In a moment of pure comedy gold, Newcastle United have dismissed buying in January because of better options in the summer!

NUFC transfer ‘strategy’ was never complicated, looking for players with contract clauses/short contracts, but it is now simply a case of ‘open all hours’?

The Newcastle United transfer strategy appears to mean little intention of buying big in January so is the current team stronger than the 2011/12 vintage.

So quite clearly there is no part built into the deal whereby Newcastle can buy him if it all works out. Instead United have shelled out over £2m on a short-term (hopefully) quick fix that will get us through this season, on the relative (short-term) cheap.

If Demba Ba was so similar to Cissé it was born for failure, Remy provides a near perfect partner for our number 9, where Cissé lacks – Remy excels (awareness and speed). Cissé can hit a 40 yarder but Loic can run for 40 and slot one home.

To have half the fans believing that Alan Pardew will have one new player at best, is a big reality check, especially when nearly one in five supporters expects us to sign nobody!

Easy to follow guide on how to judge Newcastle United transfer speculation.

Twelve months later I think we are again in a position of having a great nucleus of players and if that is built on then we could have a very good team. If though Mike Ashley’s core message to Alan Pardew is that ‘you’ve already got your summer signings, just get on with it’, then it could be a real disaster next season.

I don’t think they have the slightest idea of what goes on in our heads really and banging on about no more ‘trophy’ players just emphasises the point. In my opinion, most Newcastle supporters’ ‘trophy’ players would include the likes of David Kelly, John Anderson and dare I say it Perchino? Committed to the club, region and supporters and never put less than a full shift in on the pitch.

There is a consistent wave of appreciation in the media for the scouting talents at Newcastle as if they have visited the far-flung regions of East Africa or Outer Mongolia to find rare gems for at very little or no cost, but this is just not the case.