Quiet transfer window feels like 'missed opportunity'
Another transfer window over and what do Newcastle United have to show for it? A depleted squad and that is all, apparently.As you can imagine, I am not that jazzed to have gone through a third successive window without strengthening our starting XI.I understand that Profit and Sustainability rules must be adhered to and that, come June, we may be in a better position from that perspective to actually do some business in the summer. I get it.But it is not the summer, it is the winter - and it is cold and miserable and I wanted a shiny new player to get excited about.Newcastle's lack of depth has been exacerbated by the outgoings of Lloyd Kelly and Miguel Almiron. Eddie Howe said in his news conference on Tuesday that we are "lighter in numbers but high in quality" now.It is true that Kelly and Almiron were not close to our regular starting XI and that we do have some really exceptional players in our squad, but they need to be able to rest. We saw at the weekend against Fulham what a tired squad looks like. We saw it when we were in the Champions League. We need back-up.It is equally frustrating seeing teams around us in the table seemingly taking the gamble and strengthening their squads. Aston Villa have done some excellent business and are only four points off us.I know January is not necessarily the best time to buy - prices are high and players are reluctant to move around mid-season, plus integration time. I know there is more at play.However, to not take any sort of gamble when we really are in with a chance of finishing in a European place and have a pretty thin squad feels like a missed opportunity.Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external
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