"They will get the mercenary mob in, because which big-name talents are going to agree to join the club marooned at the bottom of the Premier League?" The words of Chris Sutton, a month into Newcastle's new regime with the Magpies rock bottom of the table.
In November, you would find it very hard to argue with Sutton's prediction, Newcastle's position in the Premier League could have caused huge problems in the January transfer market, and to an extent, it did. Hugo Ekitike turned down a move to Tyneside to stay with Ligue 1 side Reims, but at that point the Magpies were in the middle of what would become their nine-game unbeaten run, with uncertainty of their Premier League status still lingering in the air.
At the time of his prediction, Eddie Howe's side were rock bottom of the Premier League having taken just six points from their opening 13 matches. Things would get worse before they got any better.
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Newcastle had made their worst start in Premier League history and the new owners must have been left wondering what they'd walked into. Fast forward six months, and the Magpies owners, players and coaching staff have proven people wrong.
The 'mercenary' claim made by Sutton is a one commonly associated with clubs in the aftermath of takeovers, poor characters looking to make a quick buck, with results on the pitch not living up to expectations. For Newcastle fans they've seen it all before so it was right to suggest it could happen.
He told Sportsmail: “I don't think it's too soon to say Newcastle are entering 'must win' territory. They can try to hang on until the January window opens but even that will present its own problems. They will get the mercenary mob in, because which big-name talents are going to agree to join the club marooned at the bottom of the Premier League?
“Right now, Newcastle have a Championship back line with a couple of talented forwards in Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin. It's nice having all the money in the world but if the XI you name on a Saturday can't put in a performance then you're up a certain creek without a paddle.
“Eddie Howe's players have to be looking at tonight's game against Norwich as a must win, and the same goes for Burnley on Saturday. They can't get away from the fact that most fans across the country would be laughing if Newcastle go down. That adds to the pressure on Howe.”
Kieran Trippier was the first name through the door, a coup that sent out a real message to the rest of the Premier League. Newcastle were here and they weren't going down without a fight. Other than Bruno Guimaraes, every player who came through the door in January had experience of playing in the top flight.
That alone might prove key in the Magpies staying up. There's no doubt that there's plenty work to do, you need just look at the drubbing against Tottenham last weekend, but there's no sign of any 'mercenaries' in the St. James' Park camp and they're well on their way to pulling off a great escape.
Credit must go to the owners and the recruitment team at Newcastle for bringing in the right characters for the relegation battle. People will look back and play down the achievement given January's influx of cash, but Howe also deserves massive credit for transforming a Newcastle side on the slide into Premier League survivors - if they pull it off.
