[RobB]

The final game of the season against Man Utd saw us fall short of breaking into the top 5. It was game over after 10 minutes, a couple of defensive mistakes cost us. Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw with Newcastle so we miss out on the UEFA cup place.

It`s not the worst situation for us though. To have been going to the Ukraine, Slovakia or Finland on a Thursday then having to play Birmingham, West Brom or say Portsmouth on the Sunday (must win games in other words) would have tested the squad big time. The players would have liked the challenge but it might be for the best that we can concentrate on the EPL and two English cup competitons next season.

We only got 11 points more this season than last. Over 38 games and with 114 ponits to play for that`s the difference between a relegation battle and a challenge for the European places. The distraction of a UEFA cup run could easily cost us 10-15 pts so it might be for the best that we don`t have that points loss, it would have been worth the risk for the Champions league but not the UEFA cup.

It`s been a transitional season with a new manager and quite a few players being sold. If we let 4 go (Allback, Crouch, Johnsen and Dublin) and bring in 6 good players in the summer we could get up nearer 70pts, which I think we need to be able to do before we can take on the extra burden of European football.

Newcastle got 70+ points last year but their run to the semi`s and the fixture pile up and injuries that resulted caused them problems this year. For them to have got the results to pip us to fifth is a credit to them, I hope they go one stage further next year and make the final of the UEFA. At least they can go into that competition knowing they can win it, we wouldn`t have got past the Q/F`s.

I think we can put this season down has a good one under the circumstances, being best of the rest as O`Leary put it. It`s amazing to think we were still in with a shout of the ECL with two games to go, and would have qualified had we won those two games. I`ll see who we bring in during the summer before decided on what would make a good season next year, hopefully O`Leary will stay and not be tempted to go to Celtic if a vacancy there arrises.

[sendorange]

Europe is a very tough test on the playing resources. The UEFA cup is looking an interesting competition again now they're brought in the group stage, but missing the first year is no big loss.

I'm interested to see who O'Leary brings in.