United are a only pale imitation of what they should be

IT used to be the FA Cup when Wor Jackie was king of coal with the Bobby Dazzler as his chief support.

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The 50s were a time of adventure and optimism after Britain emerged from the dreadful darkness of Hitler’s atrocities into an explosion of self esteem. Elvis wiggled his pelvis, Marilyn Monroe just wiggled, every guy wanted to be Brando or James Dean, the jukebox ruled the ice cream parlours and the golden age of TV the living room. There was an economic boom and a baby boom.

Oh, and Newcastle United won the FA Cup three times in five years as the decade dawned.

We were the Wembley Wizards - Jackie Milburn and Bobby Mitchell, Joe Harvey, Jimmy Scoular, Frank Brennan and Len White.

Now it is the League Cup that dominates Geordie thoughts. Still Wembley, but of the towering arch rather than twin towers. United have reached the final of the Carabao Cup twice in the blink of an eye and are the current holders of the trophy.

They are tonight appearing in their fourth successive quarterfinal stage with Fulham at St James Park standing between us and a two-legged semi with Wembley once again firmly on the horizon.

However, let us be brutally truthful. United this season are a pale imitation of what they once were. It overshadows all hope and we must face it and accept it if we are to cling to this particular lifeline.