No matter how hard Sky Sports and the press tried to dress it up, there were a clutch of sides this season who just weren't good enough. I wish I'd had an accumulator this morning on all four of them getting beaten, but I didn't.

I'm sure during the summer we'll muse on the way the Premier League continues to polarise, but in seasons past with 33 or 34 points on the final day, you'd have been history for a while.

Villa turned up and sort of did their job today. In fact, they were very Villa: played a bit of nice stuff, with a few of the payers working really hard and another few showing some real pace and some real muscle here and there. I suppose it almost looked like top six stuff at times, barring some embarrassing finishing and the odd defensive faux-pas.

I actually think Villa were caught unawares: it seems to me that O'Neill got the boys really up for this game, what with 5th to play for and more points than last season and all that. And even more, with an army of Toon fans coming to B6 to shout on a team who were going to fight for every scrap. But the opponents never really turned up: I mean, we should have been on the back foot all game, being battered by a side desperate to stay up and fighting for Geordie pride.

Well we weren't.

And this is why I feel upset for the average Newcastle fan: he gave his all today in sweat, nerves and tears - but his players consistently lost 50-50 balls, balls in the air and even dead certs in their own half to Villa. No fan deserves that sort of performance. They especially don't deserve it on the last day when their players should be giving it their all.

I have mixed feelings. I'm a Villa fan, so I'm pleased we won. But I know that the Magpies fans care about their football, and I don't think they deserve to be subjected to the god-awful circus that Mike Ashley has put them through. They need to be in the Premier League and it's my belief that the EPL needs Newcastle as well.

You know what, I can't be bothered to do a piece on the game. Curtis Davies, Nicky Shorey, Stiliyan Petrov and James Milner were good - the rest were on cruise control.

But my man-of-the-match, for what it's worth, is Nicky Shorey who was excellent. Composed, confident, positionally excellent and skillful all day. Top marks.

Comments (33)

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Zidave said:

... I feel sorry for them too, especially for my friend who is a Newcastle fan. Their players have done nothing for them this season. And we should have won this 2 or 3 to 0. Kind of sums ourselves up in the second half of the season, bar the rare clean sheet!

Comment 1, made on May 24, 2009 at 9.28 pm

peter haworth said:

... The performance from the Newcastle players was disgraceful their fans deserved so much more.Their players did not seem to care,if they had drawn the game they would have stayed up,they should hang their heads in shame.

Comment 2, made on May 24, 2009 at 9.35 pm

JINKY JIM said:

... Doc, As a MAG of 50years+ I've experienced some terrible seasons,but this has eclipsed the lot.Whilst Mike Ashley's tenure has accelerated our decline,Freddie Shepherd and some of the woeful decisions he made hasn't helped either.Trying to take a positive spin on this today,if I can.....Villa should have had a couple more. I hope Villa have done us a favour and we can start afresh.Ashley must get his act together and decide if he wants to keep the club and also if he will give Shearer carte blanche to rebuild NUFC.It could take a while!!.Having strong Glasgow Celtic connections in my family I know what a top man Martin O'Neil is and I'm sure you will be banging on the door of the top 4 next season and personally speaking it would be good for the game if Villa or Everton were to break that domination.I will try and enjoy the Coke,but my preference would be Broon Ale everytime. Cheers, Jinky Jim.

Comment 3, made on May 24, 2009 at 9.53 pm

daniel wheeler said:

... i dont feel sorry for them. in fact, i think its great they went down. they are run on a whim. no direction from the top down. lets face it, they deserved to go down

Comment 4, made on May 24, 2009 at 10.07 pm

Doc said:

... av dan 78 why don't you read my piece again and then think for a second or two before posting a reply? eit might help the standard of debat

Comment 5, made on May 24, 2009 at 10.56 pm

Doc said:

... it might even help the standard of debate

Comment 6, made on May 24, 2009 at 10.56 pm

Martin Clabon said:

