OK. Let me preface this with me saying I don't hate Ashley or Pardew. I don't love them either by any means, but I don't hate them.
If you've read past that comment and are still reading, thanks.
Basically what I wanted to say was I don't think we're in trouble, and sure I'd like to see a striker and a CB, just like I'm sure every single Newcastle fan would, as would any fan of any football club. That's just the nature of the beast, everyone always wants to bring better players in.
But my main point is that we're not in trouble. We have got a team this year for "mid-table mediocrity", but why is that a bad thing? It's not like we're going to compete for the top 4 this season, and sure Europa league places would be nice, but why splash a tonne of cash to challenge for Europa.
What we have got this year is a young team, and if they're not super young they're on a long contract (look at the 6 year contracts we've given new players coming in).
Just look:
Krul is only 26 (and a keeper so he's got 10 years in him still)
Santon is 23
Haidara is 21
Janmaat is 25
Anita is 25
Cissoko is 25
Colback is 24
SDJ is 25
Cabella is 24
Ferreyra is 23
Riviere is 24
Perez is 21
Aarons is 18
Lascelles is 20 (granted he's on loan, but I felt this list needed a CB to validate my point)
We have so many players yet to reach their peak age, and sure we'll sell a few for a few million, but there's a lot to look forward to.
Whether Pardew is or isn't the man to take us forward, if he can push that group of players to mid-table mediocrity, we'll have such a good core to build on in a couple of years.
If people can just look past the immediacy of the situation then surely if we're not in trouble, mid-table mediocrity is fine for now. Just because Ashley's building for the future and 'we all hate Ashley', doesn't what's happening is bad. A good idea from a bad person is still a good idea (not that I think he's a bad person).
Before anyone says "Pardew butchers young talent", that's not my point. My point is that there is talent already there considering we've got a mid-table capable squad that's still 3-4 years of being at it's prime age for most of them.
TL;DR: Don't panic that we might finish mid-table, look at the prospects of our players