I think it`s important to take a look at the future as well as the current with our club and, to me, things are looking fairly bright in that respect.
Certainly, particular aspects of the team are looking better than they have for some time and though we`d all like Ashley to leave, we`ve got some good reasons to be hopeful for the coming years.
We`ve got a great manager and a decent side, that`s for sure, but I look at some of the young players out on loan doing their thing and get excited with Adam Armstrong and Freddie Woodman particularly catching the eye.
It`s the latter who has done that most recently, too, with him making three saves in a shootout for Aberdeen last night and I think it won`t be long until he is pushing to start for us. Let`s take a look at some of the reaction to his performance on Twitter.
ICYMI .@41Woodman41 saved the 2nd, 3rd and 5th penalties in last night’s shootout to take .@AberdeenFC into Cup semi. Great effort from rising .@NUFC loan star. Read https://t.co/AYyt9yVztz #NUFC
? The Mag (@NUFCTheMag) 14 March 2018
Well played, @41Woodman41! #NUFC https://t.co/vF9W6I4oIE
? Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) 14 March 2018
Superb performance last night by Freddie Woodman #NUFC https://t.co/yS9LBGNtPw
? The Chronicle (@ChronicleNUFC) 14 March 2018
Freddie Woodman saves 3 pens for Aberdeen (on loan from #NUFC) https://t.co/KkOpIY89mo
? NUFC Gallowgate (@NUFCgallowgate) 14 March 2018
@41Woodman41 well done great saves just watched them on sky sports class keeper #nufc #toontoon #3penaltysaves
? Bullock (@stephenbullock9) 14 March 2018
Well done to #nufc GK @41Woodman41 who led Aberdeen to the Scottish Cup semi-final by saving three penalties in the shootout.
? NUFC 360 (@NUFC360) 14 March 2018
Adam Armstrong back doing what he does best, scoring goals. And now Freddie Woodman doing what he does best, saving penalties. Well he has saved penalties in Euro & World Cup finals for England to win. #NUFC the future looks bright!! https://t.co/l0EP1ye3a9
? Brian Glaister (@BGlaister1) 13 March 2018
Another quality display by @41Woodman41 showing that #nufc are in safe hands in the future!! As long as they give him the chance he deserves
? Allan Baker (@AlBaker77) 13 March 2018
Freddie Woodman should be either second choice, or loaned to a promotion chasing Championship team as a minimum next season. We shouldn’t let him go like we did with Forster. #nufc
? Andrew McVittie (@Andrew_McVittie) 13 March 2018
. @41Woodman41 coming up trumps for Aberdeen! What a talent #NUFC
? Matt Milne (@21Milner) 13 March 2018
Had to watch the shootout through a periscope stream with my laptop turned on it side but quality from @41Woodman41 with three saves from five. Great to see his team mates giving him the recognition he deserves as well. #nufc #aberdeen
? Adam Smith (@ASmithSJ) 13 March 2018