Glenn Roeder made his shopping last summer ... and another in December. But why did Shepherd say "I will sit down with the manager and we will work on signings in December", when all along there was no money to spend?
Roeder Blames Transfer Market
It is NOT the transfer window. If you don't have the money you don't go shopping, end of story.
Roeder: "I will just repeat what I have been saying all month. It is a rubbish time for a window and I don't believe in them. I believe it is a restriction of trade. From 8am, the phone has been ringing and I have been trying to see what was left on the market for loan strikers.
"When you're the manager of a Premiership club and you have a game, it's not the ideal preparation to spend eight or nine hours on the phone, believe me. All that was left on the circuit were a few players who, in my opinion, were not good enough to wear the Newcastle shirt. People talk about bringing in another body but, if the player isn't good enough, I don't think there is any point."