He said today that avoiding relegation was a priority this season ... but what about next term?
Have we REALLY moved on so much we can forget about relegation next term?
We finished 7 points away from relegation ... and 34 from title winners Manchester United!
Steven Taylor: “It’s a strange time to be finishing the season because I feel as though I’ve just really got my fitness back.
"I haven’t played anything like as many games as I would have liked, but the manager has been fantastic with me and, when I got my chance in the last three matches, I’d like to think I took it.
“Who knows who might arrive in the summer, but having ended the season in the team, I’d like to think that shirt is mine at the moment.
“I wanted to end on a high, and that’s what I did. Hopefully, I’ve let people know that that’s my spot, and I’m not about to let anyone take it off me.
“It’s been a difficult season because injuries have kept me out of the side.
“When I’ve been fit, I’ve generally been fairly happy with how I’ve been playing.
“It was obviously a bit of a nightmare to get injured right at the start of pre-season, but my first game back was the home draw against Chelsea and I had a little run where I was just starting to feel comfortable again.
“Unfortunately, I got another injury against West Ham, and that’s what kept me out of another run of matches.
“It was a setback at the time, and then when I came back, I always felt like I was playing catch up in terms of getting back to everyone else’s level of fitness. When you’ve been out for a while, it’s never easy to pick up the pace straight away.
“When we were in Ireland as a team (last summer), we all agreed that the priority had to be avoiding relegation.
“That was the minimum requirement and we achieved it.
“For our first season back in the Premier League, we have to accept that as a decent performance. We know how it difficult a league it is, and we can be proud that we weren’t one of the five teams fighting for their lives on the final day. As we know here at Newcastle, that’s not a nice position to be in.”
A THANK YOU TO FOOTYMAD READERS ...
'MAGPIES IN EUROPE'
FOR £5.99 (inc post)
2010/11 has been NewcastleUtd-Mad's greatest season, and as a thank you to all readers we are giving you the chance (FOR TWO WEEKS ONLY) to purchase "MAGPIES IN EUROPE" for £5.99 (and that includes the postage).
*Normal price is £9.99
OFFER ENDS JUNE 10th 2011
Although "Magpies In Europe" will not be launched OFFICIALLY until next season ... if you want a copy it is available NOW from this website ... and ONLY from this website!
Sports Journalist Richie Everson: "At last a book that the fabulous Newcastle United fans can relate to. It's informative, all the facts and figures are there, plus the 120 match reports from all the fixtures ... but it is the articles by the supporters that amazed me.
"I went to many of those games, and this is the only book I can honestly say 'hits the nail on the head'!
"Yes we know the results and the scorers, but some of the facts in this book had me so wrapped up in it I couldn't put it down.
"Was Benny Arentoft cup-tied when he played in the final? Big Wyn and his battle with John McGrath; McFaul scoring a penalty when the crowd had gone home; the trouble in Palermo; it is all amazing stuff.
"I would honestly give this book 10 out of 10."
MAGPIES IN EUROPE
From Antwerp to Zurich
Please include your address in a letter and send a cheque (or postal order) for £5.99 payable to Mr K Fletcher, to:
'MAGPIES IN EUROPE', K Fletcher, 5 Dunelm, Sacriston, Co Durham DH7 6NU.
Or contact: Kevnumad@fsmail.net