The International break is here, and with it silly season

The October international break is typically the unofficial start of the silly season for the January transfer window. Never mind that we're three months away and just over a month removed from the previous window - there are papers to sell, dammit.

As denizens of the bottom of the table, Newcastle are going to be subject to all kinds of rumors. Malcontents will want away - we've already seen reports of Cheik Tiote's desire to leave, and plenty of big clubs (The Daily Star) are said to be in for his services. If the price is really £15 million+, can Mike Ashley say no? (No.) Do any of those clubs need a holding midfielder? (Not really.) Will this story go away anytime soon? (Not on your life.)

Another category of transfer news that follows teams in and around the drop zone is the "manager wants to ship out underperforming player" story. In this case, Steven Taylor is the scapegoat. (The Chronicle) The corollary is a story detailing possible replacements, and almost all of the names are invariably plucked from thin air. In this case, The Chronicle has (so far) exercised restraint in that area, though Neil Cameron did take the opportunity to decry Newcastle's recent transfer dealings in France.

This being Newcastle, there's always the "He'll be just like a new signing" narrative bubbling up just below the surface, and Ryan Taylor is playing that part this time around. He played 75 minutes in a reserve match on Tuesday (NUFC Official Site) as he attempts to return from a knee injury that has seen him miss over two years of action.

Finally (at least for today), we get to play the "What if he returned?" game, as Yohan Cabaye has expressed mild frustration with his playing time at Paris St. Germain. (Get French Football) Hey guys? Cabaye isn't coming back. Carroll didn't come back. Ba didn't come back. Rémy didn't come back. It's not happening.