Rate our season.

toonsy

Pardew says 8.5 out of 10 for the season.
Alan Pardew had a bit of a moan at the press earlier when they asked him for a mark out of ten with regard to rating our season.

Pards seemed unhappy with the media rating of seven out of ten and insisted that this season should be marked at around eight-and-a-half out of ten when you take the injuries and turmoil that the team has had to endure at times throughout the season into account. Fair or not? This is what I want you to decide.

Now I’m not saying that Pardew is right or wrong as that rating is his opinion. What I am looking for however is YOUR rating for the season, plus an explanation of why.

To keep this short and sweet, I’d give this season a rating of eight out of ten. Why? Well here goes.

I think we’ve done remarkably well when you consider our aim was merely to survive this year. We looked nailed on for 9th for a large bulk of the game yesterday, but it wasn’t to be be and I don’t feel too disheartened by finishing in 12th place instead. Losing a three goal lead is always gutting, but overall it’s a mere blot on this season.

We’ve had key players out for the bulk of the campaign and had a change of manager halfway through the season which, fortunately, didn’t destabilise us too much. We then had the sale of Andy Carroll to deal with, which looked to have tipped us over the egde towards a relegation battle. Luckily it never worked out like that.

I think eight is a fair rating as it also recognises that we could have done better during the campaign. From failing to invest in the January transfer window to losing at home to weaker teams to letting leads slip in injury-time we could have done better in any number of ways. For instance if we’d not conceded in injury time to Tottenham, Sunderland or West Brom we would sitting in 9th place. It wasn’t just yesterday that cost us a top-half spot, it was various periods throughout the season that ultimately cost us. After all, the league table doesn’t lie.

So my rating for this season is eight out of ten. Whether you agree or disagree is irrelevant as what I’m looking for is YOUR view and on something like this there will always be differing opinions.

Come on then, give us your marks out of ten.

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

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114 thoughts on “Rate our season.”

  1. Good read toonsy, agree with the 8 out of 10.

    If we had Benny and Judas this season, bit better luck with injuries we could have finished about 8th in my opinion.

    Our squad players have done themselves proud when called upon, certain games we’ve been stripped to the very bare bones like Villa away just one example.

    This season players like Colo, Barton and Nolan have stepped up and peformed when it matters those have been the three main ones for me – I leave Tiote out simply because he has missed too many games.

    Our goal was to stay up, we’ve achived more than what we could have hoped for and I’m sure we all agree on that. Hughton, Pardew and the players all deserve massive credit for what we’ve done this season.

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  2. I would agree with an 8/10 rating. It’s easy to look at games like the one yesterday and think that we should be higher up the table, but you could just as easily look at games like last week’s and say we could be down a few spots further. Especially given the lack of threat in our front line in the second half of the season, I think we’ve done well.

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  3. I usually don’t look at things so black n white (pardon the pun), but in this case, I think there are only two scores, considering what our plight was for this season: did we stay up or did we go back down? We stayed up. 10. Nuff said.

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  4. I hate to be “down” on the team…but I’d go 7 out of 10 personally. Yes, survival was the key, but would 17th position give a 10 out of 10 rating? Probably not.
    I think the Home defeats is a big part of my disappointment…not that I expect them to win every game, but certainly not lose some of the ones they did.
    Also, I think Injury is a concern…now some obviously can’t be pinned on the team…Ben Arfa for one. But training ground injuries are another story, or playing players before they’re ready.
    Disciplinary concerns are another area. Look at having to bench one of the season’s stars to make sure we have him for the word go next season.
    I just feel there could have been better results on the pitch and better managing by the manager.
    The two pieces that really suck and I am not sure how to class…the change of manager and loss of our top striker.

    Maybe I am being harsh on the team, and if so…oh well. But overall I was happy and ecstatic that we did survive, but I really felt that the team should have done better overall.

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  6. A fair concession, Big Dave. 😉

    (Not directed at Big Dave specifically…more expansion)
    I guess my thoughts are this. People will say, look what we did against Arsenal…came back 0-4 to draw 4-4. Well, to that I give you West Brom yesterday.
    We trounce the Mackems 5-1 and draw 1-1…and their 1 was at the death. We beat Liverpool 3-1, but on the reverse go 0-3. Sure we drew Man Utd and Chelsea when it counted, but what the hell happened with Bolton 0-5…WTF!

    The lack of consistency sticks out to me and that’s why I went as low as I did.

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  7. Re whoever was talking about Marveux-liverpool were tapping him up from around last summer onwards I think, think it was more hodgson’s doing than kenny so we might still be in with a shout-he plays left back/wing-and if liverpool are buying enrique do they really need him? I swear liverpool have a huge squad anyway and they want to go on a massive spending spree…where the hell will they fit them all in to a 25man squad?

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  8. I’d probably go with an 8. I’d say that are loftiest, yet still attainable goal this season was getting into European competition. We obviously didn’t make that, but despite being six places away from that we still did fairly well. When u bring into account the early loss of HBA, selling Carroll, and barely seeing anything from Ireland on top of the other injuries and suspensions we’ve had to deal with.

