Last Updated: Fri, 01 Mar 2013 17:51
Alan Pardew is refusing to contemplate what might have been had Newcastle made their big transfer push during the summer.
There was dismay on Tyneside when, despite months spent attempting to thrash out deals for key targets, only one senior player, Vurnon Anita, arrived at St James' Park in the wake of the club's remarkable fifth-place Barclays Premier League finish.
The wisdom or otherwise of that decision - the Magpies, as has become their custom, refused to budge on their valuations of players - was exposed by the injuries and suspensions which left the manager fighting a losing battle to field a competitive team as the club slipped inexorably down the league table.
However, having admitted they had made mistakes, owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias moved to rectify them in January by allowing Pardew to sign Mathieu Debuchy, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Massadio Haidara, Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran, and the transformation has been significant.
However, asked if he had ever considered how different things could have been, the 51-year-old was philosophical.
Pardew said: "No, I don't really think like that. I don't think there would have been any chance of signing Sissoko, for example, or Mapou in that summer window.
"Debuchy, we know, could have possibly got over the line, but it's difficult to say. At the time, it seemed the right thing."
Have you an opinion on this story? Put your money where your mouth is and claim a free £25 bet.
