For our German Reader,

If you spend your time browsing the web in search of information on our beloved Toon you will see many comments ranging from sack the manager to sack to board via sack the stadium announcer. Lets just reflect on where we are and how we got here.

Before Roeder took over we were heading one way quick, we couldn't trap a ball, pass a ball, stop a ball and the player looked like they had never met each other before pulling on the shirt. Glenn came in and got us playing football, gave the kids a chance and moved us up the table. In a way we would have been better finishing anywhere other than 7th as this brings unfortunate comparisons with Glenns previous forays into the hot seat and with it extra pressure.

What happened in the summer? who knows, did Glenn not fancy Johnson, Bent, Teves, Kuyt.... did he think in Carr we have a top premiership fullback, did he believe the Cole to Chelsea deal would complete in time from Bridge to come to Toon, did he believe Bramble had put his problems behind him and offered a better option than Campbell or Woodgate? or did Freddie not deliver?

All we know for certain is we got what we got, 3 strikers, only one of whom cost anything and a right winger (Milner) who had been on his way.

So what has gone wrong, excluding Old Trafford which can never be explained, we've forgotten the lessons we learned last year. You play and win as a team.

Sitting in the stands there are a couple a glaring certainties.

• A fully fit Shola is not good enough for the Toon, an injured one is not fit for anyone.
• Steven Carr is a sorry excuse for an experienced full back, he's overweight, lack mobility, getting caught out positionally and not helping his colleagues.
• Martins will never be a player until he is given some support, lets see him alongside Sibierski who should provide some knockdowns and handle some of the physical abuse for him.
• Oli Bernard, I know he's here, I've read it in the paper. Why hasn't he had a look in? Peter Ramage to his immense credit was slaughtered a couple of weeks ago for not getting forward and always cutting back onto his right, against Bolton he must have put in half a dozen crosses with his left, not the best but he has shown he is prepared to work on his game. He will never be a left back and must be banging on Glenns door asking why he hasn't had his promised shot at centre back when he sees Titus falling asleep every week.
  Titus, you could be anything you dreamed of, you're strong, fast, good in the air, good on the deck. Just don't dream during the game. I'm sorry you've had one to many chances, Taylor and Ramage deserve their opportunities.

Okay so I've slaughtered half the team, is it really that bad?

No. I thoroughly enjoyed the Everton game even though we lost and for a hour on Sunday we played well against a team aiming for 3rd in the league. For all we fell asleep and had to watch amateur dramatics Diof and Emre style the game was infinitely more enjoyable than those under the Souness and Daglish eras.

Okay questions need to be asked about the lack of Luque, the refusal to take off Shola, only using 2 subs when you are chasing the game (what has happened to removing a full back and having a go?) but we have to accept this squad will be luck to qualify for Europe.

Am I happy about this? No.

Do I think it's acceptable? No.

But it is what it is and lets build on what is still a young squad, lets find a hungry right back and striker who wants to play in front of 50,000 and see where it takes us!AG