By Michael Sinnerton

So there you have it. Next year Championship fans will have the chance to visit one of the best grounds in the country. Having lost Molineux and St Andrews away fans get the chance to visit St James' Park, along with the atmosphereless Riverside. The first of the two, in particular, may come as a surprise to fans of some Championship teams but most of us have been preparing, and in some cases looking forward to this day, for about, well about 8 games. It's not that I've got anything against Newcastle, I like Michael Owen, I rate Obafemi Martins, hell even Steve Harper deserves sympathy but I can't help but feel that the club deserves to go down. An institution that has been so badly mis-managed at all levels for years doesn't the extra money and attention that being in the media spotlight of the Premiership generates.

Wanting Newcastle to stay up is like wanting our bank managers to get their bonuses.

Of course you do feel sorry for the Newcastle fans, although perhaps we shouldn't feel any more sorry for them than for those of Middlesbrough or West Brom (who haven't really received any sympathy). The problem is that being such a 'big club' Newcastle really hadn't thought about relegation. Mike Ashely certainly hadn't when he bought the club. So Newcastle find themselves in the Championship with no relegation release deals or wage drops in place. Damien Duff has heartingly pledged to stay and pick up (something in the region of) 40k, alright for some.
The vultures will begin circling for Newcastle's star players like....based on the last few weeks noone (only Steve Harper is exempt from criticism).

There wil be departures though and they will be on the cheap, the club needs a complete reorganisation starting with the manager. The logic of appointing someone with no experience clearly didn't work as Newcastle picked up 5 points in 8 games (0.625/game). He had no visible impact on lifting the players and whilst they must take a large chunk of the responsibility for their downfall surely the point of a manager is to rouse the players. Shearer seems to ignite huge passion in the Magpies faithful but none in the Newcastle Players. Yes, he may have got people coming to training on time but really a bit of discipline is the least you'd expect from a manager.

As it is, with just minutes to go Burnley stand on the brink of the pot of gold that is promotion to the Premier League. Their achievments this season probably deserve a blog of their own whether or not they finish the day smiling or not. What annoys me most about Newcastle is that their club identiy is just, wow aren't our fans long suffering. At least 'Boro have a policy of promoting youth and that is where their challenge next season will lie, West Brom have a philosophy of losing beautifully.

Newcastle have nothing. Their challenge, like all good golfers, must start from scratch.
 

By Michael Sinnerton

As the season draw to an end Students of the Game takes a look at which players have had a good enough season at the bottom of the league to guarantee themselves a move onwards and upwards.

Chris Brunt - A strange season for West Brom, one in which at no point did they look like they would grace the Premier League next year but one in which they were never disgraced. One shining light was the performances of the Northern Ireland international.  Brunt has made 37 appearances and scored 8 goals and is particularly dangerous from set-pieces. With a wand of a left foot, Brunt has begun to take on more responsibility later in the season and has been linked with a move to Rangers, the team he supported as a boy. At 24 he is still young enough to progress and could also be a decent signing for Wigan, Bolton or Portsmouth.

Stewart Downing - Ok, so it was hard to pick a Middlesbrough player who has excelled this year but Downing is their best player and despite an average season is almost certain to stay in the Premiership without his home town club. Tottenham, annually, have been linked with the left-winger who would finally add some much needed balance to their midfield.

Sebastian Bassong - A centre back who managed to emerge with credit after a whole season with Newcastle...sign him up.

Bernard Mendy - I want to suggest George Boateng to any promoted team needing a midfield general, Boateng's absence corresponded with Hull's collapse this season, but the Dutchman really is getting on a bit. So three cap wonder Mendy gets the nod, if Hull go down. His relatively utility on the right hand side is basically down to the fact that he is ridiculously fast; this also makes him a decent offensive weapon.

Glen Johnson - Whether or not you're totally convinced about his as an England player, Johnson is one of the best right backs in the Premier League and with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all having has problems with his position over the last year Johnson could be set for a Champions League team. Alternatively the form of Arbeloa and Bosingwa could lead to a bid from Aston Villa or Everton, whose current right backs are Luke Young and Tony Hibbert.

With players like Peter Crouch and Paul Robinson also enjoying good seasons but unlikely to move, who do you think has excelled this season whilst their club has faltered?

By Michael Sinnerton 

Is Joey Barton the most ridiculous player in the country? A player who has more talent than half of his Premier League contemporaries but who seems to have less than half the brain of your average village idiot. Since baring his backside stupidly, although somewhat amusingly in 2006, Barton waited until May 2007 before next making the news with an attack on Ousmane Dabo, which led to the Frenchmen making a police complaint.

Six months later Barton beat up a teenager in Liverpool city centre and was sentenced to six months in prison, unfortunately serving only 74 days of his sentence. Three months after his release he was cleared after of any wrongdoing after scrapping with Gabby Agbonlahor. A subsequent injury has kept Barton out of the news for more than six months but scything down Xabi Alonso on Sunday seems to have led to a row with Alan Shearer and the subsequent suspension which looks likely to end his Newcastle career.

The confusing thing about Barton is that it takes a huge amount of effort and determination to become a professional footballer. Even the most naturally talented, Dimitar Berbatov for example, have to completely commit at an early age. Taking that as read it seems crazy that Barton is almost throwing his career away. Perhaps Sam Allardyce will take a gamble on Barton again but seeing how badly the move has backfired on Newcastle he's more likely to consider it once burnt, twice shy. With any luck the Championship will gain some exposure from Barton's antics next season.