... Doc, exactly what I was thinking. While I am relieved to have won a game and kept a rare clean sheet - eclipsing last years points total - especially as my wife is a Sunderland fan, I couldn't believe Newcastle. They hardly seemed to care and there was no kitchen sink except for a 1 minute spell early on where they were in our box for a spell. We should have got 4 or 5, Couldn't elieve Carew missing fom 4 yards right in front Newcastle fans deserved a bit of passion and blood and guts if nothing else, they did not get it. That Shearer had to enforce discipline recently becuse players earning on average around £40k a week couldn't get in to training at 10 just shows there was something very wrong Perhaps they do need to go down and purge the crap before coming back. The premiership will miss the fans and the club but not this current team who ought to be ashamed of themselves. I hope we don't sign any of them because the stench of defeat and surrender is heavy on them all

Comment 7, made on May 24, 2009 at 11.00 pm

James said:

... It's like a car crash. You know you shouldn't be interested but the sight of fat topless Geordie blokes crying is quite gripping.

Comment 8, made on May 24, 2009 at 11.04 pm

Martin Clabon said:

... nan, I can't take any pleasure out of it, if Villa were relegated I'd be gutted. It's such a strange thing because I am rational about nearly everything else but I'd be the one crying like a baby if we went down and hating myself for not being able to stop it so I feel for them. Newcastle more than the others because Baggies are a yoyo club and Boro are not a big club in my opinion. Newcastle are like us - a real shock them going down and hence it hurts the fans more and creates more empathy (for me at least) Still, they'll be back no doubt

Comment 9, made on May 24, 2009 at 11.21 pm

Jeremiah Wood said:

... Yeah, I feel kind of sorry for the Newcastle fans, though at the beginning of the day I was kind of hoping they'd go down. They were terrible, disinterested, and if Carew hadn't fluffed two easy chances, we would've scored three against them. They should be back in 2010, or at least if Ashley doesn't screw the team up even worse.

Comment 10, made on May 24, 2009 at 11.42 pm

robbo. said:

... I do feel sorry for the Newcastle fans, their passion and dedication to their team really do deserve more. Today, their team did not deserve more. You could anticipate that they may lack skill in some areas, but the apparent lack of passion was really surprising. There were times when it looked as if some Villa players had left early for their holidays too so maybe we should be encouraged that despite that we still had far too much for a Newcastle team with so much riding on the result.

Comment 11, made on May 24, 2009 at 11.44 pm

Joseph said:

... It didnt look if the Newcastle players cared at all and why would they? Alot of the players they have brought do not care about the club and just went there for the money. Most of them will get picked up by other clubs and wont really give a damn what happens to Newcastle, it could be a hard few years for the club as I expect alot of their first XI to move on in the summer. I was shocked on MOTD when it said 10 (if i remember correctly) of their team were on 50K or above, that is just crazy considering most of them are not that great and you'd think for that money they would at least put up a fight. Hopefully they can now have a clearout as others have said, find some players who actually want to play for the club and cut their wage bill. It has get worse before it gets better. I have a bad feeling that if they have as many players leaving as I expect they may not bounce back straight away.

Comment 12, made on May 24, 2009 at 11.53 pm

Doc said:

... In fact the news was that 15 of their players were on more than £50k per week.

Comment 13, made on May 24, 2009 at 11.56 pm

Abdul Kashif said:

... My tip for next Newcastle manager.. Gordon Strachan. Makes sense and the timing is just right for it to happen.

Comment 14, made on May 25, 2009 at 12.02 am

Joseph said:

... And how many of those 15 will be willing to take a pay cut and stay at the club to get them out of the mess that they added to? I doubt anymore than 5 will be.

Comment 15, made on May 25, 2009 at 12.07 am

Marcus Smith said:

... This club self-imploded. How many managers in 3 seasons? About 15? Maybe 1/2 more or less. It is their owne fault, no consistency, and no passion. Though, for the fans and shearer, I feel.

Comment 16, made on May 25, 2009 at 12.24 am

Forest Hill Villan said:

... I understand the positive and sympathetic sentiments given by Villa fans about Magpie supporters fully. However I have to express my disappointment at the lack of respect shown to our captain, Martin Laursen, as he gave his farewell speech a few minutes before the start of the game. I am relieved that this dispaly of rudeness and ignorance did not poison the atmosphere of the last game of the season. For Villa, my view is it has a good season. Congratulations to the whole management team and to the players. I look forward to the new season. With all best wishes to Martin Laursen, a man, who as sportsman and leader, is an example to us all. Forest Hill Villan.

