As we saw last season, when the kids were drafted in for the League Cup, FA Cup and European ties ... they weren't up to scratch.
Who is coming through the ranks that excites?
Having watched the reserves many times last season, I cannot name one!
I can promise you ... there ain't no Gazza, Pedro, Waddle or Shearer hiding under a stone waiting to dazzle.
Part of new director of football Joe Kinnear’s job is to take more of a strategic role with the reserves and younger players, which is one area that owner Mike Ashley does not feel has provided enough value for money in recent years.
When United were left without specialist centre-back cover in December 2011 – forcing them into playing Danny Simpson there – Ashley is understood to have questioned why there were no defenders of the required standard coming through the Academy who could be used.
Work has been done in the meantime to try and remedy this situation, but Ashley is understood to have expressed his dismay again this season that the squad does not have enough players on the fringes who are ready to make an impact.
Kinnear hinted last Sunday that his remit included assessing fringe players, who did not feature in the Premier League last season, to make a judgement on whether they were good enough.
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES:
Motherwell (A) July 16Rio Ave (A) July 20Pacos Ferreira (A) July 23Blackpool (A) July 29St Mirren (A) July 31Braga (H) August 10
WE TELL IT AS IT IS - NO BULLSHIT!
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NEWCASTLE UNITED FIXTURES ...
Saturday August 17 15:00Premier League Manchester City v Newcastle United Saturday August 24 15:00Premier League Newcastle United v West Ham United Saturday August 31 15:00Premier League Newcastle United v Fulham Saturday September 14 15:00Premier League Aston Villa v Newcastle United Saturday September 21 15:00Premier League Newcastle United v Hull City Saturday September 28 15:00Premier League Everton Newcastle v United Saturday October 5 15:00Premier League Cardiff City v Newcastle United Saturday October 19 15:00Premier League Newcastle United v Liverpool Saturday October 26 15:00Premier League Sunderland v Newcastle United Saturday November 2
Source: Newcastle United Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
