Window shuts, here we go...
And so the magic window has shut. Its an end to our stress, oh wait...no. Unfortunately this window I'm unhappy to say that we have failed. We have failed. It all looked so sweet when we signed Damien Duff back in July but since then all has been quiet. Then we signed Obafemi Martins, another good signing and things looked up once again. And so on the last day, every club seemed spoilt for choice as they helped themselves to players who could have done well at Newcastle. OK so we have starlet Rossi until January when presumably we'll be making some more signings. But taking Antoine Sibierski is quite frankly useless and confusing. Pretending for a moment that Luque and Sibierski aren't crap, we have depth in attack and midfield now, but in defence is another matter. We have spectacularly failed to sign a defender despite there being endless amounts of available ones over the last two months. At this I am afraid I am very angry at Newcastle United. Now obviously its none of my business and I have no right to be angry, but we needed defenders before the previous season finished and since then we have lost two. Its going to be a long four months. I'm waiting in hope that Newcastle will confirm another deal in the next couple of hours. NUFC.com said we were trying to sign another one or two players after Sibierski, but had retracted that statement within 20 minutes.A very good thing that happened today was the break down of talks between James Milner and Aston Villa. I was furious when I saw he was travelling to Birmingham for talks, but thankfully Newcastle had some sense and retracted their permission. Milner, for me, is now better than Solano and it is essential we keep him. Hopefully we haven't annoyed him to much over the last two seasons.
We may have a good attack, but unless we defend well and avoid more than two injuries at once in defence we will not finish in the top six. West Ham have signed Tevez and Mascherano from Corinthians which is incredible. West Ham will be finding it hard to finish outside the top five with the incredible squad they've assembled over the last two seasons. This season is about sticking together, staying fit and loving every minute, otherwise we aren't going to be in a happy position.
Here is my opinion on the players to attack the league and cups for the next four months:
Goalkeepers
Shay Given
Fantastic goalkeeper and a great bloke, we are very fortunate to have him.
Steve Harper
Very reliable keeper who puts on a good show when he gets the chance, would be our number one if Shay Given wasn't so amazing.
Tim Krul
Tipped as a future star. I haven't seen much of him, but I have heard some glowing reports and never anything bad.
Central defenders
Craig Moore
I like him, he is usually reliable and adds a cool and experienced head to our dodgy back four. He needs to stay fit this season, end of story.
Titus Bramble
Titus has all the quality in the world, but he loses his concentration too often, it needs working on if Newcastle are too succeed.
Steven Taylor
Surely a future England regular, he is already our best defender and can play across the whole back four. It'll probably turn into a bit of Jamie Carragher situation, where he is veteran and hero of his hometown club, but limited internationally.
Peter Ramage
Promising and good at football. Technically a centre-back but has performed admirably at full-back in my opinion. He has a mean cross and will have good chance to shine this season.
Titus Bramble
Titus has all the quality in the world, but he loses his concentration too often, it needs working on if Newcastle are too succeed.
Steven Taylor
Surely a future England regular, he is already our best defender and can play across the whole back four. It'll probably turn into a bit of Jamie Carragher situation, where he is veteran and hero of his hometown club, but limited internationally.
Peter Ramage
Promising and good at football. Technically a centre-back but has performed admirably at full-back in my opinion. He has a mean cross and will have good chance to shine this season.
Full-backs
Celestine Babayaro
A very talented footballer, but has no sense of defending. He needs to find his defensive soon or he will be dropped. His effort could also be questioned.
Stephen Carr
I think he's a good defender who has recently lost his ability to cross and shoot. He will need to keep his head with his position not under threat this season, he also needs to stay fit.
Olivier Bernard
Seems glad to be back and should put all his effort into a game, unlike our other left back. His signing makes much more sense than that of Bald-one Sibierski.
A very talented footballer, but has no sense of defending. He needs to find his defensive soon or he will be dropped. His effort could also be questioned.
Stephen Carr
I think he's a good defender who has recently lost his ability to cross and shoot. He will need to keep his head with his position not under threat this season, he also needs to stay fit.
Olivier Bernard
Seems glad to be back and should put all his effort into a game, unlike our other left back. His signing makes much more sense than that of Bald-one Sibierski.
Defensive midfielders
Scott Parker
Our fantastic captain is everything you want from a midfielder. It seems he's going to be playing more forward this season, but his work at the back will be essential this season.
Nicky Butt
Quality player who seems to have woken up to the fact he now plays for Newcastle, I firmly believe Glenn Roeder is responsible for that. Well done on something there Glenn.
Our fantastic captain is everything you want from a midfielder. It seems he's going to be playing more forward this season, but his work at the back will be essential this season.
