Newcastle’s eagerly anticipated return to the Premier League was met with a slightly sobering defeat to Spurs, however there were some positives to take – three being the promising performances of Christian Atsu, Isaac Hayden and Mikel Merino.
Christian Atsu
The Ghanaian divided opinion in the Championship last season, leaving many to wonder whether he would be capable of making the Premier League step.
He has looked full of confidence throughout pre-season and has took that form into the new season if his display on Sunday was anything to go by.
Given our defensive set up, he often had little support but carried the ball well, took on his man on several occasions and was without doubt our most threatening outlet all afternoon. He also looked in very fit and kept running right until the end as we looked to cope with just 10 men.
Isaac Hayden
It was Hayden’s Premier League debut and given the imposing midfield duo of Dier and Dembele that he was up against, I thought he coped very well and helped unsettle their attacks.
He got stuck in, retrieved possession on several occasions and looked fairly assured, giving little time for the majestic Moussa Dembele to make things happen.
A promising display from the former Arsenal man, especially given Jonjo Shelvey did very little to help him out.
Mikel Merino
The Spaniard only came on for the final 15 minutes but certainly added something to the side despite his brief cameo.
He looked well balanced, moved the ball quickly and pulled off some slick passes – making more successful passes in 15 minutes than Shelvey managed in his 60 minutes prior to his dismissal.
It’s hard to juddge him properly – at this point Spurs were 2-0 up and crusiing – but he certainly gave us something and his quality on the ball was there for all to see.
I won’t talk about GoT.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Welcome. Stick around..we need more commenters!
Shamrock(Quote)
No GOT talk guys, I have not seen a single episode yet but hoping to get box set soon so please no spoilers. Ta
kimtoon(Quote)
The W/Ham manager says he does not know why Rafa is moaning he has spent more than him
Icedog(Quote)
Does not look like jabba is going to give Rafa any xtra money then it getting close too the end of window,thinking back to when Jabba first came he started lying from day one he stated that week that he would put 30 mil a season in for players,the mans a shitehouse
Icedog(Quote)
Ice, he’s too busy putting extra funds into Debenhams and **** mate. His love is retail not NUFC, sooner everyone accepts that the better all round. He’s a parasite on the club, an ambitionless leech in so far as the club is concerned.
As for Bilic, if he can’t see why Rafa isn’t happy then I give up. His team have not been relegated and has a set of PL ready players in place plus last years PL cash. His team also play in a big fat tax payers gift of a stadium. He wants to worry about the fact his own team has shipped 7 goals in the league.
kimtoon(Quote)
Every PL club broke their transfer record in 2015/16 or 17. Newcastles is still stuck in 2005!
Someone on Twitter made a comment about us signing the likes of Kitson and Asprially for £5/£6m in 1995. Can you believe we are still signing strikers for the same price?!!! Is it any wonder they’re mostly poor?
Stuart79(Quote)
Interesting comment Stuart. That’s exactly what I thought when Joselu arrived. He may yet be OK but from what I’ve seen, may is the word.
What is obvious is that if attackers of PL quality aren’t added this coming week we’ll struggle all season.
georgio(Quote)
Ice – I think the ‘changes’ that Rafa refers to from their original meeting when Ashley said he would get all the money – I think Ashley has come back with, yeah but you clear the deadwood first. Lots of wages being paid to players playing for other clubs last season & that don’t have a future with us this season – Krul, Thauvin, Saivet, De Jong, Rivière – that’s probably around £10m a year in wages on players who are just not wanted.
But the size of those wages are the biggest problem – they won’t move to a club that can’t match the money they are in now. It’s a huge problem, but one I think Rafa understands – doesn’t like, but gets it’s needed.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice – is Pup gonna watch England out in Malta next week mate?
Sharpy17(Quote)
See Barca are offering 30 year old Arda Turan on a free. I’d take him!
Wilshere (loan) – odious sicknote but far better than what we have. Nasri, who’s just as bad went to Turkey for £3.5m.
So there’s 3 playmakers (admittedly of dubious character) we could have had for peanuts.
georgio(Quote)
Quite staggeringly Rivière has found a new club. He’s signed for Metz! 😳
Stuart79(Quote)
Best news all window mate, waste of club money that one, need a few more to hop it now.
kimtoon(Quote)
We should of bought in PEA, he will be a problem on Saturday. Ayew has found his shooting boots now too as has Sakho, both netting v Cheltenham on Wednesday. And then there is Carroll who’s fit again.
