Penny for your promotions thoughts after NUFC hit back...
It was almost midnight when I finally had time to take it in properly that Newcastle United's stay in the little shop of horrors that is the Coca-Cola Championship was finally over.
Even though there had been plenty of reminders from a night that will live with me until I'm on my death bed.
This is how the night went for me...
Unlike the last time United were promoted, results elsewhere decided our fate.
I managed a solitary cheer in the Press room but in the main, it was a quiet room and a pretty anti-climatic atmosphere as Forest chugged to a 0-0 stalemate with Cardiff.
The team-sheets were whipped round the media suite and Lee Clark joked that he was gutted not to be on it again, before claiming his designer scarf was likely to put him in with a shout of the Juventus job.
(Newcastle's dressing room song this season)
As we moved up to the Press box though, the feeling was obvious with time appearing to be passing by in fast-forward mode.
First Chris Hughton and the players charged on to the field to warm up and they enjoyed a fantastic ovation.
Then the realisation began to sink in, in dream-like fashion.
First there was sly, knowing nod and a wink from Bob Moncur - who has seen it all before.
He said not to panic about relegation after dropping down last May, and he was proved right.
Then my eyes clocked those of Yorkshire battler Alan Smith, who gave a thumbs up to the Press box that we were on our way up.
But as the night unfolded it looked as if the match would be what can only be described as a damp squib.
Sheff U went ahead, Newcastle laboured before getting back into the game through Peter Lovenkrands, and then Kevin Nolan - who else? - secured the points.
It was just that type of night.
Afterwards, the players filed through and gave their opinions on what it all meant.
There was even a bit of locker room access to get the views of Jonas, Jose Enrique and Fabricio Coloccini - all of whom have had excellent campaigns.
As the interviews took place in the dressing room the giant screen displayed Sky's Days Of Our Lives with John Beresford and David Ginola, but even though the current crop are aiming high, perhaps the standards that were set by the Entertainers weren't even considered by the Toon's Three Amigos.
That said, the Premier League is a different animal these days.
Staying in it is regarded as success even if Birmingham have shown you can still climb it if you keep it real.
That's now the job of Chris Hughton, who, when the celebrations die down, has the task of adding to his squad and looking ahead to a season back in the Premier League.
Different days but the same anticipation awaits.
The expectations could also be different to the last time we were promoted, when Kevin Keegan boldy declared: "We're after your title Sir Alex."
This time gaining respectability with a solid finish and settling a few scores will be fine for most.
What do you think?
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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Great to see us back - it could so easily have been different if we hadn't come together as a club. While we should spend some time enjoying the moment, here's what our objectives should reasonably be for the next campaign:
1. Stay up - being mathematically safe by this time next year is all we, as fans, should be demanding. If we start booing the team for losing against already established teams then we will put undue pressure on the management and will shoot ourselves in the feet yet again.
2. Team consolidation - strengthen the team with strong, fit talent who can take us to the next level; not swan-songs or sick-notes or big-heads.
3. Peace in our club. Get relationships right between the fans and the board and between the players. Let's stop being the soap opera and laughing stock of the football world and only be in the newspapers for the right reasons. Ashley has made many mistakes but we ALL have to be prepared to forgive and start looking forward and working together. MA appears to have his sensible head on now and is doing the right things for the club so let's work together to put them in place and stop the whining and finger-pointing - they can only be destructive forces.
4. Get the finances in order - we have the fan-base and the turnover to be financially sound if we act professionally and shrewdly. Let other clubs suffer if they wish but let the cream rise to the top.
5. Get the discipline right; on and off the pitch. Somebody needs to take the youngsters under their wing and get them to understand what they risk throwing away. Somebody like Peter Beardsley...
6. Keep the same management team for a long long time. Local heroes are great for the club but they make people act irrationally. Who knows whether Shearer will be a great manager? - let him learn from his mistakes at another club first, or take him on as strikers' coach - imagine how Carroll and others could benefit from his experience...
7. Get the joy and the singing back into our crowd. Even watching a winning team, the crowd can be pretty passive. Yes, we have numbers but how often do we hear the Blaydon Races on an average home matchday? be honest now ...
Congrats to all the lads, I was one of those fearful of a Leeds collapse, great to see grinding performances and a return 11 months after that woeful game at the end of last season. A few quick thoughts:
1) I really hope CH doesn't get pushed aside for a "big name" manager. Give him a chance, even if things don't go well right away.
2) A few choice signings such as O'Hara, Parker (if West Ham go down) and Robbie Keane would be superb. Defenders are vital but solid ones are always tricky to find.
3) No laughable wages please! Relegation has slimmed the squad down, hopefully to players who actually want to wear the black & white shirt. No hangers-on!
4) For the next few years we need to stay solid in the Premiership, forget trying to get into Europe, this should be a 5 - 10 year plan.
5) In time we should aim to be amongst those teams like Everton and Villa and be a regular top 8 team.