Comment 17, made on May 25, 2009 at 12.44 am

Doc said:

... I'll tell you guys what really does my head in. I will be paid nothing this week, or next. I've worked hard to get myself something in June and July, which will feed the kids and maybe pay for a week on the coast in July or August. What the f*ck is Obafemi Martins getting paid?

Comment 18, made on May 25, 2009 at 12.48 am

colm tarpey said:

... Following on from Forest Hill Villain's post...what were the the efforts made by the club for Martin Laursen's farewell?

Comment 19, made on May 25, 2009 at 3.07 am

Nick said:

... It's like a car crash. You know you shouldn't be interested but the sight of fat topless Geordie blokes crying is quite gripping. hahaha, couldnt agree more nan

Comment 20, made on May 25, 2009 at 3.08 am

John Clark said:

... I do feel for the Newcastle supporters. They deserved much, much more. If Villa had been more interested, it could've been 5-0, never mind 2 or 3-0. And if you're a club like Newcastle, fighting for your lives, having that said about you is an indictment of every player in black and white. The supporters turned up, cheered them on, didn't lose heart...and were betrayed, really, in the end. I have no idea how that gets fixed, but Newcastle should be EPL perennials, and the future doesn't look like fixing things for them anytime soon. it's a shame, and if that's what money's done for football, that kind of lackluster performance in what was their cup final, then it's all gone wrong.

Comment 21, made on May 25, 2009 at 6.08 am

Nick said:

... The Newcastle support was amazing. Full credit to them, I dont think I would be clapping my team off and singing well into the 90th minute after and during a performance like that. Their players disgraced the entire club with that pathetic performance. The Newcastle support does deserve A LOT more. But their team deserved the relegation, they were pathetic losers, who couldnt give a shit all season and it really showed. I dont think I want any of their players on our team next season, despite their supposed talent, fame or past glories. Even if they are all free, I'll take a pass.

Comment 22, made on May 25, 2009 at 8.30 am

testie said:

... Chaps, Newcastle are down season is over on to the next, bye bye jordies not really your fault that your players don't care, unbelievable lack of passion from the players i would not want any of them moving to the villa. On to the Villa. I thought that Barry had his best game in ages yesterday, playing for a move maybe??? I know that many of the people on this site are not Barrys biggest fans and don't mind too much if he goes. But i can't see Villa replacing him easily, for me he stands out. I think a lot of fans lost their love for Barry last summer and are not too bothered if he leaves, but i am. No matter what anyone says he is one of our better players and we should want to keep him. I understand the need for another attacking CM but why do we have to loose one of our better players to get a new one, lets try to keep Barry and also add to the team/squad. The only players that we should be getting rid of are the ones that never play salifou, harewood etc. What do you fellas think will happen with Garry (Barry)? Thanks for the season guys for all your thoughts and ideas let the summer of big spending begin. UTV

Comment 23, made on May 25, 2009 at 9.02 am

James Sutton said:

... Sorry just dont get it, why is it such a shame that newcastle went down and not that west brom went down? Because they are a so called big club? This really is a load of crap, please tell me why they are a big club because I just cant see it and dont even bother to tell me they are the same size as villa, what was the last thing they won and how many trophies have they won? Ok if having a big ground is the only thing that makes you a big club then yes they are. I can honestly say I am glad they have been relegated as i'm fed up with the crap that they are a big club with great tradition blah blah blah, they are not a big club end off so goodbye geordies I wont miss you and hope that you end up with leeds and then we'll see how many of these wonderful supporters are still going to watch you.

Comment 24, made on May 25, 2009 at 9.16 am

Abdul Kashif said:

... Gareth Barry. In the nicest possible way, it's tome that he moved on, or rather the club should cash in on him. It's crunch time now and we need to look to the future. Don't get me wrong, Barry's been a great player over the years but with 1 year left on his contract, I think we could still get in the region of £10 million for him. We need a younger player, around 23/24ish, and this is where Defour would fit the bill perfectly. He's a playmaker and I think he could work well alongside Petrov. Villa, as usual, will be linked to hundreds of players this summer, but we'll see what happens. O'Neill knows he has to spend, but I'm not get too excited until I see a particular player sign on the dotted line. For what it's worth, these are the players I'd love to see at Villa. Micah Richards or Hangeland (maybe both?) Royston Drenthe (let's get him on an initial loan) Stephen Defour Freddy Adu (loan) Saviola (initial loan) Saviola and Adu are a bit of a gamble but I feel they can offer us something, and they'll be itching to play. It's all about competition for places and those two can offer something a bit different. But, like I said, not getting too carried away just yet!

