Meh... Old man a Geordie, Mum a Mackem... Hardly an unusual combination, given location. Now divorced! Again, hardly unusual!!!
This time last year, I felt we were two short of being where we need to be. Same again this season, I don’t think Miggy or Schar are quite good enough for our ambition. But I have faith and hope so all good.
I'm happy with our business this summer though it really says a lot about our transfer policy. We've spent about £70-80m on our last two signings and they are both players for the future more than players for now (though both will get game time this season). If we'd been focusing on doing as well as we can this season then that money would have got us a CB and a LB who were more established but older and less room for improvement. The fact we've gone with these two young lads really does send the message of "in it for the long haul", we're left with the likelihood of Lascelles and possibly even Dummett getting gametime at CB this year but will be stronger for it in years to come.
Yeah as I was typing out the £70-80m figure i was thinking that Diaby and Van der Ven cost £95m combined. Overall though it's been an excellent window for us, I'd be shocked if we did any business in January though so this is it for the season. Worst case scenario we finish 7-10th and do nothing in the cups, we'll still start next season even stronger again to be honest, this is only heading one way. Edit: I haven't seen enough of A.Murphy and even Andersen and Miley to know whether they can step in. I know hopes are high and want to believe people who have seen more of them then me but can't claim to know they'll be fine in those roles this year or even next.
Just really looking fwd to this season and the ones to come.... Newcastle have Successfully built the foundations to build on for the next 5 or more seasons.
Schar is fine. Don't know what people are going on about. He had one of the highest amounts of interceptions in the league. He did well, and was a big part of our attack also.