I agree with GARY NEVILLE - It's time for PIF to make a transfer statement soon

[toonozandy]

Gary Neville says Newcastle soon need to make a statement in the transfer market!

Despite Newcastle United having been busy in the transfer market this summer with Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall - all arriving to strengthen the first-team squad - as has been the case throughout PIF’s time at St James’ Park, Newcastle have stayed away from some superstar names.

While FFP issues surely play a part in that, Newcastle have focused on signing players perhaps below that very top level who can grow and develop under Eddie Howe.

Gary Neville, however, believes that soon may need to change.

Indeed, the Sky Sports pundit was speaking on his podcast after watching Newcastle fail to put the game to bed against Liverpool on Sunday.

Despite being in total control and leading against a ten-man opposition, the second goal never came and allowed Liverpool to stay in the game, meaning Darwin Nunez’s late brace proved fatal.

“I think Newcastle are on a good trajectory under Eddie Howe – the way the new owners have managed it has been perfect,” he said.

“They’ve built a strong foundation. But at some point they will have to add the quality of player in the front part of the pitch.

“It may make Howe’s stomach churn a little as that kind of player won’t do the transition work out of possession that he’ll want. Newcastle are the best team out of possession in the Premier League. They all fight for one another.

“But when you bring in a talented player sometimes they believe they don’t need to work the hard yards back. But what you get back in return is really high quality and clinical finishing. Newcastle’s front players lacked that ability to kill the game off vs Liverpool – that’s the question that will come for Howe at some point.”

After a season in the Champions League and one more year into the PIF project, it may soon be time to go big on a player.

While there has been investment of course, the club’s £60m transfer record looks relatively modest against the teams they’re trying to compete against.

Next summer, all being well, it may be time to enter the £100m bracket should FFP allow.

Clearly, there’s no guarantee that would work but it is a balance Howe needs to find. Though he’s all about the collective, a higher quality of individual could complicate matters, as Neville points out.

Still, such has been the success of the recruitment since the takeover, you’d have to back the club to get it right.

[Sclox]

Not sure we should take advice from Neville. I think this kind of Billy big bollloxx signing can have knock on effects to squad harmony. Gotta be the right player too.

As long as we keep improving as we are I'm happy.

[Jammy89]

I get what is being said, however, we are still a bit ****ed with FFP.

We make a big statement signing and it doesn't work out - we can't correct.

Which I'm sure would delight Gary Neville.

Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, CIty, LiVARpool and Spuds all can at the minute.

[GBruno]

Chiesa was the one for me, although a gamble.

Anyone else missing ASM?

[18nufc92]

I don’t see any Manchester City players failing to track back and put in the hard yards. He’s a good pundit but i disagree with Gary Neville on this one. It’s not a star player we lack, it’s quality in 2 or 3 positions and working on our midfield balance. Bruno isn’t a natural holding midfielder but is being asked to play that role in the absence of any natural option in the squad. We also lack pace in defence which cost us the game on Sunday.

[Zippity]

Aye, pace in defence is key and I'm surprised we didn't address it this Summer.

[Sclox]

We are a work in progress. Defeats are going to happen along the way, by my reckoning we need another couple of windows doing just exactly what we are doing.

[Nufcian]

I think it’s a sh!tty idea, and would be a case of self-sabotage.

The issue with “statement signings” is they need to be paid statement signing wages.

Then you have a squad full of players unhappy that someone is on 2/3/4/5 times those wages.

We’ve signed great quality players as it is, a couple more windows, 4 or 5 more signings with CL experience, and another year qualified for the CL needed before our finances could even consider a statement signing and reviewing the squads wages to keep it happy.

[Sclox]

....and another thing, a statement signing would want trophies right away and would throw the toys out if he wasn't getting his rse kiseed regularly and often. It would also heap pressure on the squad to get results with finances and as we have witnesed I am not sure we can deal with pressure YET. We are an embryo team, even Eddie is in uncharted waters. Why ruin our progression to date, we aren't ready quite yet.

[ex_pat_magpie]

I think it’s a sh!tty idea, and would be a case of self-sabotage.

The issue with “statement signings” is they need to be paid statement signing wages.

Then you have a squad full of players unhappy that someone is on 2/3/4/5 times those wages.

We’ve signed great quality players as it is, a couple more windows, 4 or 5 more signings with CL experience, and another year qualified for the CL needed before our finances could even consider a statement signing and reviewing the squads wages to keep it happy.

Spot on Ian, because we are now competing directly with the likes of Manure,Citeh, Chelskie le Arse, Liverpool and Spuds, it still IS NOT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

That mob of six have had it their own way, backed by the authorities for decades with only Leicester in recent years breaking in , and look where poor Leicester are now.

I think our lot are doing it correctly, starting with as solid a base as they could build and then building up steadily without Prima Donnas, a good squad of players of similar ability but with ability to improve together as a unit and individually.

Look what happened at Liverpool for instance when they bought the "finished article" from us in the name of Andy Carroll.

I hope and believe in a couple of seasons when Eddie Howe has his basic squad of ideal players to work with, and then window on window only has to tweak things, or bring in youngsters with potential; or replace former stalwarts who are coming to the end of their Prem careers, we as a club will have set the standard of "the level playing field" for the likes of the "old previous big six" where ever in the league they are in then to be envious of us and attempt to emulate what we have done.