Well, did we speak too soon?
Or did the wave of nervous energy this week on Tyneside finally spark the new board into the realisation that the squad needed sorted out quick smart?
Either way, the expected arrivals of Alan Smith, Cacapa and maybe now Leighton Baines - saying as we are desperate for a left-back - must be a big step forward.
Losing to a team that only survived relegation to League One on the second to last weekend of last season simply rubber stamped the fact that United's squad lacks depth.
And ironically the loss at Hull could turn out to be the best result of the season, if it was finally the night that Mr Ashley and Mr Mort worked out they must improve the roster at SJP.
To be fair a starting line-up of Given, Carr, Taylor, Rozenhal, Huntington/Babayaro, Milner, Butt, Barton, Duff, Owen and Viduka would probably beat most teams outside of the top four on their day quite comfortably - if they were all fit.
Don't get me wrong, the above team is just one of many starting line-ups that Big Sam could field and chuck in the likes of Geremi, N'Zogbia, Martins, Ameobi, Emre, Solano and Luque - and now Alan Smith and Capaca, all of us have our own views on who should and shouldn't start.
But we know it doesn't work out as straight forward as that, especially when you hit injury trouble.
Last season was the classic example.
United went into the season with a paper thin squad and as soon as the injuries kicked in, it went pear shaped.
It meant that United's board came across as desperate men on August 31st when Antoine Sibierski and Seppe Rossi were ushered in the through the backdoor and then a clapped out Olly Bernard the next day when other sides around Europe were beaming with pride at their squad.
What followed was a 13th place finish, a dreadful FA Cup exit to Birmingham and a pure capitulation against AZ Alkmaar in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.
Read what you like into the Carling Cup run that saw Portsmouth dumped out in the rain at St James' Park and then a jammy win on pens at soon to be relegated Watford before ultimately bowing out to Chelsea.
Glenn Roeder did his best to raise the side but as much as some of us wanted our former skipper to do the business, it wasn't enough.
Confidence is high that Big Sam can do the same and the arrivals of Mark Viduka, Geremi, David Rozenhal, Joey Barton and hopefully Alan Smith and Capaca are quite heart warming.
But the memory of a team of unknowns at the final whistle at Hull was the warning sign that should the first team regulars get caught up in the crazy injury situation that occurred last term, Newcastle will be bang in trouble.
The message to the board and the manager has to be keep looking, keep recruiting and keep spending please.
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »