolan’s hat-trick is not the only good news the Newcastle captain has received this week; a court has granted tearaway striker Andy Carroll permission to stay in a hotel as he awaits trial for assaulting a former girlfriend.

On the blogs this week, we ask if former manager Kenny Dalglish has identified the problems surrounding Hughton’s contract saga and Elliot O’Reilly winds the clock back and discovers what happened to one time Newcastle striker, Mirandinha.  Also this week, there is analysis of how the same band of disinterested, poorly motivated players that flopped out of the top flight 18 months ago are now back, hungry for the challenges of the Premier League.

There are also some cracking contributions as we scour the best of the web.

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The Premier League’s New Comic Strip #2

WAG War: Mackems do battle at St James Park…it could get messy!

Who needs more big money signings at Newcastle?

Does Kenny underline the real problem at Newcastle United?

Whatever happened to Newcastle’s Mirandinha?

Are Newcastle hanging him out to dry?

Top ten most controversial Premiership moments

TEN things that we have noticed from the Premier League this season

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Click here to see the Best NEWCASTLE BLOGS around the Web this week

Best of the Web

We are not getting carried away with seventh place- The Newcastle United blog

Face it Brucey- derby day hammering was in the post- Blog on the Tyne

Four battles that must be won at The Emirates. – NUFC Blog

A month of Saturdays: October 2010- Black and white all over

Are Newcastle fans now more realistic? – NUFC Blog