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With the start of the new Premiership season nigh, everyone is starting to wonder just how their team will fare in the new campaign. 
Bobby Robson has strengthened his attacking options somewhat, with the singings of Carl Cort from Wimbledon for 7 million pounds, and Daniel Cordone on a years loan from Racing Club which set us back half a mill, and also Argentinian Christian Bassedas from Velez Sarsfield for £3.5m who plays in the centre of midfield. 
In the departures side of things Alessandro Pistone has left for Everton for £3 million, which most people think is quite a good deal for us. Paul Robinson has gone to Wimbledon for £1.5m, maybe worth the money maybe not, the lad didn't really have a chance to prove himself in a Newcastle shirt, except for the reserves who he was a regular for. 
The player all Toon fans will be glad to see the back off will be Silvio Maric, who has finally buggered off to Porto for £2m, which will be worth every penny as far as we're concerned...in the end I think some Geordies would've paid to see the back of him.
Our Georgian Baldy Temuri Ketsbaia has gone to Wolves for just a shade under the million, a player most people will be sad to see the back of. The lad has tried his hardest every time he pulled on the stripes, and popped up with some really memorable goals now and again. 
Our perennial crock Steve Howey has signed for newly promoted Manchester City for an initial £2m, which is likely to rise if he manages to remain fit and injury free. 
Someone else Toon fans will be glad to see the back of is Lionel Perez, who has gone to Cambridge on a free transfer. The days of the Frenchman lounging around in the reserves getting bucket loads are finally over.
Stuart Elliot has moved to Darlington on a free transfer, and Carl Serrant has gone to Sheffied United on loan.
The big sale of the summer for Newcastle was that of Duncan Ferguson, who eventually moved back to Everton after an on off not quite Nicholas Anelka affair. The fee of £3.75m only half of what we paid to secure his services a couple of years ago, and as much as it annoys the fans to see him injured every second week, I think most people had warmed to the big Scot, and he did score that goal against Manure.
So, in view of all the summer wheelings and dealings, I really don't think we're any better off, apart from getting rid of the disgrace commonly known as Maric. The area we really struggled in last season was defence, and Bobby Robson hasn't signed anyone to strenghten the back four. You could even go as far to say he has weakened it buy selling Steve Howey to Manchester City.
But aside from that, I think we will have a good season. We finished strongly last season, recovering from a catastrophical start to finish comfortably mid table, which was Bobby Robson's goal completed with flying colours. Surely when he came to the club survival was the only thing on everyone's minds, and by finishing 11th, we did that comfortably.
So this season will be a year of building. Bobby Robson embarks on his first full season in charge, and the players will be looking to bounce back from the start last season to see if we can qualify for a European spot in 2001.