As the final whistles blew at the KC Stadium, the Stadium of Light, Villa Park and the Boleyn Ground we knew that Newcastle and Middlesbrough would be joining West Brom and the other 21 Championship sides in England's second tier of football. It's difficult to really know what to write about relegation, it is a horrible sight to see and yet some fans, such as Hull's and especially Sunderland's, could be no happier about the situation. Even Sir Alex broke out a smile as he shook Phil Brown's hand, no doubt thinking about when Alan Shearer turned him down twice all those years ago.
But as Newcastle and Boro fans try and get over that horrible feeling in the pit of their stomach, telling them there is no longer trips to Old Trafford and instead trips to Bloomfield Road await, the management and chairmen of these teams must prepare for life in the fizzy pop leagues.
First for Newcastle is deciding who their manager is. The choice may not be theirs to make. Shearer is yet decided on his future and yet a nagging voice in my head makes me think that relegation only makes him more likely to stay, we all thought 'the Messiah' was in a win-win situation but he'll no doubt feel some guilt towards his teams relegation. But the 'ex' TV pundit will only stay on if he gets what Kevin Keegan couldn't get, full control! Once the manager is decided then the players must decide if they'll stay or go. Damien Duff is already ready to stay and help Newcastle's promotion chase, possibly to repay them for the own goal. But whilst no club is too good for relegation Newcastle have some players who are. Bassong linked with Arsenal is certainly one, Steven Taylor, an England prospect, another. But the player with the most question marks circling his head is former England saviour Michael Owen. Owen is the club's top earner on £110,000 a week and yet he can barely put together two matches in a row, he is a former goal scoring machine and yet was too limp to grab any goal that would save Newcastle, the Owen of old is far too good for the Championship but the defunct £110,000 a week Owen we have now is barely worth the Sunday leagues.
Boro will no doubt stick by Gareth Southgate. Steve Gibson, the Middelsbrough Chairman, is different to most of his quick firing counterparts and will stand by his former captain. Stewart Downing's injury on the penultimate match of the season may be a blessing in disguise, his addition to Boro's team on the last day of the season would have made no difference to the awful performance by Boro. But his up to 6 months out may now mean possibly suitors, such as Spurs could be put off buying a player who will be untried until November, and if Boro could be battling for promotion by January they may even be able to keep him till season end. One player most certainly on his way out is the brilliant Tuncay, linked with Chelsea in January as a cheapish option, the Turk has been far above his team-mates all season. With Tuncay gone Southgate must go about finding a man to score goals, his team scored an awful 28 goals all season, to put it in context, West Brom scored 26 at home.
Both teams must be ready for a battle no matter what. The Championship is not easy to get out of, Cardiff, Sheffield United, Preston, Swansea and Reading will want to build on nearly but not quite seasons, newly promoted Leicester and Peterborough will want 2 or 3 promotions in a row respectively whilst teams like QPR, Watford, Ipswich and Crystal Palace will look to restore former glories of Premeirship days. And these teams have the advantage of knowing the league and the teams they will face, Newcastle and Middelsborough will not. It is also West Brom's advantage over their rivals, experts at promotion Tony Mowbray's side will be looking for automatic promotion and then will need to prepare for the Premiership better next time.
In the world of Sunday league football preparation is arguably less important. But for a team who are yet to work out their best 11 it is essential. Pre season will start as soon as possible and the management will sit down and discuss new signings and frendlies. But most of all as a team who threw away leads late in games over and over again last season, fitness and concentration will be high on the list. Maybe if Southgate could go back to last years pre season he'd have focused on this more- Saturday 23rd August was Boro's second match of the season leading Liverpool 1-0 away with 4 minutes remaining they lost 2-1, how different a season Liverpool and Middelsborough could of had.
Ok ok, I know, it's the end of the season so you want to know my Premier league team of the year and what not. Well the Premiership team who have impressed me most this season have more preparing to do than any other, Burnley! Well done to them and all play-off winners this weekend!
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