I’ve been a Newcastle United supporter since before the 1955 Cup Final win over Manchester City (3-1) which I vividly remember watching on my Aunt’s TV set (we didn’t have a TV until 1959). My mother and father were at the game – and that was the last time Newcastle won a home trophy. Jackie Milburn scored a header from a corner in the first minute - oh the memories.

I also watched the game in 1969 when the great Bobby Moncur led a brave Newcastle side to victory at St. James’ Park in the Fairs Cup, overcoming the Hungarian side Ujpest FC.

Who would have known that would be the last trophy Newcastle won?

After the capitulation last night to AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA cup, where the team tamely went down 2-0, in a game they should have been able to navigate rather easily, Newcastle have let not only themselves but their fans down once again.

It will be more than 38 years when Newcastle win their next trophy – as this season’s hopes of victory are again dead and buried.

The simple truth at Newcastle is the team is just not good enough – particularly in defense - and plans are needed to make this team into a top four team – forget about top six.

It is nothing less than the Newcastle fans deserve, who are some of the best in the world.

It’s rather easy to support Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea – they not only have great teams - but they win trophies quite regularly.

Where else in Europe do you see home crowds of 52000 (sell out) for a team that hasn’t won anything for so long?

For Newcastle fans, football is what the wonderful and witty Bill Shankly used to say “Football is not about life and death – it’s much more important than that�.

Don’t get me wrong - Glenn Roeder has done well this season with all the injuries he has had. He is a fine man and a good coach but given the position we were in last night before the game – we should have done much better against AZ Alkmaar.

Too many of our top players had poor games when the chips were down.

Nigel Pearson, his assistant, has also done wonders at Newcastle this season and I fully expect them to be at the helm these next few years….and they deserve to be.

BUT – Newcastle United Football Club have to decide if they are going to be perennial also-rans – or will they do deals in the transfer market in the summer – and have a good clear-out - so that the Newcastle fans finally get the team they deserve?

I don’t know the answer to that but on Monday I will have an article on this site and pinpoint some of the things the club can do over the summer to get us into a much better position for the start of next season.

It is a great opportunity to improve the side – good players are available - and with the great Michael Owen back – we can have a really good side next season.

But it will take me until then to recover from this result!

Keep watching on this site early next week – all is not lost.