Final Jerry Springer thoughts - I can't wait for the 2010/11 season to start, havn't been so excited about the start of a season in ages!
chris and all the players deserve a chance to play next year to the premmier .
No more mistakes like OWEN VINTUCA NZOBIA DUFF MARTINS BEYE- GULLIT KEEGAN WISE ALLARDYCE -we have very good players and they proved to us that they really want to play for NUFC when all the rest jumped ship like scared rats.
A BIG THANKS TO ALL THE PLAYERS AND CHRIS AND ALL HIS TEAM
Firstly I need a new name...
I have doubted CH all season I still thought we'd be promoted, so glad its not through the play offs what a mare that is, I've just got this sneaky feeling Blackpool might get in over the back wall...
CH has managed the club very very well. good buys steady hand and solid performances on the field, so I take it back Chris I eat my words well done to you and Colin and the rest of the staff you've guided the players all of them showing professionalism. yes a couple have been a bit short tempered but lets forget that they're all United! all of them deserve a go next season all of them want to play for us and that is an extra 10-20% on the next man. Git up, cause yer gann'n up!
one last note; to all those players that didn't want to play for us at the beginning of the season/ end of last -Where are you now????? -honest i'd really like to know?! you should be ashamed of yourselves...
Congratulations lads its an amazing achievement I have supported Newcastle United for over 50 years, 30 of those years here in America before I die I want to see St, James Park again, as a boy In the fifties I saw a lot of the greats, the game has changed a lot, $40.00 a week !!! back then but once a Geordie always a Geordie no matter where you are in the world, and oh yes special thanks to Chris Hughton and all the unsung hreo's for doing quite a remarkable job with all of the off field troubles, you also have to look at Mike Ashley in a different way even if you hate him, without his support this year we could have done another Leeds, thats what all the Newcastle United whipping boys, press and not press were predicting.
Well that did not happen, what the club has to ensure is stability which has never been a virture in the corridors of power at St. James, I hate to say it but in man management of players Man Utd is the benchmark it took Alex Ferguson quite a few seasons to build that stability, and look where it got them, I think we have the best and most loyal supporters on the planet lets keep it that way, even though Hughton & Co may need some help, but if they do bring in a big name make sure its the right choice, I am tired of the Kevin Keegan circus, Chris I wish you and the team the best of success In the Premiership and to the powers that be do not experiment with next season if things do not start right by winning matches then serious desicions must be made, don't leave it till the last 8 games to stave off relegation, heres to a top 10 finish.
It is good for the North-East to have NUFC back in the big time, but let's not get carried away. As Roy Keane would say "winning the championship is nothing to celebrate". The game the other night showed all too well that the team is far from being one able to cope next season. My predictions for next season include:L
- WBA and NUFC to be yo-yo clubs again, and
- Phil Brown to be the next manager at Sid James Park.
My congratulations go to Carol for becoming the latest member of the Newcastle idiot players.
Buy a central midfielder with pace and the ability to pass incisively; a right back, cover for left back; someone who can play on either wing; a good forward; keep Taylor. Offload Best and Pancrate. Get a coach who can teach Jonas, Routledge and Guthrie how to cross well consistently!
HaâÂÂway the lads.
ItâÂÂs geet guid to be back, wha weâÂÂs belong. Top half next season and good cup run. Champs leag in two years.
Leave CH to get on with it and back him properly as an owner and as fans.
I think additional coaches will be needed, for midfield and up front.
Someone said to me the other day that we need at least ã75m to stay up, utter nonsense, it can be done with ã15-ã20. We've got a good squad, we'll need a cover left back, a (maybe) new central midfielder and (maybe) a new striker. But i think we should give them all a chance to show what they are worth. Lovenkrands scored a few for us last season, as a bit part player, he still has pace and his movement lately has been awesome, he creates space like Owen used to for liverpool, i think he and Carroll should be given a chance.
Havent got an opinion on Best, that says it all. Ranger should go out on loan and i don;t rate Shola, but i like him. I'd make him 4th choice and buy a 2nd/3rd choice striker as competition.
Routledge needs to learn how to pass the ball, or certainly when to release it, he lost it so many times on monday i lost count. He should have scored 1 and created at least 1, but he hopefully can develop. Jonas is mint, totally love him and he's getting better. I think we'll need someone with a bit more "legs" for centre mid, who that will be is not up to me but i fully trust CH.
BIG THANKS TO CH AND THE COACHING STAFF for a quite remarkable job! I never expected us to perform with such resilience and flair (in some games) all season!
I hope CH keeps the job long term...he has done what established managers in the past could NOT - and that is get a good team spirit going and man manage perfectly!
I have no doubts we will be ok in the premier league next season because we have learnt how to be a tough team and one that knows how to comeback (which was not the case last season!!!)
Another promising sign is that we are actually looking like a team who have gelled really nicely...and i think a good pre season will only improve that!
