Its all over for another season. But inevitably, it prompts the start of the inquest. Where did we go wrong? Or was it a season of progress, building the foundations of a promotion winning side? BlueReview believes we should concentrate on the latter, rather than worrying about missing out on the play-off lottery.
So that's that for another year. I suppose many fans (not to mention, invisible owners) will be disappointed that we effectively missed out on the play-offs by one point to a team in free-fall. Somewhat frustratingly, Watford now look as though Ipswich ladies team could now beat them - yet we effectively gave them a 6 point start by being doubled by them.
But the bottom line is that after 46 games - we came up precisely one point short. We could all quote matches where that point slipped away - but then again, so could supporters of every other team in this highly competitive league. The painful lesson this season tells us is that every point counts.
I have a theory about why this division is so equal (or average, depending on your point of view). And why teams that go up, inevitably come back down. I blame the play offs. They encourage mediocrity because they are open to just about everybody. Take this season - on the last day of the season we could have come 5th - or 10th. In ye olden days, a team had to be good to get promoted. Only the top two went up. So not unnaturally, players gravitated towards the better teams. And when those teams went up - they went up on merit.
Now almost anybody can go up - and frequently they do. Once again those upstart scamps from South London, Crystal Palace, look as though they are going to nip into the top division via the play offs, for the simple reason that they have more momentum than anyone else - and are therefore better placed to win a couple of cup ties - which is effectively what the play-offs are.
Personally I am rather glad we didn't make the play-offs. I live in hope that we are actually building a team with solid foundations - and with just a bit of tinkering we could be quite a force in this division next season. That's assuming that Magilton can curb his enthusiasm for buying midfielders - and overcome his phobia about giving home-grown talent a chance. A goalie would be more than useful too.
I am not a fan of the play-offs. Being somewhat old-fashioned I think that promotion should be won on merit. It seems daft to let the 6th best team go up and punish three better teams in a league. Over the season Dean Windass and his mates are the third best team in this division - and should be granted the automatic relegation slot for next season. Unfortunately, they have Neil Warnock and Palace to contend with.
And so the season ends with a curious mix of satisfaction and what-ifs and maybes. What if we had got a central defender instead of 3 midfielders? What if Legwinski hadn't developed a strange case of BO? What if we hadn't lost our goalies? What if we had matched our home form against the teams above us with just a smidgin of away form? Or even beaten Colchester?
At about this time last season, Stoke City fans were saying 'what if...' too. You may recall they came 8th - and look where they are now. I guess Tony Pulis must have been saying 'What if we had Ricardo Fuller?' Not something that many Town fans would have relished. And the thought that Scowcroft might be lumbering around in the Premier League with Palace next season is slightly perplexing too.
There is one reason I rather hope (and expect) Palace to win the play-offs. Neil Warnock. Underneath the crusty exterior he is a good bloke. He calls a cheat a cheat. More importantly he plays young home-grown players. And it would be a salutary lesson for Magilton if Palace go up. Because, ultimately, if the season fizzles out and you still don't pick your own players - what's the point.
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