Okay, so now that the season is officially over, let's take a look back on this season and examine what went right, what went wrong, and how to make the wrongs right in 2007-08. Our season got off to a less-than-desirable start before it even started, with Michael Owen going down with the ACL injury in the World Cup. However, this resulted in us buying Oba Martins, who was clearly the surprise package for us this season. Plusses: Martins came into the club and scored 17 goals this season, when most newcomers take some time to adjust to the pace and physicality of the Premiership. He scored perhaps the goal of the season against Spurs and was the lone man up front in terms of carrying the goalscoring burden. I was also impressed with the way that Taylor and Milner came along this season, and I would expect both to remain staples in the starting XI for a long time to come. We also get to have a manager who has a full close-season to ring changes, rather than hiring in August like we always do. Minuses: We had an ungodly number of injuries this year, but despite that we clearly found out that Roeder was over his head trying to manage this club. Far too often he doomed us to failure with his poor tactics, and he began to lose the locker room and the fans with the same old Souness excuses as to why we couldn't win. The defence was abysmal for the most part this season. Our two loan projects crashed and burned, and there was nothing to improve the team in the transfer window aside from Martins. Things to work on: Defense is the obvious one, but we need some creative punch from the midfield, and more than one healthy striker who can get into double-figures in the goal column. Look at the top five teams in the Prem this season, and they all have at least three players who scored more than 10 goals for them in all competitions. We had one. Defense might be the bigger priority, but I think we need some depth in the midfield and up front as well. I would not be surprised to see somewhere between six to eight new faces this season, with players like Emre, Dyer, N'Zogbia and possibly Parker being shown the door. Continuity in the team and in the manager's seat would be helpful as well, but Sam or whomever has to bring some of his guys in to get the system to work. Discuss your thoughts on the season as we reflect back and look ahead simultaneously.
Plusses: Oba was signed. Best thing GR did. He is definately a 20 + goals a season player something every team needs. We discovered a great midfielder in Milner. He has shown he can play with the best of them. We also discovered the Edgar Davids can be a great player for the future. We didn't make any European competitions. This means next year we should be only fighting on 3 fronts. A hell of alot less games to play and a longer break. Also no WC or Euro so a long break for the players. Minuses: Injuries. What causes them I don't know but I will wager it is our long schedule mixed with less than perfect training grounds and tactics. Whatever it is they hurt us. We are very weak at the back. Moore had a crap season. Stupid Yank Soccer player was a waste of wage money and other than Taylor our back line is very poor. We need some defenders (Maybe from Serie A or B) to come into the club. We did not have tactics. FF is still chairman. Things to work on: Tactics. A new coach who is establised ie NOT SAM as he is crap. Someone like Lippi or Sven hopefully. Signing defenders. I think Oba has shown that if we go for Serie A players we can see some success.
Sheesh; I leave for week and the most boring season for the Mags comes to nowt, simultaneously with a bang and a wimper. Lick our wounds and reflect, nope that would be the typical Toon thing to do. Lets just just drink up and get rid of the hangover that we have been nursing since our Euro Exit a few months ago; time to move on. Solution for next year: We need help to match our expectations with what is actually possible. Top seven next year? Maybe but I would lower your expectations a bit further becasue the Mags are just too freakin broken to get much better without massive deconstruction at the team level.