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Newcastle join Championship
The biggest news on the last day of the English Premiership was Newcastle United getting relegated to the Championship after finishing third from bottom.
At the start of the season I wouldn't have thought that the team with such talent would get into so much trouble to the point of getting relegated but this has happened.
Also before kick-off Newcastle needed just a draw to stay in the Premiership if Hull lost their match but the loss to Aston Villa ensured that the Magpies joined Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion in the second tier league next season.
I think the problems for Newcastle started when Kevin Keegan left the club. I still think that had he stayed the club would have challenged for Europe.
As for Boro, they had a very bad season and even on the last day a win was not going to be any good because of their vastly inferior goal difference compared to the other teams fighting relegation.
I wonder what's going to happen to some of the big name players who play for Newcastle. Next season leads to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and I think for most of the players going down to the Championship in such a year wouldn't be a good idea.
Closer to home there is Mark Viduka and I think he may have to look for another team if he wants to play at a high level although I doubt that going to the Championship would hamper him from going to South Africa if he wants to.
I think if he was to stay with Newcastle he would still go to the World Cup if he wanted to because I think he is still a very good player.
Its also interesting to see that Mark Schwarzer left Boro at the right time. His new team Fulham have done so well its going to play in the new Europa League next season.
The Cottagers just survived relegation last season and at first I thought Schwarzer was making a mistake by joining Fulham but he has helped his team to finish with one of the best home records this season.
I hope my team the Baggies will be able to bounce back after next season but we better be better prepared for the premiership because its not good for the fans going up and down every other year.
Its interesting to see that for next season whilst the North East of England has lost two teams from the premiership, the Midlands has gained two with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham getting promoted.
Also good for the Midlands is that Stoke were very safe in the premiership and I hope they keep like that next season.
I think Newcastle made a mistake when they took on a rookie coach Shearer to save them from relegation. They should have gone for an experienced coach at that time and its rather unfortunate that Kinnear was unavailable because he could have saved the team from relegation.
Now I think that Shearer should stay with the team in the Championship because there he will get lots of experience. If he abandons the team now that they are in the championship, then I think he shouldn't come back to the team when the team is back in the premiership.
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Thanks for the comment Andy, I think for some time Newcastle never looked like they were in real danger of relegation but now they will have regroup and see if they can regain promotion in the top flight.
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I think Newcastle's demise is a gain for the Championship. Imagine the likes of Owen, Martins, Viduka, Duff all plying their trade in the championship. But seriously sometimes these so called big teams think they cannot be relegated. Spurs were wise enough to see the looming danger earlier on and installed Harry to get the team out of relegation and look they nearly got a place in Europe. This is a lesson for all the teams, relegation is real and I hope Newcastle does not take the Leeds route but be back in the premier league soon.
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