^ I haven't really been watching a lot of the EPL but I kinda expected Newcastle to do a bit better than they did during seasons prior as they're being backed financially by Saudi oilers now. And they're manager is decent. I've always rooted for Eddie Howe and have said that he's gonna be a manager of a bigger club in the coming years. I guess this is his big break.
I think they're doing a lot better than they're getting credit for, just because they have a blank cheque which haven't been put to a full use yet and their biggest signing have barely been of much use too, meanwhile the team seem to be highly motivated.
They've lost just only one game (to Liverpool, which was a 98th minute goal, as well) despite having played against teams like Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester United and even this season's somewhat impressive at the early stage's Brighton, I'd say that deserves some commendation to say the least, and despite all of these aforementioned fixtures, they've conceded the least amount of goals compared to any other team in the league, only City, Chelsea and Arsenal comes joint second in the aspect, meanwhile they've all played a fixture less than Newcastle.
Newcastle also have one of the best goal difference +10 or goal scored to goal conceded ratio 2:1 in the league currently as well, also only just Man City and Arsenal (slightly) have done better in that aspect.
For what it's worth, I think their season so far is nothing short of a brilliant success, considering the fixture they've played so far and what's left for the first half of the season, it probably can only get better, however,
that's just my personal opinion and it's solely based on an informed guess..