Having collected my thoughts over the past 30 or so hours, relegation feels the same as it did as soon as the full time whistle blew on Sunday. Yes, it hurts, but I'd accepted it for a while so it didn't really come as a shock to the system, although there was always a little bit of hope still there that we could turn it around. Still, it wasn't to be and we're down. We deserve to be relegated, no complaints here. I'm delighted it's over now; no more worrying, we know we're down and it's time to focus on next season. This season has been an absolute disaster but it's been coming from the day we sacked Sir Bobby and replaced him with Souness. If a proper replacement had been found, the club probably wouldn't be in the mess it's in now.
People pointing the blame at Shearer are deluded. He had eight games to turn it around with some absolutely shambolic players with little heart or fight. If you want to point the blame at someone, there's a long list. Shepherd, Ashley, Llambias, Mort, Allardyce, Keegan to name a few. Yes, Allardyce is in there. After reading some of the posts on here stating that if Allardyce was still in charge, we'd never have been relegated this season. Those who said that, you're right - we'd have been relegated last season. Have those people forgotten that he managed us to a whole one point, home and away, against the mighty Derby County? Whilst he was in charge, we had our easiest period of fixtures but he failed to pick up anywhere near enough points to leave us safe. To sum him up (and the main reason we decided to bring in a DoF was because of his shortcomings in the transfer market. Ashley backed him to go out and spend cash, both in terms of fees and wages, but he brought in average players on huge wages. Alan Smith, Geremi, Cacapa, Joey Barton all flopped. Mark Viduka is on huge wages but despite his talent, has hardly played. José Enrique and Habib Beye were his only two decent signings. To sum Allardyce up, we'd agreed a fee with Sevilla for Ivica Dragutinović. When Dragutinović flew in for talks with Allardyce, he demanded to be the second highest earner at the club behind Michael Owen, wanting to be paid £95,000 per week. Allardyce told the club to pay it in order to sign him - Ashley quite rightly refused to pay it and the deal fell through.
Some of the wages being branded around on here are brilliant too, Nicky Butt on £75,000 per week, deary me.
No matter what he's on, he'd be the first person I'd be kicking out of the door. The rest of the squad, barring Steven Taylor, Bassong, Beye, Enrqiue and Guthrie can go too for all I care; they're the only players I feel 'attached' to. On the topic of the squad/wages, we obviously need to reduce the wage bill. Following on from this, I'd like to see this happen with the current squad:
Goalkeepers:
Harper - Someone will pay between £500k-£1million for him. Doesn't warrant his wages -
SELL
S.Taylor - He's already said he'll stay but we'll see. It would be a big coup to keep him at that level in my opinion and for his loyalty I'd make him vice-captain -
KEEP
Bassong - Can't see him staying at all, he's been amazing this season. Would be nice if he does stick around to see if he can get us straight back up though, fingers crossed -
KEEP
Coloccini - Not lived up to his reputation after a decent start but has been offered no support from the midfield and his weak physical attributes have been his downfall. Will be on a fair whack so has to go -
SELL
Enrique - Would really like him to stay but he may want out. May also have to be sold due to his wages unfortunately -
KEEP
Edgar - Out of contract, may be worth keeping on but I'd still get rid -
RELEASE
Cacapa - Out of contract, not heard anything about him for ages -
RELEASE
Midfielders:
Butt - The less said the better -
SELL
Barton - See above -
SELL
Nolan - See above two -
SELL
Guthrie - I'd like him to stay and I think he would too. Would play a crucial part in our midfield -
KEEP
R.Taylor - Unsure on him but then I think of his performances for us and all I can say is the same that I did about Butt, Barton and Nolan -
SELL
Jonas - Would like him to stay but may be best he moved on due to his inability to cross. He wouldn't stay anyway so it's an easy decision (despite some great smiles he's given me at times this season) -
SELL
Duff - One of the only ones who looks like he's cared. If he takes a wage reduction, I'd happily keep him -
KEEP
Geremi - Legs have gone, huge wages -
SELL
LuaLua - Not been given a crack yet but would be his time to step up in the Championship -
KEEP
Strikers:
Owen - Goodbye -
RELEASE
Martins - If he had a footballing brain he'd be class. Huge wages -
SELL
Viduka - Would like him to stay on a pay-as-you-play deal whilst taking a huge reduction in wages too. Could happen if he doesn't find a new club. Would tear the Championship apart -
KEEP
Smith - I still like Smith but his wages are far too much -
SELL
Ameobi - Please just f*ck off, Shola -
SELL
Carroll - Would go really well in the Championship I think. Young, local lad too, no reason to let him go -
KEEP
Lovenkrands - Would like him to stay, has done well for us and his pace would be a good asset -
KEEP
Xisco - Not been given a chance but he'd be the one to lead our line next season, if he doesn't want out of course -
KEEP
Ranger - Time for Wor Nile to step up and do the business for the first team. Wouldn't dream of letting him go -
KEEP
Manager:
Shearer - Needs to hang about or we could be in big trouble -
STAY, STAY STAY!
Throw in the likes of Kadar, Tozer, Inman, Vuckic and possibly Baheng and Danquah from the reserves and that would be a decent squad. Obvious areas that need addressing would be the midfield (pace and creativity are a must) and a mixture of young and experienced defenders for back up.
All in all, I'm looking forward to next season. This one has been awful and just not enjoyable whatsoever. I'm looking forward to winning a few games. I'm looking forward to taking in some new grounds. I'm looking forward to some of the stuck up lovers that don't like any form of singing/noise to take place hopefully not setting foot in SJP again. If Shearer stays, there's a lot of hope that we'll bounce straight back up.
Newcastle. United. Will
never be defeated.
WE'LL SUPPORT YOU EVER MORE!
