Altamullan

congratulations mate and thank you for all the effort putting this together. Chuffed for you. And well done BeloEmre, cracking season.

Well he'll be off now. 11 goals from midfield in a poorly performing team (understatement of the season award nomination anyone?) is what the records (the CV his agent is touting) will say. I was so pleased and optimistic to see him sign for us. Felt like a huge statement of intent. And I have enjoyed seeing him in a Newcastle shirt (even current shamefully sponsored one). Just wish he'd filled that shirt more often. What talent. What a disappointment. If he had the integrity I thought he brought, he'd stay and make good.

Tuesday night is irrelevant, Monserrat Caballe has finished her song, we have a winner. He showed remarkable consistency, scoring 20 or more for an impressive 19 of the 38 weeks; has an average weekly score of 19.62 (remaining players average 17.3) and a total score of 726 (plus Man UXB vs B-mouth...), the uncomplicated, supremely competent, and now worthy Champion 2015-16 is .... (Do you want to say? Or shall I?)

Thought I'd look back at January predictions. We took 1 point more than I expected at home, and 6 points less away. So 5 points less than the 21 points (from 45 then available) which I thought would keep us safe. 42 points would have indeed been enough, obviously, especially as we would have had three from Bournemouth and an additional two from Sunderland.

I remember, after a generally disappointing pre-season, being certain that this lad would break through and have a great season... not quite correct (as ever) but good to see him come on, play well, and score today.

What a fantastic day; only at Newcastle United, my (non-NUFC supporting) son's first trip to SJP was wonderful Seeing him lost in the moment, joining in with songs ("Dad can you have two favourite teams?"). Last game in PL, such a season of disappointment. Yet such positivity, joy, and sense of togetherness in the ground. Such a f***ing relief from the pervasive negative s**** which characterises my usual experience of all things NUFC. Ignoring the plane (pathetic) accepting where we're at (without shame: 2-0 to the Championship/can we play you every week) players full-on effort. Pint in the sun by the Tyne. I felt proud to be a Geordie, not just the words. Felt it. Rafa if you really want love not money, keep on keeping on. Things could be special again, the smear of shameful s*** scrubbed off the shining core of the club (even if the chief s*** spreader remains in the background).

Heard his full interview on the radio. He made some persuasive points, around the sense of personal and collective responsibility in a core of the squad he was previously relegated with. How it was this coupled with the determination to 'make good' which got them back. How he didn't see enough of this in current squad, how they wouldn't bounce straight back without it. He they needed to get shot of everyone who isn't up for the fight. He also sees Charnley as a good guy, with his heart in the right place. Doesn't have a problem with Ashley. Describes Llambias as the devil incarnate. Is another pro/ITK who rates Jack Colback. I agree about needing men who are up for a fight and think Barton had (too much of) this, I wouldn't want him back.

Guillem Balague, on TalkSport today, reckoned Rafa was actively considering staying and that personally he thought he would (don't know how he knew/what gave him confidence).

Well that clarifies things! You're the real Ronaldo!! (teeth not hair)

The smidgen of demoralisation (for that read abject depression…) from t’other league paled into insignificance given the frantic excitement of Magpie’s League —was like a pair of terriers hanging off the back of a bitch in heat (...touch of poetic licence). And ‘Magpie’s league’ seems apt, until Sunday evening at least, as he took the lead again from BeloEmre. What a great tussle at the top though! Thank goodness Froggy went easy on you chaps, don’t think my heart could have taken a three-way battle for predictive supremacy, ye knaa…being a good guesser like. Special mention to jdckelly, for putting in a cracking week, more than doubling his average score with a whopping 37 points. The highest score of the season: featuring three correct scores and four three-pointers (one of which was doubled-up). The highest scoring game was Liverpool 2 Watford 0, with 12 correct score predictions; 4 of which were nominated. The only other 10-pointer went to Froggy for the Man Utd 1-0 victory at Norwich. Couldn’t really do the Lawro/Guest thing as they didn’t predict all the games. I’ll work out some fair way of adjusting what they did, but at present he has 668 points, so would be 8th in the league. I’ll do some sort of end of season review, before I crawl back under a stone. Assuming that is I make it home on Sunday, i.e. manage to resist the urge to jump in the Tyne/don’t get arrested for chinning a donkey (thinking of a few current squad members, not a Police horse). It’s been emotional folks! Here’s to a good final week.