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Of course, Barton's point about a perceived lack of tactics under Alan Shearer is not without cause. All reports have Barton starting the game brightly but Shearer's decision to replace Peter Lovenkrands with Jonas Gutierrez saw Barton shifted out to the right wing. He became peripheral and presumably pretty frustrated and so the challenge itself was stupid he may well feel that Shearer's tactical decisions played a large part.

Either way Shearer has been in charge a month at St James' and has picked up two points in five games, whilst the fixture list has been tough there has been no noticeable impact since his appointment which is unusual for any manager be it Guus Hiddink or Paul Hart. It almost goes without saying that Newcastle v Middlesbrough has almost become a relegation play-off with Championship football for both a real possibility.

by Joel Abraham

It's certainly looking grim in the North East. With Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough all sitting in the bottom four, it seems likely that two of them will go down. Leaving aside my personal joy regarding reduced away fixture travel, let's take a look at their run-ins to see who might survive.

Sunderland
Last 5: LLLDL (West Ham 2-0 Sunderland, Man City 1-0 Sunderland, Sunderland 1-2 Wigan, Sunderland 1-1 Spurs, Liverpool 2-0 Sunderland)
Next 7: Man Utd (H), Hull (H), West Brom (A), Everton (H), Bolton (A), Portsmouth (A), Chelsea (H)

Despite having a three point lead over Newcastle, Sunderland are on thin ice. Ricky Sbragia has failed to impress since taking over, and the Stadium of Light is seeming like less of a fortress with each passing week. Sunderland must beat Hull and West Brom if they are to survive, and will need at least one win from their games against Everton, Bolton and Portsmouth.

Newcastle
Last 5: LLDLL (Newcastle 0-2 Chelsea, Newcastle 1-3 Arsenal, Hull 1-1 Newcastle, Newcastle 1-2 Man Utd, Bolton 1-0 Newcastle)
Next 7: Stoke (A), Spurs (A), Portsmouth (H), Liverpool (A), Middlesbrough (H), Fulham (H), Villa (A)

An even more daunting fixture list. Newcastle will be lucky to take anything from their remaining away games, which leaves their home fixtures crucial. All eyes will be on the St James clash with Boro on May 9th. A win in either of the next two games could give them the boost they need to survive.

Middlesbrough
Last 5: LLDLL (Bolton 4-1 Middlesbrough, Stoke 1-0 Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough 1-1 Portsmouth, Everton 2-1 Middlesbrough, Spurs 4-0 Middlesbrough)
Next 7: Hull (H), Fulham (H), Arsenal (A), Man Utd (H), Newcastle (A), Villa (H), West Ham (A)

Boro perhaps have a slight advantage, with four games that are fractionally easier than Sunderland's. Failure to beat Hull next week will all but seal their fate. Southgate must improve on their miserable away form if they are to avoid the drop.

Conclusion: Very tough run-ins for all three sides, so the victor may be determined by the current points tally. Portsmouth and Hull will play a vital role, with both still scrapping for survival, and the attitude of Fulham and Villa will also determine who survives. Sunderland's current three point advantage will prove decisive, and I fancy them to beat the drop.

by Joel Abraham

Is there seriously anybody out there who think Alan Shearer's managerial debut will end in anything but tears?

Such is the way on Tyneside, the move is being hailed as the messianic return of a local hero to finally deliver Newcastle from endless mediocrity. We all love to point and laugh at the black and white circus in the North-East (the lady on MOTD who claimed Keegan's second departure had 'ruined her life' springs to mind) and I personally can't wait for this one to go down in the familiar blaze of spectacular failure.

Why is Shearer only taking the job now, instead of years ago when it was originally offered? The man has never managed before, but is now expected to save Newcastle just because he was a great player. Newcastle have a tough run-in, with a game against Chelsea, and trips to Liverpool, Stoke, Spurs and Villa left. Shearer is in serious jeopardy of being dragged down with the ship, sinking his managerial reputation before he's even had a chance to build it.

I also doubt whether Shearer will command instant respect in the dressing room, having spent the last few years plonked on the MOTD sofas, legs akimbo, talking utter shit. Is he the man to finally turn around Joey Barton's career? (Hint: No.)

I, for one, am excited. Newcastle going down and Shearer off the MOTD panel? Result!

By Michael Sinnerton

The advantage of blogging drunk is that you can suggest Steve McClaren is not actually that bad a a manager without having to search your soul for real reasons. McClaren didn't do a terrible job at Middlesbrough (albeit he didn't do a brilliant one) and he has been a relative success at FC Twente in Holland.

Whilst McClaren could be said to have benefited from the poor form of PSV and Ajax, if he can guide Twente to second in the league and a place in the Champions league even his harshest critics would have to concede that he is no Bryan Robson. Perhaps he is even due a return to Premiership football, however with Middlesborough the only top flight side really in need, Stevie Mac may have to wait a while for 'The Chain' to really kick in.

Talking of wonderful ex-footballers who failed spectacularly as managers, who else but Alan Shearer. Newcastle's squad, and indeed frontline (Viduka, Owen, Martins and Smith) should be enough to keep the Toon Army up but Shearer may see his legendary status implode should he fail to keep Newcastle up. Any form of success however will see the geordies hailing the messiah even before he completes his pro-licence. Expect survival, followed by acclaim and then a steep learning curve.

In other news look for Italy to beat Ireland (2/5) and England to triumph over the Ukraine (4/9) in a low scoring contest. Scotland will probably win too if you're tempted.