Anyway , three points are three points. A sizeable gap is now appearing in the table but West Brom are clearly a threat if we are to finish at the very top. As for Harewood, I know fans have given him some stick but perhaps this is his turning point. I’m still wondering why he was subbed without a chance at taking hat-track within the full 90!  Harewood is keen to stay on saying:

“I think I’m here until January, but I’d love to have it extended and be part of this for the rest of the season…

I don’t know whether there’s been any moves behind the scenes to extend it, so I’ve just got keep my head down and keep coming in day in, day out and doing my best.”

Time’s running out for him though and he’ll probably have his future decided very soon. I’m hoping he’ll do enough to prove himself in the next couple of games. We shall see.

As for the weekend’s match, at the end of the day it didn’t matter as the team kept a clean sheet but we had to take some punches in the second half and didn’t have much of an answer back. Let’s hope against Watford we start just as well and we’ll have more to give throughout the match.

“I have been approached by several clubs, and yes, it is correct to say that Newcastle are one of them. People might be surprised to hear me say that I would be very interested in a move there, but I have my reasons. Also, Newcastle are a big club and could be heading back to the Premier League. It appeals.”

I think a player like Sol Campbell should work well in the squad and I’ve been impressed with most of his time in Pompey. His track record in Arsenal and England speaks for itself. It makes sense for Hughton to try and sign him considering our injury and suspension issues.

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Today, we brought in the services of Blackburn defender,  Zurab Khizanishvili to hopefully fill in any gaps poised by tough opposition. The 27 year old will slot into the team this Saturday against Championship strugglers, Plymouth. The loan move will  be temporary at three months (probably signalling the time expected when Ashley will complete any club sale). Chris Hughton is still chasing Kamara from Fulham although reports may suggest that has been blocked. Time will tell.

Hopefully, we’ll get Alan Smith back in the squad to pull together the midfield.

The transfer window closing was more about getting players out then in. Unsurprising, as the long drawn out sales process had effectively put the dampners on any players coming in. The wage bill had to be cut and that is a fact. The only player we picked up on transfer day was Peter Lovenkrand, who returns to the SJP to cover for the long term injured Shola. It really didn’t shock me that Shola had untimely brokedown. He’s been on-and-off throughout the past few seasons. A disappointment in my view was the failure to bring in Sol Campbell, who opted for Sven’s revamped Notts County instead.

Despite fluffing the transfer window, we can still expect some short term loan deals to be hammered out. Rumour has it that Marlon Harewood could be coming to us. What concerns fans is that you can list our squad on a postage stamp and still have room to write! We need that momentum carried into Christmas, if we have a big chance for promotion straight off and not piss around in the play offs.

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Elsewhere, Manchester City and Everton have agreed on a £22m fee for unsettled Evertonian, Joleon Lescott to move to Manchester City Staduim. This effectively clears the way for Everton to make a bid for Steven Taylor to boost their faltering Premiership campaign.

It is understood that talks will continue over the weekend with Moat and other Consortia to try and match the £100m price tag which was set bt Ashley back in July. The indecision and frustrations of the past few weeks should at last be dispelled but questions are still being asked as the timing of the announcement and the closure of the transfer window. Any new manager which comes in will have to act extremely quickly be that Kinnear, O’Leary , Shearer or, hell with it, even Hughton!

One thing’s for sure is that back to back wins over the past few days has left players and fans with some thing to smile about. Let’s hope Monday ushers in a new era for the club without Ashley.

Harper has already voiced his concern saying:

“We want it to be resolved so we know where we are and where we’re going because at this moment the football club is dying a slow, painful death. For five or six years now it’s been a gradual slow implosion. The situation is very, very frustrating for all of us. To be fair to Chris Hughton, Colin Calderwood and the lads, we have made the best of what is a dreadful situation. But at the moment the club isn’t rebuilding – it’s in a state of limbo and that is no good for anyone.”

Nicky Butt said:

“The season is going to be a tough one. It’s a very difficult league we’re in now. Things won’t be as easy as maybe some people think they will be in the Championship.

“It’s going to be a massive challenge for us but hopefully it’s one that we’re going to be able to match.

“I think it’s well documented that the club needs a bit more strength-in-depth. But it’s frustrating because time is running out to bring in players.

“It’s ideal to get players in early doors so that you can bond with them, but it’s frustrating when you are still waiting and almost falling behind other teams.”

Others have voiced their opinions as well such as Taylor and Nolan. Some players have clearly had enough with Beye being the latest to say he wants out of the mad house. As for the fans, well, it says something when season ticket sales has been the worst for 20 years.

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Amidst the shocking news that Michael Owen had been snapped up by Man Utd last week (fans there expecting the worst). Is Fergie going a bit senile in his old age and not remembering the fact that Owen was mostly injured throughout his four years here? Who knows. Perhaps a little light will finally switch on in Owen’s brain and finally someone will get to see him actually score something. Transfer activity in Newcastle itself is shockingly static at the moment. The team is stuck in limbo whilst the incompetent ones decide what’s going on amoungst themsleves.

So far, the picture is still as unclear as ever, so fans have some more frustrating hours to endure with only lass than a month before the first ball is kicked in the Championship.

News from what we hear suggests that the books have been upon for potential buyers and Mike Ashley has reportedly been in optismistic mood. The various consortias are unfortunately not allowed to disclose anything about their intentions so all info coming out still remains highly speculative. This all leaves the fans and Manager-in-waiting, Alan Shearer in the same frustrating situation.

In the meantime, the transfers still go ahead with Bassong increasingly looking likely to move on. The funny (if I can call it that) thing is that when the pre-season friendlies kick off next month, we’ll probably still get to lumber out the team that lost to Aston Villa potentially.

Hopefully, it will be a short time longer before someone can definitely tell us what’s going on in regards to the sale.