It has been suggested with some justification that we have just witnessed Newcastle United's best campaign in living memory which is quite a statement. The theory is that Eddie

Howe's heroes have in combining their first domestic trophy in 70 years, the Carabao Cup, with Champions League qualification achieved a double which is hard to surpass. I acknowledge

the achievement with appreciation and gratitude. However let us have a look at those Newcastle sides who can stake their own claims. The sides our 2025 boys have to beat in any prize giving

for the best season ever. First to consider of course is the 1969 team that won probably the most significant piece of silverware, United's only European trophy. Then there are the

very pinnacle of English football. In two successive seasons the Magpies finished Premier League runners-up to Manchester United but which of those sides was the superior. Unquestionably in

my opinion the first in 1995-96 even though it was the one without Alan Shearer. The title could easily have been won that epic season - some would say should have been won - whereas the

next year we were never really in with a shout of the ultimate glory. Newcastle led the league for virtually all of 95-96 from August until mid-March and by Christmas had established a

10-point lead over Man U. Though they lost 2–0 at Old Trafford on December 27 they still managed to extend their lead to 12 points by January 20 putting them in prime position for the title

with 15 matches remaining. However Manchester United - bolstered by the return of Eric Cantona from suspension - came roaring back with a surge in form. The Mags eventually finished four

points behind the champions in second place with 78pts, ahead of Liverpool in third on 71pts, and Aston Villa fourth and Arsenal fifth both on 63pts. A significant gap. As for the best of

the fifties Wembley sides I go for the first 1951. Why? For a start Jackie Milburn told me it was the best and he played in all three. A true No.9 legend and local hero who ought to know. In

the finals of 52 and 55 United beat 10 men because the opposition lost a player to injury and there were no subs in those days. I saw all three finals on telly as a little lad and 51 leaps

out in my memory not least for the variation of wonderful Wor Jackie strikes against Stanley Matthews' Blackpool. Of course we have to consider Bobby Robson and the teams he built . . .

fourth place 2001-02, third 2002-03, and fourth again 2003-04. A wonderful man of real achievement but, no, his numbers while highly impressive are fractionally bettered by KK. So there we

are, it's the 2025 team of captain Bruno, Sandro Tonali, Alexander Isak, Joelinton, Anthony Gordon, Tino Livramento et al against the Fairs Cup boys of 69 including Bob Moncur, Wyn

Davies and Pop Robson plus the Cup winners of 51 highlighted by Wor Jackie and Bobby Mitchell. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course and we are all people of different vision. What

is great about such an exercise as this is that no one is wrong. It is merely opinion - but intriguing and fun isn't it? If I have any small advantage over a lot of other intrigued

Geordies it is that I actually witnessed all three teams live and up close but I am not going to pull rank. Old age has to offer some compensation. Let us look at the plusses and minuses of

our runners. Certainly the current encumbrances are easier on the eye than our Euro heroes. They play more flowing football, are more front foot and exciting. However the class of 69 won a

bigger trophy and therefore can readily argue their corner. It must be stated in the interest of accuracy United got into the Fairs Cup from 10th position in our domestic league through the

one-city-one-club rule not through fourth and fifth placed qualification like Howe's squads. And the season they swept all before them in Europe United finished no higher than ninth in

the old First Division. Delving further back to 51 United possessed a wonderful double spearhead of Milburn and Geordie Robledo, our very own wing wizard Bobby Mitch, jut-jawed Joe Harvey

driving them on, the Rock of Gibraltar Frank Brennan, and a pop eyed keeper and joker Jack Fairbrother. They combined the FA Cup with finishing fourth in the league which is rather like us

now (a trophy and fifth) though according to Jackie it could have been a lot higher. Once the glamour of the Cup came round he told me they eased off in the league preferring the big

prestige day out at Wembley. As a matter of interest United were eighth in both their other Wembley winning seasons. The Entertainers? Well their nickname tells you everything doesn't

it? They entertained. The nation was enthralled by them. A lot of people's world was spelled out in black and white. That season United's most regular team over a 38-match campaign

was: Shaka Hislop (24 appearances); Warren Barton (30+1), Darren Peacock (33+1), Steve Howey (28), John Beresford (32+1); Keith Gillespie (26+2), Lee Clark (22+6), Rob Lee (36), David

Ginola (34); Peter Beardsley (35), Les Ferdinand (37). Others who made a significant contribution were Pavel Srnicek (14+1), Philippe Albert (19+4), Steve Watson (15+8), Tino Asprilla (11+3)

and David Batty (11). How the Entertainers never won silverware to cement their reputation I'll never know. That particular season United reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup

but that was it. Right, let me boil it all down. I must rate the current team above the 69 Fairs Cup guys in terms of all round ability, panache, style, and league position while never ever

playing down their unique achievement. However I make it nip and tuck with the Entertainers of 96 and the 51 FA Cup side. Ninety six was the culmination of Keegan's nose bleed ride from

obscurity to glorious salvation and 51 the start of the Magpies' Wembley domination. Those two sides and this one are above all others . . . the advantage the boys of today have is

that they can go on to stand alone at the top of the mountain if they keep improving. For the moment they are in exceptional company, an elite trio of top teams spanning 74 years. They are

not better than the other two yet but they can be.