Relegated Toon - Clean slate, start afresh

Investment is everything from this point on. Nothing could have prepared Newcastle United for the horror of relegation. The Youth System consists of enough players to bounce back next season, some argue. Others, those with realistic aspirations feel that two seasons seems like a reasonable period for rejuvenation. But what should be the strategy?

Sell players worth anything on the market, and recoup whatever amount possible without haggling too much. The player's aren't good enough, anyway, and no matter what happens, their street cred will not skyrocket from the relegation of the Toon.

Players who are expected not to get contract extensions:

Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Claudio Cacapa, Peter Lovenkrands

Players who are likely to be sold for whatever the club can get for them:

Obafemi Martins, Joey Barton, Fabricio Coloccini, Jonas Gutierrez, Tim Krul, Jose Enrique, Damien Duff, Alan Smith, Sebastien Bassong, Geremi, Kazenga Lua Lua

Squad players who are likely to stay:

Steve Harper, Nicky Butt, Danny Guthrie, Steven Taylor, David Edgar, Shola Ameobi, Andy Carroll, Habib Beye, Ryan Taylor, Kevin Nolan

Youth Players who are likely to break into the First-Team:

Nile Ranger, Ben Tozer, Tamas Kadar, Jonny Godsmark, Haris Vuckic, Samuel Adjei, Bradden Inman, Fraser Forster, Frank Wiafe-Danquah

There will have to be significant spending though, with top youngsters scouted from the lower leagues and good Championship players bought and nurtured. That is key to long-term success.

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