Season preview/prediction - updated

The 2011-12 Premier League season is shaping up to be a very interesting one as far as Newcastle United are concerned. A summer in which the £35m from the sale of Andy Carroll was promised to be reinvested has nearly come to a conclusion. Instead of big name, big price-tag players arriving at St James's, Newcastle have sold their inspirational captain, had a tour to America somewhat wasted by a combination of injury and visa issues, and made a certain tweeting midfielder available on a free transfer. Throughout the summer Newcastle have looked to recruit, as well as selling, and although manager Alan Pardew professes the club are an appealing option to prospective purchases, the club seem to have had difficulty recruiting players of any note. The question is have Newcastle managed to build a squad capable of improving on their 12^th place position of last year, or are the Toon Army in for a season in which finger nails will be lacking for many?

Goalkeepers: 

Although no goalkeepers have been signed during the summer, it could be seen that Newcastle have still increased their depth between the sticks. Fraser Forster, out on loan at Scottish giants, Celtic last year, has returned and is seemingly up for the competition of becoming Newcastle's number one. Steve Harper is now 36, and last year showed glimpses that it may be time for United to install a new first team regular. In the last year it is Tim Krul who has made the greatest claim. He has gone from strength to strength, getting much more game time than in his previous four years with Newcastle. This culminated in a call-up to the Dutch national team in June, earning two caps against Brazil and Uruguay. From Pardew's pre-season team selections, it would appear that he feels Krul is the man that can be Newcastle's 'keeper for the next few years.

Defence: 

Nothing much has changed defensively over the last few months. Newcastle have been linked with a seemingly never-ending list of left backs from across the globe. It seemed that Newcastle were operating a selling before buying policy with regards to a left back – with want away full back Jose Enrique staying in the North East for much more of the summer than most expected. Surely now that his move to Liverpool has been completed Newcastle merely have to put the finishing touches to a deal to bring in a new defender. Erik Pieters of PSV is a name that has been mooted in the last few days, but with the Eindhoven team apparently demanding £6m, will Ashley instead choose to revert to seemingly his favourite hunting ground- the bargain bin of French Ligue 1? The hope amongst the Geordie faithful is that the Newcastle hierarchy have a pre-arranged replacement, although, of course, nothing is ever that simple at Newcastle.

Midfield: 

If you were to ask a Newcastle fan what areas of the team were in need of bolstering at the end of last season, most would have probably highlighted the need for strengthening in defence, and for one or two new strikers. It is odd then, that so far, of the four first team players brought in, three have been midfielders. The sale of Kevin Nolan to West Ham is a deal that many fans saw as the heart being pulled out of the team, but with the summer additions of Obertan, Marveaux and Cabaye, plus the return of Hatem Ben Arfa, and of forgotten man, Dan Gosling, Newcastle surely have one of the strongest midfields outside of the top four.

Will Pardew be able to bring in a new no.9 to excite the fans?

Attackers:

After the well documented loss of Andy Carroll in January, Newcastle were visibly short of firepower in the second half of last season. It was important therefore that the club strengthened heavily at the business end of the pitch. Since May, Newcastle have only managed to add Demba Ba to their list of strikers, leaving them with 3 players in Leon Best, Shola Ameobi and Ba, that are all very similar players. All three are tall and muscular; there is therefore a worry that this will leave the team very short on tactical options, with the long ball up to a big man not matching the additions of pace and flair in midfield. Ameobi has been tied down to a new contract, something which I see as a definite positive. Yes he is frustrating, and yes, he will never be a 20+ goals a season man, but he has a passion for the club that I feel is important to keep. Pardew has promised on several occasions since the addition of Demba Ba, that he will bring in at least one more front man before the 31^st August, but after being linked with a string of attackers including Gervinho, Defoe, Bendtner and Erdinc, I am worried that players of any real proven quality simply do not want to play for a team, that although playing in front of 50,000 every week, have not been in European competition  since 2006, and have shown very little in the way of being able to recreate their top 4 form of the early noughties.

As a Newcastle fan, I feel that the immediate aim of the club should be to stabilise, therefore Premier League survival should be the first target. Anything after that would be a bonus. Talks of pushing for Europe are somewhat premature, as despite considerable strengthening, the team is still someway of the likes of Tottenham or Everton. If Pardew can bring in a Striker and a left back before the transfer window slams shut, then I believe a top half finish would not be unattainable. With the current group of players the worry is that the team simply do not have enough depth, or enough firepower, and they may find themselves in a scrap for survival.

My Prediction for this season: 12th