Big Sam was not a popular figure right from the start, and the pressure got the best of him as his comments "I want to bring the same success I had at Bolton to Newcastle" had us all wondering "what success was that?"
But Sam brought in the player many have voted as Newcastle United's player of the year ... Habib Beye ... probably the one highlight of a dismal season.
The right-back topped just about every website's end-of-season poll, beat off the challenge of Nicky Butt.
Beye The Success Story Of The Season?
United's 4-1 thrashing of Tottenham at White Hart Lane was easily the performance of the campaign.
With Charles N'Zogbia'sgoal in the 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough, Michael Owen's header in the win over Sunderland and Oba Martins spectacular overhead kick in the opening-day win at Bolton, the best goals.
Some could argue the 1-0 defeat at Derby was the worst performance of the season, but at the time Derby were an unknown force and we didn't know how bad they were until the season progressed.
In my opinion the 6-0 humiliation at Old Trafford is a day I would love to wipe from my memory.
All in all ... a season to forget ... but at least we cannot possibly be as bad next term.
So let's put the low point behind us.