So the Carling Cup has gone for another year. However Allardyce has done well so far having stabilised the defence and strengthened team spirit. But some surgery is still needed to take the team forward and compete for the Champions league place which appears to be opening up around Chelsea.
The Carling Cup exit is disappointing but no big deal in the grand scheme of our Champions League ambitions.
The demise of Mourinho at Chelsea has opened up a window of opportunity to take the 4th Champions League slot.
Currently we lie in 5th place and eyes must be on Manchester City above us as the team we need to displace.
So what does Allardyce need to do to the team to get us there.
We need Given back in goal as he is a special player.
Taylor and Rozehnal look the best central defence pairing, Beye and Enrique capable full backs.
So defensively we are pretty sound but the problems Allardyce needs to sort out are all in the midfield and attack.
The team is crying out for a Ronaldinho type creative midfield player. That could be Emre but as yet he has not shown it.
Butt and Geremi are similar and should not be in the same team. Barton can come in but he is a work horse rather than a creative midfielder.
Milner needs to play right and N'Zogbia needs to play left.
Up front the big problem is what do we do if Viduka is not fit. Ameobi has shown against both Derby and Arsenal that he is just not Premier League standard, we desperately need quality cover for Viduka.
When fit the front two would be Viduka plus either of Owen or Martins who are effectively the same.
This leaves Smith as a utility squad player which is probably best place for him giving his performances so far.
So really we need to be scouting now for a creative midfielder and Viduka understudy in preparation for the January transfer window.
Allardyce currently has the backing of the fans who regard him as the best English manager in the game and really want him to succeed. The Mourinho availability has caused barely a ripple of interest on Tyneside, for example a Facebook group set up to install Mourinho as Newcastle manager had recruited a mere 7 members at last inspection.
However we are ambitious and Allardyce himself needs to match the ambition of the fans. His statement of 'give me five years' does not really wash with a club that has not won a major trophy for 52 years.
Newcastle are a big club and the fans are impatient. There is now a real opportunity this season to take the 4th Champions League place and we should be at the very least competing for it.
We are not far away from a very decent side and the purchase of a creative midfielder and Viduka understudy in January might just be enough, injuries allowing.
Newcastle United are not Bolton Wanderers, expectations are high and we, the fans, are desperate for success.
Allardyce has done well so far but needs to demonstrate with results on the pitch that the team is progressing otherwise his current popularity and backing of the fans could disappear very quickly.
