Newcastle United icon Rob Lee has spoken to Chronicle Live about the tough summer ahead and what it would take to win over supporters. Lee reckons that Jarrod Bowen and James Trafford would be the marquee signings Newcastle need to reclaim their place at the business end of the Premier League table.
The former Newcastle captain feels that last summer's rushed spending spree of £240m ended up costing Eddie Howe dear last term, and that was the main factor for slumping to 12th place. As Nick Woltemade, Jacob Ramsey, Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa all struggled for fitness, form and consistency, Lee wants to see serious action in the window this summer.
Lee, now going viral on YouTube on the Adopted Geordies Podcast, said: "The danger is, and with all due respect, we didn't buy well last summer. They are all talented players, we know that. We need proven quality at Newcastle. For me, I'd be going for players like Jarrod Bowen and James Trafford, who are ready to go."
"But they have not performed for Newcastle, with probably the exception of Malick Thiaw, who was a bonus in the end; he did extremely well. If the others were being honest (Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey), they have not performed. They are all talented. Elanga did well at Forest, Wissa scored goals at Brentford, and Woltemade is a clear talent."
"It is unfortunate for Woltemade because we just don't know where to play him. We spent £240m which is a lot of money and I think we have to get it right this year. They have given him the opportunity to get it right now."
The poor campaign left Howe on the end of some pressure from fans, with the Magpies suffering boos after home defeats to AFC Bournemouth and, more significantly, Sunderland. But Howe, who played under greats like Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson, does not see changing manager as the solution.
Lee said: "If he left the club, there would be so many big clubs after him. It tells me he is a good manager. The spotlight will be on who he buys this summer. I don't think the players we signed last year made us a better team, they might all come through and improve us this year, but when you pay over £50m for any player, you expect them to hit the ground running. You don't expect them to have a year to bed in at that level. People will look at who Eddie buys."
"But what is the remit? Are we looking at young players we can sell? Jarrod Bowen and James Trafford are ready to go and would be a good start. Bowen might be 29, but he does not miss games and scores goals. Age does not bother me, Keegan signed people like Paul Bracewell, Kevin Sheedy and Barry Venison; they all did a job. I signed for Newcastle at 26 and played for 10 years, you can't always get young players."
Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson told supporters at a fan open night back in December that he wanted to be surrounded by trophies in the coming years. Lee admires the ambition but believes that catching up to AFC Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion are the first targets for Newcastle next season.
Lee said: "We all want to be surrounded by trophies! I know people want to follow Bournemouth and Brighton, but the trouble is, it is a lottery whether they can handle the Premier League. People follow those two teams because they have done so well at it. It will be interesting to see, and everybody will be watching to see who replaces Anthony Gordon or maybe Sandro Tonali if he goes."