Arsenal 2-0 Aston Villa Chelsea 2-2 Leicester Everton 2-0 Norwich Man Utd 2-0 Bournemouth Newcastle 3-2 Spurs (despedirse de alguien) Southampton 3-1 Crystal Palace Stoke 1-1 West Ham Swansea 2-3 Man City Watford 2-2 Sunderland West Brom 1-1 Liverpool

After all I make exceedingly good cakes. Yep "French Fancies, Battenberg" or this http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/46473 What's that referee got to do with it? Mark Clattenburg, makes exceedingly good mistakes...

After all I make exceedingly good cakes. Yep "French Fancies, Battenberg" or this http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/46473

Because my beautiful boy said he wanted to come and support my team; as they needed help. He deserves a better experience than it is likely to be. Some line form from Kipling is probably appropriate but too soon (for me) to conjure up anything balanced. Just want to break something/somebody.

They don't need to lose both, though would be most grateful if they lost tonight, yes please and thank you very much. Happy for them to notch a draw at Wafford, as long as we repeat our score line from WHL. Everton are a bit of a bogey team for Sunderland apparently, and are responsible for their biggest defeat this season (6-2). Also, Martinez is Spanish and more importantly desperate for a performance (well, I seem to recall he's Catalan, but we'll gloss over that, but he is desperate). Also, as we all know, it matters not a jot what a few forum fuckwitts say about what they want the team to do, which is often at odds with 'non-virtual' supporters and irrelevant to the team.

I'm watching at a Sunderland-supporting friend's house. Need to find consult etiquette book of how to behave if they concede and/or lose. A. Punching air, sliding across living room floor screamimg anti Makem obscenities is probably not good form; B. Bare-faced 'hard to bear mate...' kind of lies, doesn't seem right. Decisions, decisions...fucking hope I'm faced with the dilemma. That said, I did once wildly celebrate Liam O'Brien's goal whilst in the wrong end at Joker Park, so what I tell myself before and what I do won't necessarily match-up.

This will be my son's first visit to SJP; first time actively supporting Newcastle... (he's a Man City fan). Hoping Everton win tonight so there is at least a bit of tension/angst to be savoured (ahem...). On balance, that would make it a reasonable taster what it is to be a Newcastle fan. Welcome to the Geordie bit of your heritage my son. Enjoy! If we stay up he might even switch allegiances... Howay the Toffees/Lads/Watford bods!

So pleased for you...

Disturbing image of Peter Pan trying to entice Wendy round the back of a take away....

More like Never Everland...

Taking my (Man City supporting) son to Newcastle, and SJP for first time, for Spurs game (seemed like a good idea at the time...). Trying to talk myself into the possibility that there will be some point in going, even if only a sliver of hope. Think deep down I'm hoping he will find some emotional connection/ reason to support us...FUCK...time to ring Social Services!!

Everton have won at Southampton, WBA, Stoke, SJP (I know...). Drawn at Spurs, Chelsea, Man City, Swansea, Bournemouth, Palace, Norwich, West Ham. And put 6 past the Makems at Goodison. They still have a chance of a top ten finish, and Martinez desperately needs a performance. I think they'll beat Sunderland, or at least draw, which would set-up a two-pairs of undies kind of final day!

It's all a bit exciting at the top of the table! Both BeloEmre and Magpie had the same score in the same game as their nomination (strategic tic tacs malarkey, or chance??), both of them (and loads of us) got bitten by the Swans' shock win. However, Magpie has chalked up three other correct scores thus far. Well played, great form under pressure (...are you a Makem??). Get out the Chariots of Fire music, this race is going to the wire.

Or they might just prove to be premier flops unable to perform against top level defences. We can speculate all we like that Mitro might go on to be a top player or that him and Armstrong might tear up the championship, but it's based on nothing but wishful thinking. I don't know what Mitro did for Anderlecht, but in the premier he has shown no ruthless touch in front of goal. Not a single one that he's scored has shown the opportunism of someone who can get one on one with the keeper and score more times than not. Yep, they might. However, I don't think either of them have peaked yet/become as good as they will ever be. How many strikers/players do before their mid-late twenties? Not many I'm guessing. So not wishful thinking so much as probability of improvement and being willing to imagine them finding a connection. Biased by the fact I like them both. There should be more time, and less challenge, against lower league teams so they should do better. Should it come to pass, that they ever play together in that league. Don't think Mitro is a 20 goal a season striker, but he's a competent target man. Would have been fascinating to see a Defoe type sniffing around him for knock downs-- if we'd ever dare to play two up front!