And Bilic can’t see why Rafa is unhappy when he doesn’t have problems getting HIS owner to back him.
kimtoon(Quote)
Lee RyderVerified account @lee_ryder · 1h1 hour ago
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#nufc reject two loan bids for Aleksandar Mitrovic http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-united-reject-two-loan-13527245 … #transferwindow
Good, god knows we can’t afford to lose him with Gayles injury record.
kimtoon(Quote)
So I imagine by Monday that will be De Jong and Rivière gone. If De Jong couldn’t even get a game ahead of Perez or Diame then I shudder to think how bad he is. Just Hanley, Krul, Lazaar, Colback and Gamez now. If Rafa gets rid of all them then he is putting a lot of faith in Jabba and Penfold to get deals done in a week. 😕
Stuart79(Quote)
I watched Riviere in a game for Osasuna and he hardly had a kick. To be sure, that was only one game but he did play 15 times for them and didn’t score a single goal. He will not be messed. Metz are crazy.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And what have we seen from Seim de Jong that would make us want to keep him? He was loaned out (like Riviere) and failed miserably in a much worse league. He has been a failure at NUFC and when he went back to Holland. Ajax knew what they were doing when they sold him to us. He had a collapsed lung and has never fully recovered.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Praets agent is suggesting he will likely stay with Sampdoria for another season.
Jovetic has said he wants to stay in Italy as well, yet all the reports today are that we are still pursuing that one.
I have a horrible feeling that it’s going to be same old, same old – we trying our best to get these players over the line but it just didn’t work out. We have to go with what we’ve got now. ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
And…
Comparing Diame, Perez and de Jong is like wondering who is dumb and dumber, except they are…
****, craper and most ****. I would get rid of them all.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
aye he will do mate
icedog(Quote)
Again: what I am saying is that we do not have a number 10. Diame has like one goal, Perez does the odd flick and de Jong, what has de Jong ever done at NUFC?
Grrrrrr.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
storey is we gave Rivière away for nowt Metz could not cover his wages but a signing on fee swayed him to sign
icedog(Quote)
Ice: I am 50 years old and I think I could run faster than Riviere. Any way to get rid of him is a good deal.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
😳 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
The worst player I have ever seen at NUFC was Amdy Faye. I am starting to question that fact now when I see Mo Diame play.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m 56 with Achilles tendonitis in one ankle, plantar fasciitis in the other foot and a buggered right knee but could still outrun Rivi I reckon.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ice – that’ll be about right mate. We get to spend the money we generate from player sales – we generate **** all, so we spend …
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric, Diame is dire mate, shockingly bad, I waited a while to judge him but enough is enough, he’s **** and so are a few others.
kimtoon(Quote)
And he won’t leave until we win a cup and we never………………………….
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon: I have now come to accept that Diame, Perez and de Jong are just not good enough. I wouldn’t even have them on the bench.
We have plenty to shift. Those 3, Mitro, Icedog’s best mate (Ginger Jack), Saivet, Lazaar, Gamez. The list is long.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim/Eric – you’re doing Rivi a disservice there – all he ever could do was run. He just found it hard when a ball was involved.
Re Praet and Jovetic – why would they want to come to the cold north east and a relegation battle?
georgio(Quote)
Diame is a non league Sissoko
Sharpy17(Quote)
Nowt to worry about man, Ashley Barnes is on his way to save us ??.
Can’t say I’m overly excited about Kenedy either to be honest. He’s in the **** at Chelsea and would be coming to us to get out the firing line. Don’t expect him to come and give his all like – much like the loan players Sunderland had last season – there to make the numbers up & little else.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy – can’t work out if that’s praise or an insult 🙂
georgio(Quote)
You sure you are not giving him more credit than he deserves?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kenedy was in the **** fordoing nothing at all. It was all about Chelsea’s desire to expand their “brand” in the far east and he said something inappropriate, but hardly damning.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
New thread guys, let’s hope for a result tomorrow!
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2017/08/25/newcastle-vs-west-ham-match-preview/
Simon Riddlesden(Quote)