Why NUFC final day transfer drama is irrelevant - they’ve already transformed perceptions

The transfer window in England closes at 11pm - but people expecting a last minute NUFC deal dash are likely to be left disappointed.

NUFC will do business on the final day of the transfer window - but it might not be as exciting as some would like.

Consumer culture. The throwaway society. Is enough ever enough?

That’s the question I found myself pondering after seeing social media’s response to the news that Newcastle United would be pulling off one of the coups of the summer - hats off to Ross Wilson and David Hopkinson - the signing of much-vaunted, much-coveted, Matias Fernandez-Pardo.

This is some bit of business, by the way. This is a player loved at Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and on the Arsenal long-list. Importantly, he was also big in Leipzig, they don’t sign players who don’t fit the ‘RB way’ - understandable now why Matthias Jaissle played such a big hand in negotiations.

While the masses seem happy with their club’s business, many did just seem to move on from it much faster than I anticipated, though. ‘What’s next?’ seemed to drive the narrative as strongly as ‘what number will he wear?’ or ‘how much will he cost?’. Maybe it’s a societal thing, maybe it’s not that deep. Maybe it’s just football and modern fandom. Either way, it makes for a good point to ponder on - do football fans always strive for more, is it in the blood, or can enough truly ever be enough, especially when it has the potential to be so special?

Even without a final day deal, is this window enough? Newcastle United have delivered. From a position of potential weakness, they’ve stoked summer window success from the dying embers of an old, tired regime.

The NUFC narrative switch - a club & mood transformed

This last fortnight has delivered a transformation in personnel, strategy and mood few predicted. I didn’t. I was stood in the aftermath of the club’s third friendly ‘defeat’ on the bounce, questioning whether the team was ready for the Premier League - it started in just seven days. And my concerns were right. That wasn’t a ready team. It has shown since, with some extra time and classy additions, it can compete.

Newcastle United needed players. It needed quality. It’s new manager needed backed. They have done all of those things. They have done so this week from a position of strength. The easy option was to do nothing. But they showed willing to deliver for Jaissle, for you, for the players, for everyone. And because of that, perceptions have altered. Gone are the days of predicting relegation battles - plenty did - and back is talk of a Euro charge. Now, both of those standpoints have the same flaws - we are only days into the season, and we don’t yet know what Jaissle’s NUFC really looks like, although we know it is direct and has bottle. Anything could happen, but the signs are positive, we’ve all seen enough football to work that bit out.

Transfer policy neglected talent drain - not now

Transfer chiefs spent 60% of the summer raiding the untried and untested youth ranks in search of the next Bruno Guimaraes or Sandro Tonali. They might have found one, but we will have to wait to find out. What that strategy neglected, having lost those two, and importantly Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier, was the need for experience, leaders and quality.

First they went for a standard-setting, Jaissle disciple in Amar Dedic. He leads by example, has added assists and quality on the right. He can also play on the left, if needed. He’s been so good, however, he may never be moved.

Then it was proven quality, plugging a midfield gap with passing metronome Nico Gonzalez. Another who leads not with words but by actions - good actions, actions that good it seems criminal he cost just £50million, there or thereabouts.

And finally, the act of sealing the deal for one of the most talked about forwards on the continent, having felt the transfer impossible only a few weeks back, is remarkable. It needs to be treated as such. Fernandez-Pardo will add speed, threat and replace direct actions that walked out the door with Gordon.

Put the three deals together and that, for me, takes a 3/10 window to an 8/10. It’s been that transformative.

Will NUFC complete more deals?

Now, back to the want for more and question on enough.

The likelihood now is that Newcastle are - after Fernandez-Pardo gets done and Nick Woltemade heads off to Juventus - done for the summer, barring any last minute market opportunities. Ideally, would they have done more? Yes. But life isn’t perfect. Should that lack of final day drama take away from what has gone before? It should not.

This has been the summer to end all summers when it comes to transformation. Newcastle could exist another 100 years and not have to deal with the bumps in the road this one threw up. So to be coming out of it feeling arguably just as strong, if not stronger - this could easily just be riding the crest of a wave stuff - is a shock to the system.

Time will be the ultimate judge of this window, but the last few weeks have certainly been enjoyable. Cherish it - it’s very much felt like getting the old Newcastle back - even without a deadline day dopamine spike. I mean, I’d take one, I’m just not expecting it, nor should you.