Opinion

The title above is my favourite phrase, with thanks to Jim Bowen.

The losing finalists on the classic 1980s Bullseye were invited to see what they could have won when they missed out on the star prize.

I used to love it when they lost.

Back to Newcastle United though and the present day.

The mid-season transfer window has now closed.

The question is, did Newcastle United lose and what could we have realistically ‘won’?

Newcastle United have a starting 11 of:

Pope Tino Thiaw Botman Hall Bruno Tonali Joelinton

Barnes Wissa Gordon

I am looking at that team and thinking those are Eddie Howe’s players.

Eddie’s choices and he is very very loyal.

I see two places up for grabs : keeper and centre-forward.

We have Aaron Ramsdale as back up, so there was no way we were getting a goalkeeper in this last transfer window, who Eddie Howe thinks is better than Nick Pope. That’s for the summer.

When it comes to centre-forwards, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jorgen Strand Larsen were available. Hardly inspiring and probably not getting in ahead of Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, although I do rate Mateta.

In addition, we...