Well, there it is. The end of another season. It's tempting to say it was disappointing for the Toon because it didn't bring any silverware. But wait a minute. We got into the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup. With a week to go in the Premiership, we could still have clinched fourth place, and we have qualified for next season's UEFA Cup. That's not a bad achievement, especially considering the poor start to the season when we were in the Premiership cellar and were already out of the Champions' League. Most of the teams in the Premiership will never achieve such results and might give anything to end the season on such a note. We've been on the fringe of honors for years. Since the Keegan years in the 90's, our average position in the table has been fifth. We're definitely a top ten team. Every year we expect to better the previous season, and that's a worthwhile goal.

We have a great football club. In Shearer, Given and Woodgate, we have world class players. Bellamy is not far behind. On occasion, Dyer, Robert, Speed, Bernard, and Ameobi can have outstanding games, although unfortunately not always at the same time. What let us down this year were injuries, inconsistency, too many draws, and a poor away record. There seemed to be a complacent attitude on the part of some players who didn't seem to regard it as a privilege to wear the black and white, and didn't seem to have a passion to win. We weren't able to beat bottom-of-the-table teams. We were lacking in depth - especially at the critical end of the season when physical exhaustion was obviously setting in. There were some odd management decisions, notably Nobby Solano, and the Directors did not seem to be keen to buy players at the beginning of the season.

Now we'll have to endure the post mortems. What should the Toon do? Should they sell some players in order to raise the cash to buy replacements. What of Sir Bobby? Will he retire, disappointed about a season that didn't bring anything? Would we then be in for a long period of rebuilding? We have a lot of young players - which Bobby felt were needed for the long term. Will there be any changes in the Board of Directors to one that has a relentless commitment to winning. Are there any more Russian zillionaires out there?

But when all is said and done, the real fans will all be back for more next August. Whether we were born within the sound of St James' Park, or we joined the Toon Army during the Keegan era or earlier - we'll still support the Toon through thick and thin. That's the point. Real fans are loyal and don't change allegiance according to whether the team is constantly winning.

We're Black and White - TOON ARMY!! And we're proud of that!

Howay the Lads!