However, in terms of saving money in the long run, rather than going to France (Abeid), Holland (Krul) and Italy (Santon) for our youngsters, why not spend a little extra developing our own young players?
I can imagine journalists sitting around with no clue what to write about during the summer, putting our players’ names on one set of balls and a list of clubs on another set and drawing them out randomly. Coloccini – Man City. Cisse – Man Utd.
News from Senegal’s FA president Augustin Senghor that he will be looking to call up Newcastle’s two top scorers Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, rules allowing three players over the age of 23.
To have a sound, professionally run club like Gateshead to send young players to, rather than them going off to Sheffield or Milton Keynes would give Pardew a chance to keep up to date with their progress.