    And when we did have senior players unavailable, we usually couldn’t even call upon our top youth players, i.e. Vuckic, Lualua, and Kadar, due to their own injuries! It was just a maddening season, really. Couple that with Hughton’s sacking and the way things didn’t drop at all, it really is amazing that we didnt drop more points.

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  9. NorCal at times I have been so proud of the team, but at other times I have been ashamed of them on the few occasions that they didn’t even bother to turn up. IMO There is always an excuse for getting beat but there is no excuse for not trying
    or putting a full shift in 😉

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  10. For me it’s as follows:

    7/10 on the basis that toonsy did that article on finishing above the mackems thus tempting fate & we finished below them… 😉

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  11. Back on topic… I’d probably go for 8 out of 10, certain things in the season have annoyed me but its the same old topics, sacking and sales etc. The memory of 6-0 villa, 5-1 sunderland has made this one of the best seasons in terms of stand out results,and I’ve enjoyed most of the matches way more than I have in recent years…still yesterday has left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth along with a couple of other results/performances this year such as stevenage, so I guess I’d even it out at 7 1/2 or 8.

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  12. 7 is a fair assessment imo. I am happy with our league position, but I do think we could have done better. Especially after seeing west brom finishing above us.

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  13. Yeah i think 7 out of 10 is a fair assesment , if we had finished top 10 you could say 8 out of 10, there was some massive stride forwards this season , and if we can keep the majority of sqaud togther add a few new faces we can push on next season. Lookin forward to an interesting summer

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  15. BREAKING NEWS: MP names injunction holder as Ryan Giggs

    In other news, scientists have confirmed that bears do indeed **** in the woods.

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  16. Personally I’d say we’re closer to a 7 than an 8, but there’s no shame in that.

    All in all its been a brilliant season – full of thrills and spills!

    The lads have definitely exceeded expectations, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. 😀

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  17. Imagine having Gervinho and Menez as first choice wingers with Ben Arfa playing behind Sturridge! Baring in mind both Menez and Gervinho can play as strikers when called upon. With subs/squad players like Nolan, Wijnaldum, Nzog, Wanyama and Besty to bring on/rotate. HA! If Roma asked to do a swap with Menez for Jonas and a couple mil, what would everyone think?

    ———Barton–Tiote——–
    Gervinho—————Menez
    ————Ben Arfa———–
    ————Sturridge———–

    Change/rotate to:

    ——–Barton-Wanyama—-
    Wijnaldum————Nzogbia
    ————–Nolan————-
    —————Best————-

    With youngsters like Vuckic, Kadar, Ferguson, Lua Lua and Ranger coming through/on loan. That team would be unbelievable, and certainly could be assembled for around 40mil.
    I know I’m dreaming and I know these fantasy teams are pointless, but it’s fun typing them out! 😀

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  21. Ice – I’ve heard some rumours on twitter but nothing confirmed as yet 😉 😆

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  23. What’s this “Injunction” story about? I know not what it means? Should I care?

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  25. NorCal

    Basically Ryan Giggs has been dipping his wick in an ex-Big Brother “star”, which everyone knew but no one was allowed to say.

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  27. DAVE good on yer,just seemed you where getting badly treated (again) on another site (the ****) and was spreading here,and i dont comment on there but do read it,well done you stood you ground 😉

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  29. Eight and a half out of ten. After the lack of activity in both transfer windows thought we would be in the dogfight. Congratulations to staff and players for an excellent finishing position.
    To sour my comments although the most competitive premier league ever the quality wasn’t as good.
    There are some teams hugely disappointed none more so than Arsenal the only team in a two horse race with ten games to go that could conjure up a fourth place finish.

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  31. Cheers, TC.

    Well, I guess if it’s true, the ever imposing and threatening FA will step up and strip him of all his awards, right?

    So what if he is? How does it affect football?

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  32. Any truth behind these two players Medhi Abeid and Victor Wanyama or is it just speculation

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  33. Ice your a good lad I try to stand my ground, but I can tell you its so hard not to resort to abuse, but that is one of the problems with the tinternet some people tend to abuse because they have a screen to hide behind 😉

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  35. There goes my fence in the front garden….oldest and biggest tree in the street has wiped out three cars too

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  36. DAVE your dead right mate all wind and water behind a screen,just be happy you cant see them face to face old lad you have wor dede to look after 😉

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  38. MORENO,snap my front fence just gone too,nee harm to anyone like except my pocket 😥

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  41. Moreno tell me about it there was a big oak tree out our back that came down lastnite but thankfully it fell the other way, and I can tell you its not the best feeling in the world being on the computer in our Loft as I can feel the floor moving every now and again 😕
    Ice I know I would get in trouble if that was the case 😀

    Stuart I honestly think it will be a decent summer 😀 apart from it being game free 👿

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  42. Joey been left out by Capello again. Does the guy not watch any of our games. knut.

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  44. It’s gonna be a cracking summer.

    I’m going to 2 test matches – one in Cardiff on Sunday and one in Leeds at the end of next month.