Comment 25, made on May 25, 2009 at 9.22 am

Eoin Greene said:

... What do Ferguson, Wenger, Benitez, O'Neill, Moyes, Redknapp and i'm assuming Hiddink have in common that Shearer and Southgate do not - they have eanred their stripes before they got the big job. For the life of me I cannot understand clubs who appoint people who have absolutely NO experience in management. Management is completely different to playing. How many of the seven mentioned above were great players? How many great players go on to be great managers?

Comment 26, made on May 25, 2009 at 9.38 am

David Tyler said:

... I do feel a bit for their fans but echo the point above about drowning out Laursen... it added a little to us winning for me, a bit of a change from me wishing a few of them well before the game. The Newcastle fans were very good but were they as good as Albion against Liverpool last week? As soon as Liverpool scored the killer 2nd goal they started singing for Mowbray straight away. Loudly. Immediately. Newcastle didn't do that. Newcastle fans deserve better - I do agree. We all have two things in common: we love football and we don't like fans being taken for a ride. But the notion of 'mighty club fallen' is the down side of being from a one team city. Generally them and the likes of Leeds get the benefit of maximising their local base but what comes with that is a little insularity, even allowing for the proximity of Sunderland. I've lived and worked in Leeds in my time and it's odd being in an environment where all but outsiders support the same team. I think this breeds the feeling that their supporters are so great (I'm not saying they're not but there is a tendency to believe it slightly more than it's true). I think this just increases the shock and pain of relegation - and it will be felt heavily across the city now. The media just helps to propogate the myths and exacerbate the pain. "One-team city" clubs can punch above their weight but when they get knocked down they feel it much harder. But really it doesn't matter if the fans get things out of perspective occasionally... hey, many of us got ahead of ourselves on the 4th place chance this year - part of football. It still makes a difference when the area is depressed about football though and it will be terrible for Newcastle as an area. They deserve better than they got from their players yesterday and all season and the Premier League will be better for their return. Their expectations will be ludicrously high when they do return... unless a Newcastle City pops up, that's just the way it is. As it will be with Leeds. They're not such big clubs in the 'traditional' sense of looking at the trophy cabinet but they have something else, something major to bring to the party... if only because their community needs it.

Comment 27, made on May 25, 2009 at 10.22 am

JINKY JIM said:

... Doc, An excellent site!!. I've been impressed with most of the balanced comments and support the Villa fans have shown towards Newcastle's faithful. REF JAMMER. Perhaps you should have done some research regarding the TOON and then made some constructive comments.In terms of Trophies we are the 7th most successful team in English football,which is hard to believe,but it is a fact!!Villa are 4th (RESPECT).The last domestic trophy we won was 1955.Regardless of when it was achieved all history is relevant.Chelsea are perceived as a big club yet they haven't won as many trophies as Newcastle.Leeds are looked on as a big club yet they too languish behind the Toon.Newcastle have been in the top tier of English football for 79 seasons since their inception.They are 7th in that distinction ahead of Leeds and ahead of Chelsea.Again I think the Villa are 4th.Regarding support there are some good site where Stats are available.Just to give you a taste.Post War,Newcastle's average home gate is 35,428.Chelsea is 31,721,Man City is 31,913 and the Mackems 29,407.Bearing in mind the Leazes End was demolished in the late 70's and our capacity was down to 30,000 or thereabouts and the Malcom Dix/Lord Westwood fiasco when the fans boycotted the club to force Westwood out.Yes some of the gates at that period were rubbish!!.The record average attendance for the 2nd Division was set by the Toon in 47/48 season with 56,450 being their gate and we didn't even win the League.We haven't won a domestic trophy for 50years and yet we can still draw that kind of support must count for something.Yes,one club city,so is Leeds,but it doesn't come close!!.Your task Jammer is to tell me What Villa's Post War average home support is.This isn't a criticism of your comments,but perhaps you need to broaden your wider football knowledge. As a footnote to this,I did cheer on the Villa against Bayern Munich,when a certain Peter Withe scored the winner.I wonder which team he was signed from. HOWAY THE LADS!!.

