Too Early To Write Off Last Summer's Signings

Other than Malik Thiaw last summers signings didn't add the quality expected to Newcastle's first eleven and that had a big influence on our 12th place PL finish.

But, let's not write them off yet.

Eddie has worked his magic before

All of the players signed will now have a full pre-season with Eddie and the coaching team - well nearly for those still away after the WC.

Plus, there were mitigating circumstances for Wolt and Wissa especially last season.

Wolt after a good start suffered after not being able to function in Eddie's quick break 4-3-3 system and Wissa admitted he never got fit enough for that system either.

Wolt may well turn into the 10 we've never had under Eddie, and Wissa after receiving specialist fitness training looked as sharp as a pin in the WC and scored a couple of cracking goals.

Elanga was another whose style of play didn't suit playing against the low blocks that he faced far more than he did at Forest. Again, he looked far better in the WC and got on the scoresheet.

Ramsey also had fitness issues that delayed a run in the side and there is no doubt that there is a decent player who can take on defences and score goals from midfield.

Thiaw, despite the occasional mistake, has proved an excellent signing at £34M.

So... with no CL Eddie will have far more time on the training pitch to match his demands with the attributes of the signings from last summer and the new lads from this one.

One thing Eddie has proven beyond doubt in his time at SJP is that he can bring the best out of players and improve them way beyond what some fans thought was possible.

There is no reason why he can't do that again with the new recruits.

Mood swing... in the right direction

As I said in my last article about the young ones...

All of a sudden my mood has swerved back to a degree of excitement at seeing how this new look squad pans out.

The signing of yet another 20 year old in Bamba is a clear sign that this is part of a planned overhaul of a squad that, depite having top players, was IMO going stale.

Whether that staleness was down to Eddie's 4-3-3, players realising after last summers top target rebuffs that the project had stalled, or whatever else... many Toon fans wanted a reset, and we are getting it.

With Bruno looking ever more likely to leave for Arsenal that reset would move from a state of evolution to revolution. Isak, Gordon, Tonali, Bruno, Trippier. Gone.

Even with Bruno still at SJP, for now, the exit of the other four players has rightly caused big concerns about the direction the club is going in - and even in the commitment of PIF.

Well, four signings of an 18 year old and three 20 year olds has shown that direction.

There is still money in the transfer kitty and if Bruno goes there will be up to £80M more.

I'm expecting at least one and probably two more signings and I'm also expecting those signings to be of the more experienced first team readyvariety.

As I've said, Eddie could yet blend his new look squad into a force to be reckoned with.

And... a great way to show that would be by beating Isak and Liverpool on 23rd August.

I think Wor King Kev would "love it, just love it" if we did that and capped off a day when both teams are planning a tribute to the great man.

The Messiah's dad and grand-dad were Toon supporters...

Could Eddie be the next Messiah who raises his new squad back to the heights?

In football... nowt surprises me.

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