    Happy days!!! 😎

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  46. TLR kna mate he will go with barry again,maybe he likes these half paced m/fields,dont rate capello as a internatinal manager anyway,its hard for any player north of watford imo

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  47. Hugh @ 37 no I wouldn’t say everyone as there is some lads on here and other places that I have never seen a bad word from them and some would go out of their way to help.
    But generally the web does have a lot of keyboard hardmen

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  48. I’d go 8 out of 10. Would be happy with 17th at start of the season so finishing 12th and I’m a happy bunny. Plenty of room for improvement but well done lads for keeping us in premier league

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  50. Deb its funny at the start of the season I think about 90% would have been happy with 17th but as the season went on and a few good results 17th wasn’t really enough anymore 😆 .
    In someways it was better to finish 12th as it should be easier to surpass that next season than 9th would have been 😉

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  51. think kranjcar name will pop up from time to time,wonder if hes the guy pardew is hinting at,as he said he was a internatinol player which seems to rule zog oot

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  52. I’d say 7, good but not spectacular, set out what we aimed to achieve with some massive ups and downs in an entertaining season.

    After yesterday though my opinion of Pardew has dropped and he’s gonna have to convince me with a good summer of rebuilding if he doesn’t want to attract the ‘clueless’ title from C.H. It left a bitter taste in my mouth when he didn’t come out and except any responsiblity from yesterday and only blamed some of the players. I would have more respect for him if he came out and admitted he ballsed it up with the substitutions but I suppose no managers do that with their jobs so much on the line. Sunderland are clinging on to their 1 point top finish but I think deep down they must be worried because they have nose-dived towards the end of this season and they know we will be stronger next time.

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  53. Ice I think Kranjcar is a real good player, though I will feel alot happier when we get a good striker in the window or the door 😀

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  55. DJG so do you not think that at 3-0 was a time to bring on some of the younguns and maybe even the assistant Captain for what might have been his last game to sort of thank them for there part in the team during this season ?

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  56. I will be happy if we continue to build steadly and finish a little bit higher next season, and higher the season after. It has to be long term sustainable improvement and growth, eventually with a squad that not only has a top first 11 but also the depth to compete in cups. I would rather that than one good season and fall flat on our **** the next or something.

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  57. Big Dave

    No I don’t, he could have brought Smith on for the last 3 mins or something at the end if we were still winning comfortably, but for half an hour when we had just conceded. The money and the top half finish and the bragging rights are all too important IMO. I couldn’t care less about Smith. And anyway what makes you think it will be his last game? He’s sitting on a fat contract for another season isn’t he?

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  58. hope we are better at getting players in “before” players report back for training than past years have been,lets get them settled in quick

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  59. Krancjar is a cracking footballer but our squad is top heavy with midfielders. I think we all agree a goalscorer is a priority.

    Thought Best yesterday was outstanding in build up play but just doesn’t come alive in the box. Is there another Hernandez out there

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  60. I agree with Big Dave that it may be a blessing in disguise to finish 12th instead of 9th. I think it will be easier for management to stick to a slow and steady building plan this way, as opposed to making a panic buy next January just to improve on this year’s position.

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  61. ile give clueless a 7 and mr pardew a 8 and half as we didnt lose many at home under him against top or bottom teams 🙂

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  62. Big Dave I agree with you about it being easier to surpass but I would have much prefered to finish 9th yesterday and gone home happy and not had to listen to the stupid mackems on the legends. They beat a team that is already relegated and we beat 5-0. Wow those mackems must be estatic, you’d think they had wow the fa cup or something.

    The only positive I can see from finishing 12th is that it might make Ashley worry more about 2nd season syndrome than had we finished 9th.

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  63. TLR@59 i agree but dont you think there could be 2/3 m/f going out the door in the summer,i hope so

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  65. Yeah Dave it was great , the result did take the shine from it slightly tho! But a good trip , was very drunk by the end of it! Delayed her in newcastle airport at the moment , was due to fly out at 920 and flight been delayed til 1120 so pain in the hole really 🙁

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  66. I say a 7 for the season. Although Sunday was disappointing, 12th is probably about what we deserved. Punched above our weight more than once and struggled too many times in games we shouldn’t have.

    We did have a lot of injuries this year but I do not think the Prem was exceptionaly strong either.

    Still I’m greatly encouraged for next year IF we have a good summer

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  67. This transfer windows gets my goat. With all the major european leagues now all over why doesn’t it open now and close before the first league game. This playing four fixtures in August and your squad changing every day is stupidity of the highest level

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  68. I don’t think the prem will be as weak and as forgiving to teams like Wigan next year. We need to improve in the summer because at the very least we need to finish safe with a few to spare like we did this season. I think it’s been proven many times that when it comes to pressure and backs to the wall Newcastle are hopeless.

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  69. Toby,

    I suppose it would be harsh on the clubs in the champions league final though if it opened now??

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  70. DJG so is Pards to blame for Smith being sh1te I just think its the easy option to say it was Pards fault but thats your choice. as for smiths last game I did say ‘ what might have been his last game ‘

    Well Batts happy day at the bookies mate 😆

    Johno the evils of the devil drink 😉

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  75. See Custis on Sky Sports reckons he’s hesrd that Defoe could be on his way up here. Cannot see it myself, age and salary against us.

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