By Mike McKinley Thus the season ended not with a bang, but a whimper, a situation you suspect was ideal for quite a few parties at the club. And as our lot went through the last-day motions, it was easy to watch the events at Villa Park where another bunch also surren

Thus the season ended not with a bang, but a whimper, a situation you suspect was ideal for quite a few parties at the club.

And as our lot went through the last-day motions, it was easy to watch the events at Villa Park where another bunch also surrendered weakly and say a small thank you that we were safely clear of the disaster area.

So now we seem to have the best of all worlds for next season. The incoming foreigners like Luka Modric have had a season in which to learn about the English game - we've a reduced workload which will hopefully ease the strain on Ledley's aching knees, and surely our latest transitional season's out of the way and we can actually go for it next year.

And it is really only how we perform next year that will define this season - the one in which we turned from being stubbornly continental with coaches and sporting directors to resolutely old school English.

Where we learned to match the top four - at home at least - but saw just how fragile we are away to the bottom half, losing to eight of them and all three relegated sides.

The signing of Wilson Palacios filled one of our most glaring holes, so will they all be plugged now? Is this finally the summer when we see a left winger?

As a Harry-sceptic last October, I now can see the light, and hope he will be the man to lead us to the promised land.

He's never been shy in the transfer market, so a few summer deals are certainties. Let's hope we're back in August fully equipped.

Top four anyone? Think we'll keep quiet on that for a change.

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