The Transfer Window
08:50
So far, we’ve signed four players. Coloccini, Gutierrez, Guthrie and Bassong. The first three of which seem to have settled into the first team and immediately look decent players, and Bassong who I think has been bought to bulk up the squad a bit.
Unfortunately, since the end of last season — when it seemed to be widely acknowledged that we had a small squad — Emre, Rosenthal, Carr, Ramage, Faye and Milner have all left. So we’re two players down on what was already a paper-thin squad.
This transfer window will be crucial to Newcastle’s hopes for success this season. We need two, three, or even more decent quality players to arrive (ideally, the more, and the higher quality, the better) in order to realistically look for a top 8 spot this season. There’s 15 hours to go to see whether or not Mike Ashley delivers the ‘wow’ signing he promised the corporates…
10:10
Spurs have signed Corluka and Paulyuchenko; no signings for Newcastle yet although the rumour mill would suggest Smith is on his way out and a random number of players will be arriving from Spanish clubs..
12:00
Still no signings. Kamil Zayatte, who we had training with us at the weekend has joined Hull City on loan. I presume that means we didn’t want him, as I’d hate to think they were a more attractive proposition…
12:50
Ignacio María González has signed for Valencia and then immediately been shipped over to Newcastle United on loan. Slight concern here: if he was that good, wouldn’t they want to keep him? Of course the flip side is that if they didn’t think he was any good, surely they wouldn’t have signed him in the first place. Even if he does turn out to be a decent player, this one smacks of short-termism; I can’t imagine Valencia would want to sell him to us at the end of the season if he actually does look any good…
14:30
There’s a turnip for the books. Manchester City have bid £30m+ for Dimitar Berbatov. Would be tremendously funny if it came off, but I can’t see it happening. I think however it may force Ferguson and Manchester United to pay slightly more than they had anticipated for the sulky Bulgar. But we’ll see — particularly as it also appear Manchester City are themselves to be sold to a new owner during the transfer window…
18:30
Liverpool have signed someone they’ve been signing all week, but other than that, buggerall else. Brinksmanship, or just nowt going on?
20:00
The news appears to be that Berbatov is at Manchester United having a medical — seemingly without having been given permission to talk to them. This would presumably make the medical a little difficult…
- Doctor:
- Does this hurt?
- Berbatov:
- …
- Doctor:
- I’ll just put that down as a no, then…
22:00
Manchester City have had a bid accepted for Robinho. Am a little jealous, since Newcastle have managed to sign … well … nobody so far, as someone arriving on loan because their club currently has too many non-EU players doesn’t really count. On the other hand, I can’t help but think it’d be nice to have Robinho in the Premiership — and it’s about time one of Man Utd/ Chelsea didn’t get their own way.
23:10
…Looking increasingly likely that Man United will get their way over Berbatov. There’s pictures of him at Old Trafford, which is a bit of a clue. Getting a little concerned that no-one else has arrived in for us yet. Where’s the ‘wow’ signing Ashley promised? For that matter, where’s that Spanish U21 striker we’ve seemingly been ’set to sign’ all day? Any sign of a left-back?
23:30
Sunderland have signed some strange Beatles hybrid at full-back: George McCartney. In less interesting news, I spot someone called ‘Grounds’ has gone somewhere (lower league or non-league, can’t remember where). I hope he becomes really famous and then splits up with his wife: the “Grounds for Divorce” headline is too good not to use…
00:30
Newcastle announce they have completed the signing of Xisco, the Spanish U21 International, on a 5-year deal. Man United sign Berbatov; Man City sign Robinho. I can’t help but feel a little cheated here: we’re supposed to have improved our squad from last season, yet by my reckoning more players have left since the end of last season than have joined.
Very disappointed. I don’t know who’s to blame for this transfer fiasco: whether it’s Ashley for not putting in the money, or Wise/Jimenez/Llambias for cocking stuff up, or Keegan for not identifying targets (although I hardly tihnk that is likely), but those in charge of the clubs transfers have let the fans down badly this time. Okay, it’s not as bad as the “Lee Bowyer” summer, but many of us had foolishly believed Ashley when he’d promised a ‘wow’ signing, even if we had privately entertained doubts over what would constitute a ‘wow’.
But we’re back to the Shepherd era for transfers… oh, yeah? Well I’ll believe it when I see it…
Hello. I am 
all these foreigners coming over and buying english clubs - it’ll never work (chelsea, man u, liverpool, man city, aston villa).
what we need are british billionaires who know what british clubs need.
oh dear………,