The traditional end of season review conducted by the fanzine The Mag is due to be sent in, so I thought I would share my thoughts on-line with everyone and e-mail them this link instead.

1. Player of the year
Jose Enrique was the most consistency performer this season but Kevin Nolan’s goals, especially some vital away goals, and his positive influence on the dressing room means Nolan just wins it for me.

2. Most improved player of the year
Andy Carroll.
Carroll is starting to mature into a powerful striker whose aerial presence and goals are a huge asset. A traditional striker in the old sense of the word, but he has a good touch and decent pace to go with it. The step up to being a first choice Premiership striker will be a big challenge however, his goal scoring form this season will mean he’ll head into next season full of confidence.

3. Young player of the year
Andy Carroll

4. Goal of the season

5. Highlight of season
Lifting the Championship trophy.

6. Low point of season
Losing 6-1 to Leyton Orient in pre-season.

7. Best pre-match pub
I’ve had various pre-match pubs over the years but the one that stands out the most for me is the Trent House.

8. Funniest incident/comment this season
Having the fourth highest average home attendance in the country (behind Man U, Arsenal, and Man City), despite not playing in the top flight.

9. Board’s performance (out of ten)
4.
The releasing of funds in January to freshen up the squad was as pleasing as it was surprising. However, this positive action was far outweighed by their ill informed and crazy club statement about the selling the naming right to St James’ Park, and their end of season party pooping club statement about having no money to buy players and not commenting on anything ever again.

10. Like in The Mag?
Tyne Talk, All Our Yesterdays, Sweet left Foot, Pearson’s World, past player interviews.

11. Dislike in The Mag?
Not much really, keep up the good work.

12. How can we improve it?
Increase the letters section so we can read even more people’s views in one issue.

13. How do you feel compared to last season, (A) less happy (B) happier (C) the same?
(B) Happier. Purely because we are back in the Premier League and the team spirit has been re-born, which has brought some pride back to supporting the club.

14. What made you smile this season?
Jose Enrique scoring his first goal for the club.

15. What made you angry this season?
The club statement about selling the naming right of St James’ Park.

16. Which six players would you keep as a base for next season’s team if you had to clear the rest out?
Jose Enrique, Mike Williamson, Steven Taylor, Kevin Nolan, Wayne Routledge, Andy Carroll.

17. Who should we buy in the summer?
Kris Boyd, Micah Richards, Aiden McGeady, Charlie Adam (if promoted Tom Cleverley or maybe Jack Wilkshire on-loan).

18. Unsung hero at the club?
The fans for sticking by the club when everyone, the media and people outside the North East, thought we wouldn’t.

19. Did you regularly do to matches last season (2008/09)?
No, as I was living in Australia.

20. Have you regularly gone to matches this season (2009/10)?
Sadly not as I’m currently living in Australia.

21. Do you intend to go regularly next season?
See answer for question 20.

22. Does the relative success of this mean, (A) Mike Ashley is totally rehabilitated, (B) It’s the first step on that possibly happening, (C) You don’t think believe that can ever happen?
Despite all the success on the field this season the board have constantly made mistakes off it, so I’d have to say somewhere in-between (B) and (C) because if the clubs keeps moving forward and is a success in the Premier League with the help of the board then Mike Ashley will eventually win people over, but if he keeps making basic mistakes and taking the clubs fans for granted then it has to be (C).
The sad thing is we need Mike Ashley at the minute because nobody else is in a position to buy the club at this moment.

23. Do you think Mike Ashley wishes to stay at Newcastle? Yes/No
Yes until he can sell the club for a profit.

24. Should Chris Hughton be the manager next season? Yes/No
Yes he has earned the right to do so.

25. Do you believe a realistic transfer kitty will be available this summer? Yes/No
Before their latest club statement, yes I did hope so, now it would appear not, but who knows with these clowns.

26. What would represent success for Newcastle next season? (A) Top six, (B) Top half, (C) Lower mid-table, (D) Staying up
(D) first and foremost but preferably (C).

27. The Andy Carroll/Steven Taylor situation, would you like (A) Both players to stay, (B) Both to go, (C) Only Carroll to stay, (D), Only Taylor to stay?
(A) without a doubt.

28. Do you think it would be to the benefit of both club and fans if the fans owned a state in the club? Yes/No
Yes 100% if done correctly. In this modern era of football I think fans involvement at board level of football clubs is becoming more common and hopefully will be the model for the future.

29. Do you think it’s vital that the club has a long-term plan with the aim to competing at the top of the league again? Yes/No
Yes long-term the club does need both a financial and youth team plan.
We can’t go around signing ‘Hollywood signings’ anymore we need to invest sensibly and correctly in key first-team areas at key times (this is a very key time by the way!). As for the youth team if we can produce more of our own players that are up to Premier League standard that can only benefit the club.

30. How many first team signings do you see as a minimum for Newcastle this summer?
4.

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Andrew McTernan – Row ‘S’ Army