Probably have to but we should be building a Premiership team now. I think starting again when we go up is dangerous
Far more dangerous and probably not possible to build a PL team for the Championship. You need players who want to play at this level. We have bought a few who are basically a little above to help us have the edge like Gayle, Ritchie, Diame. They are basically lower to mid table PL players with the exception of Ritchie who may be a bit better than that. You are not going to get PL level players lining up to play for us. So we just need to sign players to get out of this league and worry about next season next summer. We can plan for it come January if things are looking rosy. We need to deal with the here and now.
This - Keegan and Hughton did exactly the same in their promotion seasons. The two divisions are completely different animals and you need to plan accordingly. You wouldn't stick a dray horse in the Grand National or vice versa Realistically, which decent Prem league players are going to want to sign for a Championship side right now - Jan maybe when the leagues are looking clearer. Let's concentrate on now - this season and promotion is all that matters, anything else is speculation
We haven't in fact signed a bunch of cloggers. Hayden, Diame, Ritchie, Yedlin, Gamez, Gayle and probably Lazaar would all be comfortable in a lower to mid-PL squad. The three we've signed so far who I think will struggle to make the step up are Murphy, Hanley and Clark. I'm probably mistaken on a couple of those from the first list, but Rafa has plenty of time to run the rule over them this season and decide which will make the grade. We'll see 5 or so players leave for relegated sides next summer and bring in some serious talent hopefully. It may be a bit premature to say this but imo this relegation is turning out to be just as much a positive for the club as the last one was. In both cases we lost players who put themselves before the club and didn't want to take responsibility for the previous season's failure. In this case though we have a world class manager and a bunch of new players who have come to play for him. Can't wait!
Doing good thanks! Especially now you are dead in the mafia game and won't be randomly killing me It wasn't me that killed you btw - not this time.
We're signing players to get us out of this league. We have several that can comfortably play in the PL and will add PL quality should we go up.
I meant you wouldn't use a horse competing in the Grand National to pull a dray you muffin Thought it was obvious - obviously not!!
Graeme Bailey @GraemeBailey 25m25 minutes ago Newcastle confident that deals for Christian Atsu and Callum McMananman are just about done.
That's double speak for... 'I got you back you bastard now we are even'..... or summat like that!! Fancy a jar at the next weekend home game? I'm sure Penfold, Heed and now Tol3 may be tempted.
George Caulkin @CaulkinTheTimes 1h1 hour ago Looks like McManaman to #Nufc won't now happen. May be to do with *possibility* of Sissoko staying, player also has other options.
Reference Callum, I'm wondering if the Baggies were trying to use him as a makeweight in a deal for Moussa? I can see Rafa looking at the fan reaction and pulling the plug. I would happily swap him for Berahinho though........
