Uneasy street

Newcastle's acquisition of Nicky Butt from Man Utd for a paltry £2.5m represents a very good bit of business, and I welcomed the transfer rather more warmly than I might have done a few weeks ago.

Following Speed's departure for Bolton, we were much in need of a solid if unspectacular midfielder to hold things together and give a much-beleaguered defence some protection, and Butt fits the bill perfectly. He's got a wealth of experience at the highest level, and you don't get into the England squad on a regular basis without being a consistently decent player (our very own Kieron Dyer being the exception that proves the rule...).

The addition of Butt, Kluivert and Milner to the squad gives some justifiable cause for optimism for the coming season, but that is tempered by the persistent rumours of unease and tension behind the scenes which the media are intent on focusing on and stirring up. Sir Bobby and Fat Freddie seem to be at loggerheads, and Shearer's position and status at the club is also uncertain, though it looks increasingly likely that he won't be leaving this summer and will end his career on Tyneside. Meanwhile, Bernard is unhappy about the lack of progress about a well-deserved new contract, and is threatening to leave in January.

Oh well, it wouldn't be Newcastle if there weren't several flies in the ointment...