We'll open with Gordon Strachan's take on where the squad needs strengthening:- "We are decent in the striking area when everyone is fit and now far better in defence, but maybe we're a bit short in midfield. We need to add more goals to the team - I'm looking for our midfielders to add six or seven more a season."
The big rumour of the last week was undoubtedly our link with Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour. An excellent combative midfielder who would undoubtedly be an asset to the club and Paul Telfer's replacement on the right flank.
Alas, Rupert Lowe has said that there is no truth to the rumour: "There is no truth in these reports at all. I don't know where they have come from. We are still looking to strengthen and we have a couple of irons in the fire but nothing doing at the moment."
In other news, we have apparently asked after Brescia 'keeper Pavel Srnicek. Beyond my utter inability to pronounce his name, there is a more important reason for not signing him. He's not very good. He couldn't hold down a place in an ordinary looking Newcastle side against a couple of ordinary rivals. At 34 he's no spring chicken wither and we would be much better off sticking with Jonah.
Reggina have signed Brescia goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi who we were linked to at the back end of last week.