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.
In 4231 wingers also score, a lot. Definitely Rafa will use them, no doubt about it. If you expect to see Gayle and Joselu a pair upfront, most likely you will be disappointed. Rafa seldom plays this way. It is all about “balance” as he mentioned. But that could be used in some extreme situation.
funrafa(Quote)
And I did not say counter attack is the only way to play this season. What I said is most time of the season it could be this way.
funrafa(Quote)
Some information from Rafa here:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/benitez-denies-creating-newcastle-negativity-11033646
funrafa(Quote)
Sham I’m with you on Ritchie, I said the exact same thing to my daughters bloke on sunday while watching the game. Needless yellows that leave you walking a tight rope just lessen your effectiveness on the game. His rashness as you say is borne out of frustration . I see the same old frailties of the last PL season where heads drop all to easily, they looked beat once Huddersfield scored, void of creativity to make something happen and snatching at chances. We actually had the better chances on the day and they should of had a player sent off for the high Challenge on Mbemba, but this is the Toon and we get **** all, so we have to make our own luck.
kimtoon(Quote)
I dont expect it Rafa. Its a shame its not being used though. 2 games 2 losses, 1 to our relegation rivals. No wingers scoring. ? Because we are playing narrow and deep.
shamrock(Quote)
And we are pedestrian and predictable.
shamrock(Quote)
It will change. Read that article from Mirror I linked. But the target for this season is not to be relegated again. So better not expect anything more than that. That is what I told myself.
funrafa(Quote)
We are pedestrian and predictable, that’s true. We don’t have one player in the squad who has a proven scoring record in the PL. That’s a bit of a problem. We also only have Shelvey who has a proven record of creating anything in the PL.
Stuart79(Quote)
Exactly Stu. It is a bunch of people who failed previously in PL and now up for a 2nd chance. What do you expect for a start?
funrafa(Quote)
KIM from your earlier comment,there was a time when you would get over a 1000 comments over the weekend when Toonsy had the site off the top of my head,big Dave,batty,richietoon,hitman,fsotc,and many more and Toonsy himself plus we never had any problems with the site as Toonsy sorted them quickly don’t think we will ever get back to those days,had great laughs along the way,it was a pleasure to come on
Icedog(Quote)
It was ice, I read long before ever commenting on the site too. Used to read Eds as well but this was the only one I felt I could comment on because they all seemed nice people . Eds lot were and still do get really nasty with each other. I just wanted to talk about the club I like with fellow fans. Yes the difference of opinions are still there but hopefully not in such a childish or spiteful fashion. I never got that over on Ed’s, we are all fellow fans of same club , though at times over there you would never know it.
kimtoon(Quote)
KIM I dis-like 95% of the bloggers on eds,they ***** at each other and get very childish not much footy crack that I’ve seen,never made a comment on the the site
Icedog(Quote)
I really think Elloit’s distribution is terrible. He gives the ball away so easily. Gayle and Perez aren’t really have been terrible so I’d like to see SDJ given a chance. Its about time he started earning his wages.
Stem(Quote)
Agreed.
shamrock(Quote)
me too, would love to see SDJ start a game.
kimtoon(Quote)
How bad must SDJ be for him not to get in ahead of Diame or Perez? He played a fair bit in pre season too. He’s good enough for Ajax and PSV but not a struggling NUFC… That I don’t understand.
Stuart79(Quote)
We may see him and find out in the cup competition.
funrafa(Quote)
Armstrong scores for Bolton
Icedog(Quote)
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Mike Verweij from Telesport.nl tonight reporting that Ajax are deep into negotiations with Newcastle United for Siem de Jong’s return.
Guess we won’t ever get the chance to see what he really can do then.
kimtoon(Quote)
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2 outgoings by looks of it then
Mercato : Emmanuel Rivière (Newcastle) arrive à Metz
kimtoon(Quote)
NUFC Index @NUFC_Index · 7h7 hours ago
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Echo: #NUFC ‘close’ to Kenedy deal; ‘hopeful’ of Praet signature. Any more business depends on out-goings
kimtoon(Quote)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/08/22/newcastle-managerrafael-benitez-says-mood-club-dictated-results/
kimtoon(Quote)
There have been FOUR ‘latest news’ articles thrown up already today.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So it looks very much like its Lazaar and De Jong out and Kenedy & Praet in.
