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Newcastle United – Even The Most Sceptical Of Us Can Dream

10 years ago
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A point at Villa Park for Newcastle United was not the worst result but it does underline two blindingly obvious points;

The need of a proven goal scorer and…

With the red card for Williamson, the even more pressing need for a quality centre half

Now, according to Neil Warnock, who announced on BT Sport that Pardew told him we will be making our 10th signing of the summer today (Sunday). If so, let’s hope it is one of these key areas that has been addressed.

Pardew has also recently stated that there is still a possibility of a couple of players coming in but with the likelihood of two going out.

If this is the case one would hope that we are to get the centre half we need, with hopefully Steven Taylor being offloaded as a result.

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So what of the other possible recruit and departure?  I Think this might refer to Pardew’s admission of a backup plan should, for instance, Tiote be sold off.

Accordingly what of the scenario if a quality striker is brought in? Who would be offloaded? We haven’t got any saleable commodities in the forward department, especially with Cisse injured. So this may not be a like for like, maybe somebody off the wage bill, Ben Arfa or Gutiérrez?

These developments seem to concur that the books have now been balanced, and arrivals are only dependant on the departures.

I personally wouldn’t mind the likes of Taylor, Gutiérrez or Obertan being sacrificed. Ben Arfa through gritted teeth, and then only because it is obvious to all he is never going to play while Pardew remains in charge.

I do feel sympathy for Gutierrez but Taylor clearly isn’t up to it anymore and is a liability, either technically or injury wise. I would have seen no harm in getting rid of Saylor and having Lascelles taking his place in the squad instead, rather than heading back to Forest on loan.

Tiote I definitely wouldn’t want to sacrifice, especially at the speculated £8m. Yes, maybe we have a replacement in the form of local lad Jack Colbeck, but I’d still want to keep him in our squad.

Who could Pardew have been hinting at to Warnock?

Up front, the ghost of Loic Remy seems to have been finally given up on. Likewise compatriot and Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette appears ruled out of the race too.

At the back and with the No.5 jersey going begging, it was recently all the news that Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk was to be approached. Pardew though seems to have poured cold water on this, leading to some petulant comments from Celtic’s manager.

No matter how good Van Dijk may be, there is the small matter that he is only playing in the SPL. Newcastle fans will need no reminding of a centre half who looked imperious while playing north of the border,  who then looked equally awful in the Premiership. Jean Alain Boumsong still sends shivers down our spines!

Will it be a name that has been in the hat for a while? We can probably discount a few names due to wage demands etc., i.e. Wellbeck who is now apparently available.

Or will it be a name from out of the blue, like the Keegan era marque signings of days gone by? I wouldn’t bet your house on it, but while the transfer window is still open, even the most sceptical of us can dream.

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