Good post that E Wing..
I too will be in the house of boredom next season.
The points you have raised are the only real grace savers for me and if you add on the extra games we played then Pardew has the slimmest of excuses, next season he has none, it's all on his back although the regime still need to provide 3 or 4 players first.
Im a total mug with a tough ask for knowing Pardew's history and still hoping that he's gonna change over the Summer months, eradicate the mistakes he makes, create new tactics and have us running like a purring Ferrari engine but the daft optimism that somehow still exists in me, refuses for me to give up the dream.
At least im not alone.