It would be good to get rid of Rivière, Saivet as cling ons and probably Colback & Krul in terms of big wages that seem finished at the club.
Sharpy17(Quote)
What is a Carabao?
Some sort or North American goat? Dark chocolate?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have never heard of Carabao? I suppose that’s why they are advertising it.
Mind, I had heard of milk. And some genius still tried to advertise that.
“MILK. It’s white and comes from cows!” And they named a cup after it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I looked it up.
Carabao is Thailand’s 2nd most popular energy drink founded by “rock star” Yuenyong Opakul. So there.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, I thought it was a type of coco bean for some reason
kimtoon(Quote)
SDJ on the way out at long last. Good enough for PSV and Ajax but never in a million years for English football. And Riviere (not good enough for anywhere but don’t tell the French). Hull interested in Colback. Things are looking up despite Dummett being out til November. Can Kenedy play fullback well?
Should be an interesting week coming up!
georgio(Quote)
knew I had seen the word somewhere before
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/carabao
kimtoon(Quote)
Shearer has fractured his celebration arm 🙁
kimtoon(Quote)
New chant for this blog site
” you’re not writing anymore,
you’re not writing
you’re not writing
you’re not writing anymore.
you’re not writing anymore”
🙁
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon 🙂
We are playing in the “Domesticated Water Buffalo” Cup tonight.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim – if I could just correct you there please as there have now been 6 ‘latest news’ articles churned out – that’s FOURTEEN in the last 24hrs I believe.
Clearly actively at work – but clearly not viewing this site, or checking their email inbox (or if they have they have chosen not to reply to Dubai)
Sharpy17(Quote)
I know the last trophy we won was the Intercity Fairs Cup but do we really want to win the Domesticated Water Buffalo Cup? The Intercity cup qualifying event was that you had a trade show in your town. Aussie Magpie Fan would disagree but that really wasn’t a qualifying event so the Fairs Cup doesn’t count.
We’ve won nowt since 1955. Does the Buffalo Cup count?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – this is NUFC mate. They all count even the Intertoto cup!
Sharpy – these “articles” are just amateur rewrites of already published articles. I don’t mind them being there and maybe they provide the hits the owners want as they do appear on newsnow.
georgio(Quote)
To be fair the ads pay for the site to keep going, but we really should have a new thread up by now like.
kimtoon(Quote)
georgio?
what does Intertoto stand for anyway.
International Totalitarian Tossers?
Does it even exist anymore?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Georgio – of course they are mate, and the 14 pumped out in the last 24 hrs will be filled with adverts that the owners will make the money to run the site from – I understand that mate, and genuinely have no problem with that – I really don’t.
But the point I’m making is that it is a BLOG site they took over, and if they have the time to pen 14 ‘latest news’ articles, then surely they have time to pen 3 ‘featured discussion’ articles for the loyal posters who have stuck with the site since it’s creation and through the teething problems when this site was taken over. I don’t think that’s too much to ask or expect.
Oh, and if one of those loyal posters should happen to email with an article, that that poster should at the very least get a response.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think we are just the nuisance factor to be honest mate, the rowdy neighbours, the embarrassing friend, the bloody fishtank that needs cleaning after the kids have outgrown the
hobby. The car that needs washing, bog that needs cleaning or tax form that needs filling.
you know how if you ignore something long enough it might go away like. 😉
kimtoon(Quote)
I said the other day that there were 39,000 “likes” for this site and wondered where the 38,990 people were that didn’t take the time to comment.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim – certainly feels that way like doesn’t it.
On a footballing matter. Hats off to Rooney for hanging up his international boots – England’s all time top scorer.
I think he’s just made Southgates job a lot easier – focus on the future.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Hang on there Sharpy.
Rooney said he was going to Captain the team in Russia. Then he was sacked after the Iceland fiasco and Fat Sam saying he could play where he liked.
It is not like Shearer when he retired.
