The valley view

By Hermann Hreidarsson on May 15, 2007 12:00 AM |

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THIS is my final column of the season and I have to say I'm very pleased to be ending with a positive.
Some people might say that there was very little riding on our trip to Anfield over the weekend for either club.
But even if Liverpool were not viewing it as an important match, we most certainly were. Of course, we had already been relegated before a ball was kicked, but there's nothing worse than ending a season tamely, especially if it's been an ultimately unsuccessful campaign.

If we'd suffered a bad defeat against Liverpool then it would have had a big effect on morale that may even have had a knock-on effect into the summer and next season. But the gaffer told us to go out there with a smile on our face and play without any inhibitions, and that's exactly what we did.
I thought we played some fantastic football at times and even though we were disappointed to concede the late equaliser, we left the ground in a positive frame of mind and with our heads held high.
It was difficult on the coach home not to ask ourselves why we didn't produce that kind of performance often enough earlier this season, but that is just one of those unanswerable questions that makes football the wonderful and intriguing game it is.
It wasn't just about the character we showed and the football we played, either, that makes us look forward to next season with relish.
Alan Pardew gave starting places to two young players who have been highly thought of at the club for a long time now - Darren Randolph and Lloyd Sam.
Darren is a keeper with very little experience, but you certainly can't say the same about his ability. We watch him make brilliant saves every day in training and it was no surprise to the lads that he performed so well against Liverpool.
He will have every right to expect to be involved in the Championship next season, and so will Lloyd.
Sunday was a rare start for Lloyd, and I'm delighted that he was able to show something of what he's about.
As I'm a left-back and he's a right-winger we often come face to face in training, and I can tell you that if he's got bruises all over his shins, they're from me. He really is a very skilful player indeed, as Liverpool left-back John Arne-Riise found out on Sunday, and I for one hope he makes his big breakthrough next year.
I'd like to finish off by saying a huge thank-you to our fans, who have been absolutely magnificent this season, and I hope to see you all back at The Valley for the next campaign.
Thanks as well to everyone who has been a regular reader of this column. It has been a pleasure for me to keep fans up-to-date with events at The Valley and I hope to do the same again next year.
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