Glenn Roeder insists it has not
been another season of failure for Newcastle United, despite their
exit from the Uefa Cup.
AZ Alkmaar recorded a 2-0 home win in the second leg of their last
16 tie to go through on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate
scoreline.
The defeat will mean another campaign without a trophy for The
Magpies, but Roeder refused to look on the gloomy side.
"It is too easy to say it is another season of failure for
Newcastle," said Roeder.
"That is just too easy. You know the problems we have had. The
squad has been decimated for six months by injuries.
"We have got a few back now, but we have had to pick up points
during the season with a team that was minus a dozen senior
players.
"There are nine games left now and we need to pick up as many
points as we can to make sure we finish as high up the Premiership
as we can."
With regards to the defeat in Holland, Roeder felt too many players
failed to produce their best form when required.
"Conceding two goals," he added when asked where Newcastle had lost
the tie. "We needed to score one and we did not. It is as
straightforward as that.
"From our point of view, the two goals were poorly defended.
Considering how well we played last week, we played very poorly
tonight.
"We had too many players off form, experienced players who I would
have expected to do better."
