Guten Bonjola and welcome back to Gijon, where we are still in two cups and occupy the all important “best of the rest” spot in the table. It’s the run in, which is a hefty 17 league games plus however far we get in the cups, so let’s get to it.

An important win in the battle for third is hopefully a sign of things to come. Bakayoko has carried us at times, but he has 18 months to run on his contract and asks to move to a bigger club every single week. So I don’t think he’ll be signing a new one…

If we had any lingering hopes of bridging that 12 point gap to second placed Barcelona, it is extinguished with a narrow defeat at the Nou Camp.

Hmm, this is unexpected. We’re usually strong at home but this was hopeless from start to finish. Celta are going well but a pathetic showing from us.

Good response though – Zaragoza are hit for five as composure is restored.

Off to Milan for the UEFA Cup quarter finals and I fear Ronaldo a huge amount. What I didn’t expect was Tcheryshev rolling back the years with a double and then former Milan man Ibrahim Ba securing a nice lead to bring back to Gijon.

A strange game away at Las Palmas where we are in total control, take the lead and then lose all momentum when Sibi goes off. It ends a draw.

Unsurprising that Real Madrid ease past us. We’ve lost our edge a bit.

A third home blank on the spin as Inter very nearly pull off the comeback. As it is, away goals are our friend and it’s a semi final berth.

Roma always flatter to deceive a bit on this game so I’m quite happy to take them on. Winning the UEFA Cup is a bit like winning the League Cup, you get nothing for it other than the chance to do it again next season.

A much better performance in Valencia but ultimately it ends on a sour note as Idiakez equalises 5 minutes from time.

We’re all business in the UEFA Cup. The perfect away performance sees forgotten man Molnar get the decisive goal. That gives us every chance of getting to the final despite our recent home woes.

We’re still in the Copa del Rey but Barcelona is a bleak opponent. We have the audacity to take the lead until Sonny Anderson decides enough is enough and we lose 3-1. The second leg will need a huge effort.

Another home game where we disappoint. Logrones park the bus and none of our 7 shots go in. 7 is not many.

Thankfully we pull ourselves together to give our fans their first goal to cheer in over 2 months. Twice in two minutes and a date with AC Milan in the final.

For a brief time we look like we might stun Barcelona but Lucic’s red card curtails any hopes of a late surge towards a second goal. Damn.

We also beat their neighbours Espanyol three days later to restore some pride. The reality is though, we’re now a long way off 3rd and going backwards.

I’ve pretty much decided I’m going to sell Bakayoko and Nikiforov this summer. They won’t sign new deals so I may as well cash in and do a total rebuild. I’m annoyed by the lack of progress and we have too many players who aren’t good enough. Maybe a change of formation too? Something’s got to give anyway.

Another nail in the coffin comes at Deportivo. 6 shots on target, 4 goals. Granted one is an OG but it just isn’t working.

The schedule is not helpful. Two days later we host Oviedo, which itself is 2 days before the UEFA Cup final. An entirely second strong team actually puts in one of our better performances, so maybe the future is bright.

Off to Naples for the UEFA Cup final and to be honest we are hanging on from the first whistle. Teams shouldn’t be allowed to have Chiesa and Henry, it’s not fair. Arnarson (the Icelandic regen) pulls one back to set up a grandstand finish but it’s not to be. Boo.

Lads, we’re going to Tenerife. Not for a post-final holiday no, for an all important La Liga clash. It ends in a draw.

Bottom place Toledo? 2-0 defeat. Argghhh this team is maddening.

Obviously we bounce back by beating third place Atletico Madrid. The consistency is all over the place.

5th place Sociedad are good of course but we’re brilliant on the night and this victory secures European football for us. It also means if we win on the final day, we should be 3rd.

Instead, we pepper the Merida goal with shots and fail to score. Then conceded two soft goals out of nothing. Why bother?

It’s a respectable 5th. A 28 point gap to bridge to second placed Barcelona, who blew the title on the final day by losing to Valladolid.

Here’s the averages. Average being the key word I feel. Work to be done.

If Bakayoko is to go, there’s a big gap to fill.

Nikiforov signed a new contract! That’s great news as he would be very difficult to replace.

Look at the B lads! I don’t think they’re allowed to come up but that’s a great effort.

I have to applaud the B Gaffer for bringing on the Micker to seal this win. Giving the people what they want.

Let’s leave it there for another week. In isolation you’d say it’s a good season but we haven’t progressed at all and if anything have gone backwards. The rebuild can start now, let’s see if we can make a dent in those 28 points. Thanks for reading!