The end for Al?

Well yesterday brought the expected result in the second installment of this year’s Tyne-Wear derby games. A cracking 4-1 win for the toon, including a fantastic 3 goals in 6 minutes to turn the tie on its head! The only piece of bad news was that this looks like being the last game in a black and white shirt for the Premiership’s (and Newcastle’s) all-time leading goalscorer, Alan Shearer. What could be a tear of the medial cruciate in his knee could well end his Newcastle and footballing career 4 games (3 league games and his testimonial) early. Whatever happens, he’s been a fantastic servant to the cause of the Black and White and he will prove to be a big space to fill from here forwards.

So what about those mackems?? Well it’s not been a good weekend for them really. Relegated on Friday (nothing more than they deserve) and then beaten (thrashed) by their nearest and dearest rivals on Monday. Will they be missed in the Premiership? Well the evidence would tend to suggest not. Having scored only 12 points from the 102 that have been on offer then I guess the only people who will miss them will be everyone else. Those 6 points will be far more difficult to get next season!!

So Newcastle up to 7th in the league. Not bad when you look at where we were 2 months ago!! European football might well be on the cards again for next season. Now we just need to find a good strike partner for Owen!!