Pitch perfect for Perchinho

The Football League kicked off on Saturday, and Perchinho's Wigan debut couldn't have gone much better. Aided and abetted by a red card for Barnsley debutant Dale Jennings, the Latics romped to a 4-0 away win as they kicked off their bid for an immediate return to the top flight in fine style.

Danny Simpson's new side QPR have similar ambitions, and got off to their own winning start by beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1. Simpson's old St James' Park colleague ASBO was partnered in central midfield by Karl Henry, the pair apparently nemeses no more following a kiss-and-make-up session shortly after the latter's arrival from Wolves.

Elsewhere in the Championship, Shane Ferguson couldn't prevent Birmingham from opening their campaign with a home defeat - though Blues do at least have the consolation of knowing they're unlikely to be the last side to be beaten on their own patch by most people's promotion favourites Watford. In the sole fixture yesterday, there was a familiar name on the scoresheet for Blackburn, first-half substitute Leon O'Best popping up with an 89th minute equaliser at Pride Park. Good to see him back playing again.

Further down the divisions, James Tavernier helped Shrewsbury keep a clean sheet at home to MK Dons, but it was a baptism of fire for Michael Richardson, whose Accrington Stanley side suffered a 4-1 spanking at League Two new boys Newport.

Two more out of the door

Michael Richardson and Mehdi Abeid are the latest fringe players to be allowed to leave on loan. Richardson, who had a spell with Gillingham this spring, has gone back to League Two with Accrington Stanley. His namesake Leam left the club in April, so the manager he'll be turning out for is none other than James Beattie, once upon a time strongly linked with his parent club as a potential replacement for Wor Al. Abeid, meanwhile, has teamed up with Greek outfit Panathinaikos, and like Richardson is probably looking forward to getting some game time. It's doubtful that either has much of a long-term future on Tyneside.

Taking the Mickey

That's League 2 leaders Gillingham, who've taken forgotten man Michael Richardson on loan. The 20-year-old midfielder has recently recovered from an ankle injury, but that doesn't explain why he's been out of sight for quite so long. Great things were expected of the youngster when he was talked up by the Silver Fox and broke into the first-team squad nearly two years ago, but little progress has been made since and it now looks more likely that the move will put him in the shop window than enable him to force his way back into our long-term plans.

Big deal

Yesterday brought confirmation that we've completed the signing of Coventry midfielder Gael Bigirimana. The Burundi-born teenager, winner of the Football League's Apprentice of the Year award for last season, has joined for an undisclosed fee, probably in excess of £1m.

The Sky Blues' chief executive Tim Fisher described Bigirimana as a "great talent" whom they would have liked to keep, "but when the Premier League comes calling - particularly a club the size of Newcastle United - it becomes increasingly difficult to stand in the player's way". Having conducted a quick survey (by scanning a City messageboard), it seems their fans valued him more for his potential than for his current ability - which certainly suggests that he's far from the finished article and may well benefit from being sent out on loan at some point during the season. Coventry would be keen to have him back, though I suspect we might prefer him to go to the Championship, where he cut his teeth last season, rather than step down to League One.

Meanwhile, a clutch of youngsters already on our books have inked new deals. Most prominent amongst them is James Tavernier, who will be eyeing up Danny Simpson's possible departure with interest. Midfielder Michael Richardson has also signed a new contract - he might be a bit miffed at the acquisition of Bigirimana, but, after making great strides early in his Toon career and forcing his way onto the bench for first-team games, he's disappeared from view somewhat and needs to raise his game again.

Elsewhere, Jonathan Woodgate has joined hometown club the Smogs for the second time - but will those knees hold out? - and the Mackems' Asamoah Gyan has done the sensible thing and fled the Dark Place for good.

Not exactly Ober the moon

Zut alors! The recruitment focus on players of French extraction shows no signs of stopping, with Alan Pardew's revelation that Man Utd winger Gabriel Obertan is set to join the club today, pending a medical, for a fee rumoured to be around £3m.

Feel free to correct me if you know any different, but Obertan has never once looked remotely decent any time I've witnessed him in action for the Red Devils, so it's mind-boggling that we're prepared to compromise our parsimony and shell out a sizeable fee for someone who can't seem to cut it even on the very outer fringes of a Premier League squad.

Rather more welcome is the news that Michael Richardson has been sent out to Leyton Orient on loan. The rookie midfielder - 19 years old, though the photo accompanying the BBC story would suggest he's barely into his teens - has made a great impression since signing from Walker Central last summer and will benefit from first-team action with Orient, a club looking up who are in with a realistic shout of escaping League One.

Speculation and creation

(Originally scheduled to go up yesterday, before Blogger had its funny turn...)

The season effectively over now safety's been assured, thoughts are naturally turning to how we can build and improve upon this consolidatory platform. Alan Pardew has identified creative spark as something we're currently lacking, and I'd be inclined to agree - ASBO has been a consistent provider from dead ball situations, but on the other flank Spidermag hasn't always offered enough in open play. "We need to bring players in Newcastle fans love that can get you out of your seat", said Pardew - inadvertent backing for Football Supporters' Federation's safe standing campaign?

However, it's worth pointing out that Pardew will effectively have two new creative additions at the start of next season anyway, when Hatem Ben Arfa and Dan Gosling return to full fitness - and there's also a fair chance most of his summer will actually be preoccupied with trying to find replacements for Jose Enrique and Mr T.

Meanwhile, last night reserve team regulars Phil Airey, Michael Richardson and James Tavernier all did their best to impress and earn themselves an end-of-season cameo as we cruised to victory over Blyth Spartans to lift the Northumberland Senior Cup in the familiar surroundings of St James' Park. Airey bagged a brace, while Richardson and Tavernier, recently on loan at Gateshead, both also found the back of the Spartans' net. Perhaps being pitched in for Sunday's game against Chelsea, who may still have a mathematical chance of pipping Man Utd to the title, wouldn't make for a very pleasant debut - though defender Tavernier could probably still keep Fernando Torres in his pocket, much as everyone else has of late...

Bright sparky

It's not often a 19-year-old reserve gets a whole article on the main BBC Football page lavished on them, especially one who hasn't yet kicked a ball for the first team, but that's been the reality for Michael Richardson.

Mike Henson has reported on the incredible progress the dynamic former Walker Central midfielder and trainee electrician has made at Newcastle since impressing on trial last August. Through a winning combination of ability and application Richardson has fast-tracked himself through the ranks and all the way onto the subs' bench for the fixtures against Fulham and Everton.

With the suggestion that chief scout Graham Carr's remit is to identify cheap, young talent abroad, it's heartening to know that we're also keeping an eye on prospective signings closer to home. Richardson may have initially passed under the club's radar, but the common consensus is that a stint in non-league football has actually done him some good.

If he continues to develop at the same rapid rate, then a place in the first team may be within his reach before long - no doubt Jabba would be particularly delighted. But I suspect that, given his recent enthusing about the loan system, Alan Pardew will farm him out somewhere on loan first - Lee Clark's Huddersfield, perhaps?