Comment 28, made on May 25, 2009 at 12.41 pm

James Sutton said:

... Think I hit a nerve there did I jim? You are not a big club never have been, probably never will be now with the monopoly in the premier league now. Why do I have to tell you our post war average home support? What will that possibly tell you that you yourself hasn't already put in your post yourself? That we are a bigger club than you and that you are 7th. I also agree that leeds and chelsea are not big clubs. As for broadening my football knowledge just because I have an opinion that doesn't sit with you it means I know nothing about football? I'm just fed up with the media and geordie fans going on and on about how big you are, for instance one fan after you beat middlesbrough the other night telling everyone because you beat them 3-1 what a big club that made you!! Footnote whatever emglish team is playing in europe if they reach a final then I will always support them whoever they are, oh and as for us getting withe off, you yes that really does leave me with nowhere to go, you must be a massive club for that alone, enjoy the championship.

Comment 29, made on May 25, 2009 at 5.23 pm

JINKY JIM said:

... JAMMER I can assure you the majority of fans knew that the Fulham game would be the real test and not the Boro match.As for your opinion you're entitled to that,we all have different views on the game,sometimes we might agree,other times it's the opposite.That's football!!.The criteria being used to define a big club,thats what I question,because I would say it's more than about trophies,but maybe I would!!.The Championship will be difficult,remember when Villa descended into the 3rd Division.That was tough too,but you came back-and we'll be back!!. As for backing any English club in Europe,sorry but I subscribe to the ABU school of thought. HOWAY THE LADS!!.

Comment 30, made on May 25, 2009 at 8.02 pm

James Sutton said:

... Jim we all like to think that our club is a big club I agree with that and yes off course there are a number of different ways which fans will perceive themselves as a big club. Off course we all have clubs that we dont like and sorry but newcastle is just one of those clubs for me. Yes I just about remember villa dropping down to the 3rd division and its not nice, I also remember more clearly us dropping into the 2nd division just before this monster that is the premier league was formed, I just think now its a lot harder to come back up, if you dont do it at the first attempt I think you may struggle. All differences aside you are obviously passionate about your club along with countless others and for fans like yourself I wish you good luck, doesn't mean that i'll ever like your club though!! UTV

Comment 31, made on May 26, 2009 at 10.14 am

Bevlad said:

... Newcastle United did derve to go down, we were awfull, infact i would use other words but i would be using alot of *'s in them. Now for the matter at hand, most of the country seems to have this impression that NUFC fans believe we are a huge club and we deserve to win things, although this view is held by some fans it is by far and away a small minority. Most Newcastle fans are reasnable and dont expect people to believe we are the greatest thing since sliced bread, but there are facts about Newcastle United that even in my lifetime (17 years) would lead me to suggest they deserve a bit of credit , in my time Newcastle have gone past the 1st group stages in the Champions League, had a fair few wemberley/cardif visits (granted most of these led to defeat) We've finished high enough in the EPL 13 times to grant us European Football. Newcastle United are a big club in these sences. Fact. Prehaps people are jelous of our recent success and use that as an extra exuse to remind me of our more recent demise. I feel that for teams like Villa And Everton breaking into the top 4 for more then one season may not occur in the next 20 years, they simply dont have the finances and pulling power of the top 4 teams and spurs and man city, but despite this i wish you all the luck in the world, as a newcastle fan i have visited Villa Park numerous times and have nothing but the upmost respect for the club, from its chairman all the way down to the manager, players and fans, and would love you to host the greatest names of European football in Europes Premier compitition, however like everton i feel that even with wealthy owners and a decent sized support, you still cant contend with the top 4 and the new powers of man city and spurs seemingly limitless money.

Comment 32, made on June 01, 2009 at 8.23 pm

Nick Pannell said:

... I'm just about to leave for the game. UP THE VILLA! UP THE VILLA! UP THE VILLA!

Comment 33, made on August 15, 2009 at 11.37 am

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