Another awful transfer window

Kinnear spotted doing some work... So the transfer window has been and gone and with it so have our chances of adding to the squad we have.

On the positive side we didn't lose any of our key players thus keeping hold of Yohan Cabaye who will no doubt be "like a new signing" in the coming days.

All we have to show for our endless scouting missions, our protracted negotiations and all the waffle that goes along with it is a loan signing from a relegated club who we don't even have an option to buy at the end of the deal according to reports. It's not great is it?

There is a new TV deal in place, a deal so lucrative it ensures that even the bottom club in the Premier League will pocket more than Manchester United did for winning the league last season. We have a sponsorship deal in place which, despite the controversial nature of it's business, apparently "allow us to buy a new player each year" according to Derek Llambias.

So where has all the money gone?

Now don't get me wrong. I know that the TV money is awarded in stages so it's not like we have a £60 million pot of cash just sitting there, but it's the same for other clubs aswell. Some of them have front-loaded the cash and put the bulk of it up themselves so they can improve now, others have spent what they wanted to with what hey have available and then there is us who have spent just £2 million.

Regardless of however people want to paint us I do think we are quite a realistic bunch. Many of us know that we won't be spending £20 million on this or that player and to be honest that doesn't bother me personally. However we do want to see strengthening of some description and maybe a willingness to back a Chief Scout who is noted for his eye for talent.

Here's a difficult thought.... How about spending a bit on Carr's recommendation and perhaps making more money back in the long run rather than outlaying the bare minimum? Speculate to accumulate if you like, only without leaving us short when the eventual injuries hit.

I'm not surprised by our transfer window at all which has probably been shown in my articles, or lack of them, about transfer links here and there. I'm not surprised we've signed nobody and I believe that was our plan all along.

Obviously I feel sorry for the fans as we pay our money into this club in many ways and we deserve more than having to wish for a perfect season when it comes to injuries or suspension. It was bad last season but at least we don't have the inconvenience of the Europa League this years eh?

I feel sorry for the players who have basically been told that they are going to get no help even though they struggled last season. Can anyone blame Cabaye for wanting to be away? I bet he's not the last one to be casting envious glances elsewhere.

I also feel sorry for Alan Pardew. Now he brings a lot of things on himself as he can't control his mouth and no matter how hard he hops for "one or two" to be brought "over the line" the reality is that he has no say in how things like that work and just has to get on with the players he has at his disposal. I'm sure Pardew is no different to other managers who will always like to see their squad added to, unfortunately he just doesn't get a choice about it.

So where do we go from here? I don't know. People won't walk with their feet, not enough to make a difference anyway and if they do it will just be reflected in the balance sheet which will then be used as a stick to beat us with and as an excuse to not spend again.

These are dark days and I only hope Ashley has failed to spend because there is something bigger going on behind the scenes, such as a sale. He's done some great things for Newcastle like sort out the finances, but that needs to be balanced with improving the first team and on that latter score we've been woeful.

The end.