Newcastle have not got many transfers wrong under their new owners
Newcastle have not got many transfers wrong under their new owners
As we hang on almost hourly to hear the thunder of approaching hoofs from the cavalry coming to the rescue let us seek reassurance from how successful have been in the transfer market since Mike Ashley was thankfully reduced to a tossaway sentence in the history books.
In stark black-and-white who has been a plus and who a minus? Let me give my verdict:
SUCCESS: Alexander Isak, Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall, Anthony Gordon, Dan Burn, Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Harvey Barnes.
DISAPPOINTMENT: Matt Targett, Chris Wood, Lloyd Kelly, Obysseas Vlachodimos, John Ruddy.
JURY OUT: Will Osula.
NOT APPLICABLE: Yankuba Minteh.
That is not a bad average return I must say. United are very much in credit. As Bob Paisley, Liverpool's most successful trophy-winning manager, once told me about the art of buying and selling: "It's impossible not to make any mistakes. The best managers are those who make the least."
The signs are good that by and large the Mags get things right - if only we get going again after a long period of little to no action. May James Trafford quickly arrive and release the plug for others to follow in his slipstream. Geordies need and deserve not a one-off but a steady return over the next month.
Oh, I know where any inevitable disagreement will lie in my estimation of winners and those who failed to gain the mass vote.
It can be argued with some justification that did his job in the early days and maybe his ranking is harsh but his general standing has been greatly enhanced by last season's one-off with Nottingham Forest late in his career.
Chris scored a mere four PL goals over his two seasons here when he was honest in endeavour but decidedly one-paced and unproductive.
In a land of No 9 legends Wood was an uncomfortable fit and his return was, frankly, extremely poor. I expect more from my centre-forwards at a club like Newcastle. Isak is a very different beast.
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I'll readily give a likeable guy brownie points for helping keep us afloat before take off but I cannot with a clear conscience put him in the success column alongside the likes of Tripps, Tonali, Bruno, and Isak.
In the list of 'failures' the two keepers really don't apply. They were not signed with any real expectation of impact. Therefore the minus category for me consists of only three signings which isn't bad!
As for it is too early to make a decision though promise is unquestionably there while Minteh never played a game for us.
What do United need as a matter of urgency? Strength in depth, certainly. The squad is so thin you could read the Chron through it.
However let us look at specifics. It probably surprises some fans that Trafford has been full frontal for a year now given United had FIVE senior keepers last season which is hardly lightweight but in truth only two counted - Nick Pope and The other three were padding.
As for a central defender, yeah, we know why. Fabian Schar and Dan Burn have been magnificent but they are both the wrong side of 30 and both lack pace which is a vital commodity in the modern game and a potential problem when such one-paced performers are paired together against quick forwards and a high pressing team like Bournemouth at SJP last season. Sven Botman meanwhile might be undiluted quality but he is also sadly injury prone.
The right wing position has needed addressing for yonks and been ignored with United getting out of jail because Jacob Murphy, about to leave his twenties, suddenly found unbelievable form and consistency last season contributing vital goals and assists. However he needs someone to challenge his pedigree. Even when went United did nothing.
Centre-forward? Oh we know all about that. Alexander Isak stands alone, has been desperately injury prone for seasons now and Will Osula is a rookie. Full of pace and promise but not experience. Hardly ready for regular PL football never mind Champions League. His time will come. It's just not now.
Watching play for Forest and England Under 21s when they won the Euros last week made us realise (if we didn't already know) what United had to sacrifice to stay within financial fair play rules. What a loss - a Geordie kid, one of our own and grandson of Fairs Cup winner Geoff Allen.
His departure along with Minteh is the reason United have become all belt and braces in the transfer market. Caution is now their middle name. Still, they must get on with it because time is of the essence. The unshakable fact is that July has been entered without Newcastle spending a penny!
Delap has gone. Cunha has gone. Huijsen has gone. Pedro has gone. Mbeumo is en route to Man U. Guehi is proving elusive with Liverpool lurking. Elanga too (though still a chance). Targets all, do not doubt that for a moment, but still we keep the faith and wait. Because we have no alternative.
The sea still has fish a'plenty but all the big hitters have trawlers out there whose nets have already reaped a significant return. How much time do you need guys? It would be a good idea to act now.
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