Well, they seem a distant memory now.




For the second season running, and for the first time in the club's Premier League history, the club has now failed to qualify for continental competition.

And as the Gwladys Street end applauded Everton's 3-1 win and UEFA Cup place, those filing out of the away end were no doubt wondering just where the events of the past week had left their club, and just when they would again be packing their passports.

Newcastle's major achievement this season was avoiding relegation, and that says it all.

As painfully pointed out by Kevin Keegan just over a week ago, United are currently a million miles away from the heady heights of the Champions League places.

Everton, meanwhile, are the best of the rest, and long after Newcastle's travelling contingent had left the ground, the home fans were still applauding the achievements of their high-flying team.

The Toffees, as pointed out by Keegan, seem an example of what stability, and good stewardship, can bring to a football club.

But, unfortunately, the Magpies look far from stable right now after another tumultuous week on Tyneside, not to mention the capital.

United owner Mike Ashley is a friend of Goodison Park counterpart Bill Kenwright, and for once the billionaire eschewed the away end for the directors' box.

He also wasn't wearing a black and white shirt, and the travelling support - used to seeing Ashley and his No 17 jersey among their number - will wonder if that was any coincidence given the events of the past week, after Keegan received a well-documented dressing down from Ashley in a London solicitor's office.

Given everything that had gone on in the run-up to this fixture, the game itself – with nothing but pride riding on it for Newcastle – was almost an afterthought.

It wasn't difficult to tell which side was playing for fifth place, as Everton had the bit between their teeth from the first whistle.

United were second best for much of the 90 minutes, though thanks to some profligate finishing, and luck, they found themselves only 1-0 down at half time, Yakubu opening the scoring in the 28th minute with a powerful header.

The penalty conceded by Joseph Yobo for a foul on Charles N'Zogbia seconds after the break got them right back in it.

Michael Owen converted it to take his tally for the season to 13, but as the stadium was engulfed by thunder, lightning, and eventually rain, the game ran away from Keegan's men.

Joleon Lescott and Yakubu made their superiority count, but, in reality, the scoreline still flattered Newcastle.

Still, as Keegan pointed out after the game, he would have gladly taken the 43 points United ended the campaign with two months ago, when they were well short of that total, and in 15th place.

The $64,000 question now is just where will Newcastle be in a year's time?