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Local Journalists Get Stick For Playing Newcastle United Fantasy Football

10 years ago
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As we all wait to see if/when Newcastle belatedly bring in some much needed reinforcements, some of the local journalists got plenty stick today for looking into their black & white crystal balls.

The three (banned) NCJ journalists didn’t do much wrong as far as I could see, but it was mainly the fact that they were all including players who aren’t even Newcastle players yet…, that wound supporters up.

Counting On Cabella?

The article began;

 “If Newcastle United land their transfer targets, here is who we would pick for the opening game against Manchester City if we were in Alan Pardew’s shoes.”

Then these were the starting elevens each chose for that opening game against Man City;

Lee Ryder – Krul, Daryl Janmaat, Coloccini, Mapou, Haidara, Sissoko, Tiote, De Jong, Clement Grenier, Remy Cabella, Cisse

Neil Cameron – Krul, Mikael Lustig, Coloccini, AN Other OR Williamson, Haidara, Tiote, Colback, De Jong, Clement Grenier, Remy Cabella, Jordan Rhodes OR Joel Campbell

Mark Douglas – Krul, Daryl Janmaat, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Haidara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko, De Jong, Remy Cabella, Alexandre Lacazette

For me, the worrying thing is that with only 39 days until that opening fixture, all three are unable to pick a credible eleven from the players who ARE on Newcastle’s books at the minute.

Respectively they chose three, five and three players who they hope/anticipate will sign. When you throw in doubts over whether Sissoko and Krul will still be here and the fact Papiss Cisse would appear to have no chance of being ready for that opening day – the situation surely looks desperate.

(To feature like Dean, send in your articles for our website to contribute@themag.co.uk)

That is before we even consider whether the players they’ve chosen who are currently Newcastle players, are even good enough.

Two weeks today Newcastle have their first match in New Zealand, so working backwards I’m guessing the squad will be flying out in around ten days time, so to stand any chance of being on that plane with their new teammates, surely any new signings would have to be sorted in the next seven days.

If signings don’t happen in that time period then new players would have two weeks maximum to integrate with the squad before that Manchester City match.

I find the idea of a couple of credible signings arriving in that time period as very unlikely, never mind the number of new signings Newcastle really need.

To put into context that figure of 39 days until the Premier League kicks off, it is now 58 days since last season came to an end.

The clock is ticking and let’s hope Pardew and Ashley get an alarm call before the season starts in total disarray.

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