And ever since he, and Glenn Roeder, have insisted they couldn't wait to strike deals as soon as the January transfer window opened.
With the big clubs involved in the FA Cup for the first time this weekend, this week was the obvious time to make a move if they were interested in players in the English game, so players don't get cup-tied. So why are we waiting?
Two months ago the Newcastle manager said he had a list of targets. So the ball is in the court of "The Fat One". Roeder has said he is looking for a striker and two defenders, and can you believe it ... with Freddy in hiding ... Roeder is talking about loan deals.
Roeder: "There are not a lot of quality players out there at the moment, but that does not mean we cannot find two or three players who will suit our needs. We have had Giuseppe Rossi on loan, but can still take another couple in this transfer window and that's what we may have to do.
"What I do not want to do is to sign players who we will be lumbered with for the next three and a half years. There is a saying in football that while you cannot hide good players, you cannot get rid of bad players and we want to avoid that."