As for our transfer activity....PLEASE DO NOT SIGN HUTTON FOR ã5m!!!!!!!!!!! Also i dont think it will be the end of the world if we dont get a big name in as usually that has only proven to wreck our club and no more players who just want a (massive) pay packet which is completely disproportionate to their footballing ability (we all know the past examples!) CH is going about it the right way signing players who are right for the club and who have ability and who are cheap.
We need to strengthen some areas like - cover for left back doesnt need to be world class. Probably can leave right back for now as money will be tight so ryan taylor can fill in for simpson when required. We need a good striker to play with carroll...lovenkrands is a good backup and nile ranger should definitely be given opportunities now and again (i hope we can attract a good striker though...try and get chamakh for free lol) i think we should try for kuranyi whos been in amazing form for schalke and think he may want to leave....I did see someone suggest robbie keane - NO THANKS he will want a huge salary and spurs will want something close to ã25m (WORTH AROUND A TENTH OF THAT) and i think after his stint with liverpool hes not the same player he was before joining them. Probably need another winger either a first team one or a backup...this shouldnt be too hard as there are a few decent ones around and i'm sure if we follow up quickly before the world cup we will be ok in terms of price...A central midfielder..i have mixed feelings about recruiting from abroad as the players are more interested in the english pound than they are for the club and game. I think o'hara wouldnt be a bad signing if spurs dont get carried away with his valuation...also we should try for manuel fernandes whos at valencia...as for a centre back and a good defensive midfielder (alan smith will not do!!!) i think this is tricky but france is always a good place to search for top defensive players (pssst maybe ask houllier's advice :D ).
I'm optimistic that CH will be given a decent amount to spend and i think its only right that he should!
Can't wait for next season...Same again Newcastle United!!!!! :)
Unfortunately we have absolutely no chance of getting players from the likes of Valencia and Schalke. We have to think of ourselves as a Wolves or Birmingham, we will not attract players from top European sides, just look at Everton and Villa - they can't attract players from top sides and have maintained a regular top 8 finish for years. Chamakh is already on his way to Arsenal and wouldn't even look twice at us. We have to face facts.
British & Irish players are where we should be looking, not unknown hopeful foreigners. Hence the suggestions of O'Hara (would buy for 5 million) and Keane (would buy for 8 million) - of course if Spurs start suggesting huge fees and the players want huge wages we just ignore them instantly, but there's no harm in giving it a go. Anyway, just thinking about this is exciting - bring on next season!!
M. Sebastian T. Quoting Roy Keane as a fountain of football wisdom ... really? And I remember your predictions for this season ... Mystic Mackem you ain't.
Mid-table obscurity beckons. And that'll do nicely thanks very much.
Fair play for the first part of your first sentence though!
His regime's judgement in appointing a big name manager namely Kevin Keegan without the intention of backing him was short term-ist, designed to stave off falterling season ticket renewals which ultimately backfired.
Relegation was entirely predictable as the club lurched from crisis to crisis, sale-on, sale-off, with big name players consistently failing to deliver.
We'd seen our local rivals do this sort of thing when Bob Murray was an absent owner, but of course Newcastle did it bigger and better, or in this case worse.
Whilst I applaud the demonstrating when we see our club going off the rails, I never liked the 'cockney mafia' phrasing, it makes us look parochial and gives the impression we have a small town mentality. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are a big city club.
The Newcastle board do appear to be learning though, and made an ultimately shrewd (and admittedly cheaper) decision to leave the conciliatory Hughton in charge, rather than the more combative Shearer at a time when big money funding wouldn't be available. Also, make no mistake, our promotion came about primarily by retaining as many players as we did, and bringing in decent squad additions when we needed them. Both required funding and commitment at a time when it would have been easy to withdraw both.
Routledge and Williamson are clearly premiership quality, Simpson is a candidate for player of the season.
The much maligned Mr Ashley has clearly demonstrated that whilst last season was chaotic (to say the least) and yes we should never have gone down, he has been able to steady the ship, rally the troops and fulfill other mainly positive cliches this season. More than the much lauded Steve Gibson has managed at the 'boro.
As Sunderland regained some prosperity (and a new stadium) by welcoming Bob Murray back into the fold, now we are back in the top flight, I believe that the Toon Army should similarly offer an olive branch to Mike Ashley. Both deserve credit for sticking with the club, but whatever the owner's motive, our best chance for success and avoiding a repeat of last season's disaster comes from Mike Ashley and us spending in our club.
The pre-Ashley cult of the superstar manager, board and players has delivered us no success except promotion. Mike Ashley's regime is now arguably as sucessful as any post-1969 (when I was 4). Why not give him the chance to finally build a team worthy of the crowd with 'Cockney Chris' in charge?
For Mr Ashkey to invest, we need to do our part and buy our season tickets, encourage former fans to return, buy our shirts, and yes buy our beers in the ground....
You never know, with a bit of luck, we might even win a cup?
Is has to be worth a try......
Keep CH and bring in D'Maria of benfica and Phillip Lahm;release Shola and Butt.