NUFC: 8 Reasons Pardew Can Defy Expectations This Year

2. The January Signings

It will be hard to swallow for Newcastle fans still smarting from the lack of investment during the summer transfer window, but the assertion that the club did the majority of their summer business early in January because of the precarious situation the team were in holds water. Newcastle were on the busiest teams in the winter window, bringing in a raft of French players, the majority of whom were internationals (in the shape of Mapou Yanga Mbiwa, Mathieu Debuchy and Moussa Sissoko) and bolstering the squad in key areas. They spent a major chunk of money in the process, and it's perhaps fair to say that not all of the players paid back their valuations immediately. But with half a season now under their belts in the Premier League, the players have settled nicely, blending into the squad, and crucially adding competition to key areas that has had a knock-on effect on other players. Davide Santon has certainly improved with competition behind him, and Mike Williamson has shown in his past two games that the added squad competition may have had a positive effect on his own form.