How 'Premier League ready' are NUFC?

It’s back! Newcastle will renew their Premier League status on Sunday against the team they signed off against just over a year ago. A 5-1 shellacking that day – anywhere close to a repeat performance would represent a dream start for the Toon. In reality, the team that finished runners-up last year will provide an extremely tough test, and will likely provide us with an immediate impression of how ‘Premier League ready’ this team really is.

It’s been a strange summer. The promise that ‘every last penny’ would find its way into Rafa’s pocket, coupled with over-excitable headlines that there might something close to 100m in the bank had us all feeling optimistic and relaxed. But the early transfers the manager desired never arrived, and it’s no secret that what we have bought largely represents second, third and fourth rate targets.

It’s difficult to know exactly what has happened this summer. Clearly the market is inflated – and with the massive differential in earnings between Premier League clubs and promoted Championship it is perhaps understandable that we have not been able to secure the players we wanted. Having said that, while some players initially targeted probably did end up out of our price range, it is definitely not the case that everyone was, or is. Tammy Abraham was available. We are only 1-2m short of Lucas Perez’s valuation but we refuse to pay it. The over-cautiousness and penny pinching we have come to associate with the Ashley regime has been only too familiar.

So at the time of writing, that leaves us with signings: Manquillo, Murphy, Atsu, Lejeune, Merino. Nothing spectacular, nothing particularly inspiring. Newcastle have looked fairly impressive in pre-season against largely unimpressive opposition – making it difficult to know what this season might look like. It will largely depend on whether Newcastle secure a striker, and in my view we still need another attacking midfielder.

But we have Rafa. Despite his well-aired frustrations (something so refreshing to hear after the faux-diplomacy of Pardew and McClaren) Benitez has reiterated his commitment to the club, and it seems as if he is relishing the challenge at keeping us in the division. It is perhaps the case that Rafa understands the club’s financial situation this year, but may be far less tolerant next year should we survive. This is perhaps the optimist’s assessment.

To the game: and Newcastle will undoubtedly be well organized, and hope that Spurs are caught cold. The threat of Kane, Alli and Son is well known, but Newcastle will be boosted by Spurs’ defensive woes, along with the potential appearance of Moussa Sissoko.

To be honest, I don’t know how to feel about this season. Thrilled to be back, nervous about our readiness, terrified the one world-class thing about our club might leave. Welcome back, Newcastle.