Rooney is like the man who fancied a girl and after being rejected said he didn’t like her that much anyway.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Rooney’s goals against San Merino – 49
Rooney’s goals against Germany – 0
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Rooney said he was going to retire AFTER Russia. Now he is not being picked he is RETIRING? Coincidence!!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I did expect you to pick up on that mate, so you didn’t let me down.
Do I think he’s as good as Shearer – he couldn’t lace the blokes boots IMO.
Do I think Rooney is better than a lot give him credit for – England and Manchester United all time top scorer – yeah, I think the kid has done okay.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Eric – how do you know he wasn’t getting picked – the squad is to be announced tomorrow?!.
He’s playing regularly for Everton and is scoring goals. Forwards wise he’s up there with the inform English forwards – and at no.10 there’s probably only Ali ahead of him.
I’m not saying he’d make the starting 11 – but he’d make the squad with ease.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: you didn’t realise I have a bee in my bonnet about Rooney 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Did someone mention Rooney?
georgio(Quote)
Apparently, Southgate was gonna pick him if you believe reports. It’s good that he’s retired though as England should be moving on with the next generation really. It’s also good news for Everton as they’ll benefit from his lack of Eng participation as Toon did when big Al retired from internationals.
Plus I can’t abide the guy if I’m honest. 🙂
kimtoon(Quote)
Well I’m back in Shanghai for a few days, so will not be able to watch the cup game tonight… hope they can get a win and get some confidence back… I read that Lazaar would play with some gadgies from Italy watching his performance in readiness for a move… hope he does well…
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Aren’t all these news articles just so Newsnow pick them up?
We didn’t even have a bleeding match thread ffs!
Is it a big job putting up a new thread?
Stuart79(Quote)
Kim – did you ever watch the documentary on his where the cameras followed him about. I really didn’t like him all that much til I watched that – it didn’t convert me to being his biggest fan, but it certainly showed a side I didn’t realise was there.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Some sort of fat scouse lad that makes (steals) a ton of money?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy, nah mate not seen it, just don’t like the bloke. Arrogant is how he comes off and there’s something really odd about a young guy who’d rather an old bird than pretty young girl friend. 😳 😕
kimtoon(Quote)
I know that’s old news but it was /is really odd .
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I thought that, but actually he’s really not, and yes he’s made a fortune from football, but he’s still got all the same mates he grew up with. He was an excellent family man, with his parents, missus and kids. He does loads for charities and actually came across as a regular lad who just loves football – he’s uncomfortable with all the media stuff that comes with it – which is probably why he comes across as arrogant – a bit like Andy Murray I guess.
The old bird thing was just a young daft lad thing man. He’s still with that same pretty young girl don’t forget.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Good that we are talking about Wayne and Waynetta. Seems like the lads that run this site have forgotten about us. But, whocares.hashtag, facebook.dot com, dailymail.hatemail.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I want a brown baby Wayne like everybody else on the estate.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Match thread?
Stuart79(Quote)
Don’t be daft 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/900413586832588800
team news
kimtoon(Quote)
Remember when the lads used to get on Ed’s as say “”””First””””.
513th
FIVE HUNDRED AN THIRTEENTH.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim – Half of the players involved tonight know they’re not wanted.
Stuart79(Quote)
Mitro nets 😀
kimtoon(Quote)
Snodgrass going to Villa on loan,Jong knocks Reading back and takes pay cut to go to Ajax
icedog(Quote)
Mirro is our leading scorer this season!
Stuart79(Quote)
MITRO goal
icedog(Quote)
Aarons down line cross in Mitro from edge of box 1nil
icedog(Quote)
Aren’t we brilliant…
Stuart79(Quote)
2,1 to forrest
icedog(Quote)
ffs, 2 conceded , cups not taken seriously AGAIN, this club has 2 chances of silverware every season and we never go for them. WHAT IS THE POINT
Isn’t the objective of any sportsman/team to set out each campaign to win something, or are we just making up the numbers here.
kimtoon(Quote)
is it a Rafa dig at Jabba??
icedog(Quote)
Given has said jabba and Rafa dont speak they talk throughPenfold back and forth,what a bloody way to go on ffs
icedog(Quote)
The only target this season is to survive, like promotion for last season. I keep telling myself this and I am actually peaceful 😐
funrafa(Quote)