Newcastle United have bought exceptionally well this summer and once their players are settled in (last minute signings Faye and Beye haven’t played yet and Barton’s just returning from injury) and the injured players all come back (or most of them anyway), Sam Allardyce will have a very strong squad to choose from.

Indeed, despite the ’softly does it’ approach adopted by Big Sam when he arrived and claimed that no club could turn into champions overnight and that he needed time, Newcastle look hungrier, smarter and stronger than last season, and perhaps even 2 seasons ago when Roeder took them on a remarkable run at the end of the season to reach 7th place.

What pundits and some fans fail to realise is that the Premier League is now much harder than 2 years ago and similar performances will NOT bring 7th place for Newcastle United - they’ll have to play harder and do more. Luckily, they have the players and the manager to do so.

More Newcastle United news:

Emre is pining for a move away from Newcastle, presumably because he feels unwanted at Tyneside. This is a bit surprising because I’ve always classed Emre as a very good player who need just that extra edge in his game to take him to the next level. I suppose the whole racism thing plus the competition in central midfield at Newcastle United has deflated his morale and he wants to have an easier challenge. Unless it’s something else (problems with the manager, inability to settle in after all this time), all things point to Emre not having the mental / testicular fortitude to dig in and fight for his place and become a better player as a result.

If that’s really the case, it’s best for him and Newcastle if he leaves in January.

There are reports that Newcastle United are after the Brazilian Ze Maria who plays right-back. Ed over at the Newcastle United blog has more.

And finally, is Shay Given better than Peter Cech or Gianluigi Buffon? How does one test these things?

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