Why Shefki stopgap means Toon must now spend ALL the Carroll cash in the summer - or else

By Brian McNally

Published 17:32 12/02/11

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Anyone suggesting last autumn that 34-year-old Shefki Kuqi would replace Andy Carroll in Newcastle's attack early in 2011 would probably have been certified insane.

We thought we had seen it all when Chris Hughton was sacked shortly after guiding Newcastle to a safe position in the first season back in the Premier League on the back of truly memorable victories over arch-rivals Sunderland and high-flying Arsenal.

The madness that is North-East football never ceases to amaze and enrage me and I gave up trying to predict the events in this corner of England many moons ago.

It was baffling to see £5million striker Xisco sent back to Spain on loan at a time when Newcastle were crying out for strikers. It certainly indicates that Xisco has absolutely no future on Tyneside if Pardew prefers the out-of-work Kuqi to one of the club's big-money buys.

Even the veteran Finnish striker found the initial news of his move back to the Premier League hard to believe when his agent broke it to him. He did, after all, have his last contract cancelled by Swansea City.

But Magpies boss Alan Pardew insists that the arrival of free agent Kuqi isn't as crazy as it first seems. He believes that the Flying Finn - as he is know because of his unusual goal celebration where he flops on his belly - will do a useful short-term job to fill the gaps created by Carroll's departure and Shola Ameobi's injury.

And Kuqi accepts that he has absolutely no chance of being kept on after the season ends. He may do a stand-in job for Newcastle coming off the bench, but to many Magpies fans his arrival sends out bad vibes.

But Pardew is fully aware that just below the surface at St. James' Park there is a simmering tension among Newcastle fans frustrated at the way things have unfolded this season.

The manager saw signs of that brooding discontent during the first half of that incredible 4-4 draw with Arsenal when angry Toon fans verbally remonstrated with him and pointed to the exit door.

Pardew knows that the crucial test for his new regime will come this summer when Geordie fans eventually find out how the £35million they banked from Carroll's sale will be spent.

At the moment an uneasy truce exists between fans and club. Newcastle owner Mike Ashley  must show a positive response in the transfer market if they are to keep the Toon Army on board.

And that means spending ALL of the Carroll money on top-class players. Nothing less will do!

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