Newcastle United have ruined a lot of people’s season-long bets already

Newcastle United almost certainly have the best manager in the Championship in the form of Rafa Benitez.

They almost certainly have the best squad in the Championship, having spent big this summer to bring in the likes of Dwight Gayle, Mohamed Diamé, Matt Ritchie, Grant Hanley and  Jesús Gámez. They will almost certainly attract by far the biggest crowds in the Championships, with the loyal locals packing into the 52,000-capacity St James' Park on a weekly basis. For these reasons, they are overwhelming favourites to earn promotion back to the Premier League.

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Plenty have backed the Magpies to go up. A huge number think they'll win the league. And there were quite a few brave souls who fancied them to go unbeaten all season. There was one big problem with that. Unbeaten seasons just don't happen in the Championship, however good a team you are. It has never happened, and for all we know it never will. The all-conquering Newcastle team of 2009/10 crossed the 100 point barrier, but took just seven games to suffer their first defeat, going down 2-1 at Blackpool. Even Reading, who won a record 106 points in the 2005/06 season, did so after losing on the opening day and once more in February. That's not stopped the complaints after the 1-0 opening day defeat at Fulham, mind you. https://twitter.com/ToffeeArab1979/status/761668041184772097 https://twitter.com/Luke_Dexter/status/761670722871758848 https://twitter.com/dancorner_/status/761664076468674561 https://twitter.com/jamiepd/status/761663255353884672 If anything, those who backed Newcastle to go unbeaten should be thanking Benitez and his team for putting them out of their misery early on. Imagine backing a 100/1 shot and remaining on course to cash in for months, only for Rafa to name a weakened line-up in April after wrapping up the league title with games to spare. Sure, it's okay to complain now, but this way is definitely better. Listen to Michael Murphy chat with Colm Parkinson on The GAA Hour. Subscribe here on iTunes.  https://soundcloud.com/sportsjoe-gaa-hour/michael-murphy-on-enjoying-the-game-duffys-flawed-proposal