Nicky Butt
Quality player who seems to have woken up to the fact he now plays for Newcastle, I firmly believe Glenn Roeder is responsible for that. Well done on something there Glenn.
Attacking midfielders
Emre
To me Emre is a Geordie and a cracking player at that. Carries out his defensive duties magnificently and has already scored as many goals for Newcastle as he did for Inter in less than half the appearances. Fitness is once again the key.
Charles N'Zogbia
A brilliant young talent who scores lots already. We may even need him at left-back this season. Another adopted Geordie.
Damien Duff
Has settled in nicely already, does lots of running and creates lots of chances but has yet to find his shooting boots and despite his 30 odd shots since arriving, none have tested the goalkeeper. Still a fantastic signing in my opinion.
James Milner
Our best right winger now. He is another future England player, possibly so far hindered by his slender frame. Nearly went to Villa for the second season running, but I am so glad he didn't go.
Nolberto Solano
A legend but not getting any younger. Nobby is good back up now, but Roeder still sees him as first choice. Still very good at set-pieces, but Milner's two corners to set up Butt and his freekick that almost broke the bar suggest Milner is ready to take over.
Kieron Dyer
If he can stay fit this season, Kieron will have massive roll to play, both in midfield and further forward. Kieron is like the talented Sibierski.
Antoine Sibierski
Can also play as a striker but due to the lack of goals in his career and his listing as a midfielder on the Man City website, thats what I assume we've bought him for. I am mystified at this signing, it just pushes our academy talent further down the pecking order. But still, we have him (I'm sure Glenn will explain in the morning).
Matty Pattison
Exciting prospect who will be a first team player somewhere, one day. Put on a good performance against West Brom last season.
Alan O'Brien
Very fast winger kept out the team, everyone is waiting to see how he develops over the course of his contract. In my opinion he needs to learn to use his pace. He is clearly skilled.
To me Emre is a Geordie and a cracking player at that. Carries out his defensive duties magnificently and has already scored as many goals for Newcastle as he did for Inter in less than half the appearances. Fitness is once again the key.
Charles N'Zogbia
A brilliant young talent who scores lots already. We may even need him at left-back this season. Another adopted Geordie.
Damien Duff
Has settled in nicely already, does lots of running and creates lots of chances but has yet to find his shooting boots and despite his 30 odd shots since arriving, none have tested the goalkeeper. Still a fantastic signing in my opinion.
James Milner
Our best right winger now. He is another future England player, possibly so far hindered by his slender frame. Nearly went to Villa for the second season running, but I am so glad he didn't go.
Nolberto Solano
A legend but not getting any younger. Nobby is good back up now, but Roeder still sees him as first choice. Still very good at set-pieces, but Milner's two corners to set up Butt and his freekick that almost broke the bar suggest Milner is ready to take over.
Kieron Dyer
If he can stay fit this season, Kieron will have massive roll to play, both in midfield and further forward. Kieron is like the talented Sibierski.
Antoine Sibierski
Can also play as a striker but due to the lack of goals in his career and his listing as a midfielder on the Man City website, thats what I assume we've bought him for. I am mystified at this signing, it just pushes our academy talent further down the pecking order. But still, we have him (I'm sure Glenn will explain in the morning).
Matty Pattison
Exciting prospect who will be a first team player somewhere, one day. Put on a good performance against West Brom last season.
Alan O'Brien
Very fast winger kept out the team, everyone is waiting to see how he develops over the course of his contract. In my opinion he needs to learn to use his pace. He is clearly skilled.
Forwards
Michael Owen
May not feature this season but still a squad member. Good to have around, fantastic striker.
Shola Ameobi
Scores with chances and has become an important player. I have noticed his interviews as well as his play maturing and he no longer the youngster. There shouldn't be any more problems with Shola, oh, apart from fitness.
Obafemi Martins
Great signing, hopefully fitness won't be a problem with our new number nine.
Giuseppe Rossi
Talented loan signing who I rate highly, pity he will only be better for Man U when he leaves. I just hope we don't miss him too much when he returns home.
Albert Luque
This is surely his last four months here, he just isn't very good for Newcastle.
May not feature this season but still a squad member. Good to have around, fantastic striker.
Shola Ameobi
Scores with chances and has become an important player. I have noticed his interviews as well as his play maturing and he no longer the youngster. There shouldn't be any more problems with Shola, oh, apart from fitness.
Obafemi Martins
Great signing, hopefully fitness won't be a problem with our new number nine.
Giuseppe Rossi
Talented loan signing who I rate highly, pity he will only be better for Man U when he leaves. I just hope we don't miss him too much when he returns home.
Albert Luque
This is surely his last four months here, he just isn't very good for Newcastle.