I was daydreaming at work and this Newcastle United team came to mind.
What might have been.
In a parallel universe this Newcastle United team running out at Craven Cottage.
As opposed to what we will actually see at 3pm on Saturday as United take on Fulham.
How close and yet so far.
Just think what this Newcastle United team could have been capable of…
James Trafford
Tino Livramento
Abdukodir Khusanov
Marc Guehi
Lewis Hall
Elliot Anderson
Sandro Tonali
Bruno Guimaraes
Yankuba Minteh
Anthony Gordon
Alexander Isak
It is crazy just how easily this could have been the reality.
After all, eight of them were Newcastle United players, a couple still are.
The modern day financial rules forced the sales of Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson.
The financial rules that forbid Newcastle United paying the wages (and transfer fees) that the select six are allowed to do, were also key to Gordon, Bruno, Tonali and Isak going.
If Newcastle United could have paid them market rate wages and had the freedom to buy the level of players who would have been of their level, then why would they have left?
James Trafford, Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi all signed for Manchester City when Newcastle United were trying to do so, PSR yet again getting in the way.
England full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino staying fit and progressing.
This Newcastle United team could and would have been contenders.