Keeping hold of the family jewels.
Transfer madness will soon be upon us and there will doubtless be endless speculation about our more talented players. Ayoze Perez has been linked with both Manchester united and Arsenal in the last few weeks, such has been his eye catching displays.
The player himself has now come out and spoken about the speculation and an article by Miles Starforth yesterday states, "When asked if he thought he could make another move soon, Perez told Diario De Avisos: “It would be a mistake to start thinking that now; it is too early. I’ve been at Newcastle for a few months and am very happy. I continue to work as usual and am in no rush. I just think about helping the team and returning all the trust the club has given me.” Reassuring words there from our young starlet, but as ever money talks and it's always a worry if a big offer comes in that the club will sell, before we've even had the chance to really enjoy his displays. You could say the same for Sissoko and Janmaat too, with both catching the eye of the bigger clubs, the latter being linked with Liverpool just yesterday.
I'm fairly certain if we'd seen more of young Aarrons this season he'd be on the most wanted list too, the vultures have already had a sneak peek at him in his limited showing. It's now completely transparent how the club operate as they confirmed in the latest fans forum minutes that they don't envisge our young talents seeing us as their only club. But the reality is, that it's better for the club if they desire to use us as a stepping stone as it's profits first, football second, of that there can be no doubt now in my opinion.
Whilst this transfer policy benefits the clubs coffers it does little to effect matters on the pitch. For every Sissoko, Perez or Janmaat you sell, you simply must replace with their equal in order to maintain and even progress in the premier league. It seems to me that this is where the plan falls down as we are a bit hit and miss with the players Carr unearths and we do seem to collect a few terminal crocks along the way as well.
Rather than let our better players go all the time I would like to see us hang on to some of them for a few seasons so we can enjoy them and the young fans can develop a bond with their favourite player. Every young football fan needs their hero but it's not much fun when they aren't around too long. Why would you bother getting a name put on the shirt? What's the point given the cost of a shirt nowadays?
In the end most of us would of had posters of players we idolised on our bedroom walls and they were mostly around long enough to foster a bond with, but it is a rare thing nowadays with the players that grace St. James Park. I feel really sad for the young fans just starting to go to St James Park as they won't get the pleasure of having the heroes a lot of us had in days gone by. Should they decide to put up a poster on the bedroom wall of their preferred player, unlike a lot of our heroes, I would hazard a guess said player won't be on the wall for more than one season.
By KIMTOON
