Oh my God! No multi million pound superstar, no “huge name” gamble, no 20,000 fan press conferences or “we’re gonna win the league”’s. Newcastle United are going to get relegated. Fact! Nailed On! Tbh!

That is the sort of rubbish I’ve come to expect from our forum, and it’s bloody tiresome.

Yes, we didn’t have the mammoth transfer window we all hoped for. Yes we haven’t significantly strengthened our defence. Yes we don’t have a wealth of strikers. But is it all bad?

Not at all.

First of all we did our first mammoth piece of business regarding a pivotal signing in May. Monumental goalkeeper Shay Given agreed to extend his contract for the next five years. For me, this was as important to our football club as any activity in the transfer market.

Our first dip into the market was an outgoing. Numerous players deemed not good enough left out club, and some for healthy amounts. Faye, Chopra, Viana, Boumsong, Elliott, Bowyer and Shearer all left our playing staff, leaving us with a much healthier wage bill and some much needed income to boot.

With those players now heading further and further into Newcastle United history, it was time to look to the future. July saw a massive, if unexpected, coup for us. The arrival of Damien Duff provided us with a much needed pace down the flanks. With the departure of Milner looking likely in January and Nobby Solano not getting any younger, I fully expect to see Duff used down the right flank, a position he seems to thrive on, especially during his Chelsea days. With Duff on the right and the exciting talent of Charles N’Zogbia on the left, Newcastle fans have got something they have wanted so badly for many a year. They are a pair of attacking, quick wingers with phenomenal ability and the potential to become one of the best set of wingers in the Premiership.

A cruel injury to a certain Mr Owen during a fateful night in Germany left a hole in the England ranks, but, more importantly, it left a crater of meteoric proportions in the Magpies front line. With Alan Shearer retiring, and the energetic Michael Chopra off to Cardiff, Glenn Roeder knew that he had to strengthen a depleted front line. Unfortunately, Shola Ameobi’s chronic hip problem resurfaced, and this increased the need for a top forward, which is exactly what we got. Obafemi Martins jetted into Newcastle with a week of the transfer window to go, to the delight of the Toon Army. Officially the quickest player in Serie A last year, Martins’ pace and raw enthusiasm for the game was something that our forward line was craving. A very static forward line was changed in an instant with pace, ability and skill all added in the form of one man. The fact that he is two footed is a welcome bonus, and despite being 5′7″, the lad can’t half leap for a football. At the age of 21, Obafemi Martins could well prove to be a snip at ten million pounds, an outstanding transfer, given the quality of other sides in for him, such as Valencia.

With a vast number of players passing through the exit of the ever revolving doors at St James Park, Glenn Roeder knew that safety came in numbers, especially when it came to adding to the striker ranks. With Martins and the recently impressive Ameobi looking certain to be our first choice this season, and Owen unlikely to return for a long while, Roeder knew he needed some other options, more than likely as back up. In came the exciting prospect of Guiseppi Rossi from Manchester United, initially on loan. He is a young lad that comes with an enormous reputation and fabulous potential and there is no doubt that managers, such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Glenn Roeder, think that this lad can cut it in the Premiership. Newcastle United have given him his chance, and he could well repay us. Rossi is an exciting prospect to bring in as back up.

A strange move late on deadline day, to bolster our numbers primarily, was the acquisition of Antoine Sibierski. There is no doubt that this lad isn’t a world beater and at the age of 32, more than likely has his best days behind him. However, it’s not all bad. Mainly here to add depth to the squad, Sibierski is 6′2″, adding much needed height to a small looking Newcastle frontline. I don’t expect him to play many games, but at roughly £200,000, undoubtedly on low wages and only a one year contract, he could prove to be a handy addition, and a cheap one at that.

The Transfer Window then slammed shut at Midnight on August 31st, and we thought that was the end of our dealings.

Early on the morning of September 1st we woke to hear the news that Olivier Bernard had returned to Gallowgate. Even though the signing is unlikely to thrill the Geordie nation, it could well help toughen up our defence. During his first spell at St James’ Park, Bernard burst onto the scene with a number of strong challenges, great crosses, and, unusually for a left back, a number of timely goals. Whether or not he can recapture the form of three years ago remains to be seen, but on a free and presumably lower wages than he asked for last time round, Bernard is well worth the gamble, even if it is until we fully sort the problem position in January.

All in all, the transfer window hasn’t been as poor as the knee-jerk reactions that I have read. We’ve brought some pace and power into our strike force, a former favourite back to strengthen the defence, a fantastic winger that we craved, and a young and an experienced couple of players to bolster the squad.

We all know that we could have done with some quality full backs, a commanding centre half and a titanic target man. But let’s face it; the club isn’t overflowing with money at the moment. Unless you are Chelsea, progress takes time. We’ve got rid of a lot of rubbish and brought some quality in. I’ve read that some people have said that this club is at an “all time low”. Have a word with yourselves.

We have an excellent set of keepers, a brilliant midfield, and a strike force, admittedly not at its best, but it can get us through until January when hopefully it will be sorted properly. Admittedly, the defence still needs a lot of work. Top notch full backs are imperative to a European push, and I fully expect the likes of Wayne Bridge to be linked with us again come January. A commanding centre half to nurture the likes of Taylor must also be high on our shopping list.

That’s about the gist of it though. A few players, admitted it is a few quality players, and there is no reason to doubt we could make a European push. The season is a marathon, not a sprint, but we have one important pit stop coming up in January.

Keep the Faith