While we didn’t get the chance of a return to Inter Milan or Bilbao, Newcastle have been handed three trips that should provide a decent but surmountable test, with accessible places to visit.
Amongst the speculation it is alleged the Hammers will pay Liverpool a £6m fee for the year’s loan, while it is also claimed that the agreed fee would be £17m if Carroll signs long-term.
So essentially the level of Newcastle fan interest in the match would tell Alan Pardew what his interest should be in the game AND how strong a team who should put out to reward the fans.
Having an elite group of ten or eleven players on competitive wages and then a huge divide with no budget for a sliding scale, could cause real problems in both the short and long-term.
While great pieces of skill by Ben Arfa and Ba won the match, two other players once again showed their worth and without their contribution we probably wouldn’t have given the forwards their platform.
A similar precedent two years ago when Arsene Wenger pushed Martin Atkinson at the end of Arsenal’s game at sunderland, the Frenchman failing with his defence of not having seen the incident….
With Erik Pieters spotted by fans at St.James’ Park yesterday, it certainly adds to the speculation that at least one more new face will arrive at Newcastle pre-September.