Our first pre-season defeat of the summer as Newcastle United lost 1-0 to Mainz at the Kufstein Arena.
The only goal of the game came in the second half, where Kieran Trippier’s intercepted free-kick led to the Bundesliga side breaking clear and scoring through Burgzorg, who fired past Dubravka from the angle.
We enjoyed decent spells of possession but ultimately lacked quality or cutting edge in the final third, with our first shot on target coming via a 54th minute effort from Joelinton.
Jacob Murphy should have scored after a clever cut-back from Emil Krafth and Callum Wilson also came close, smashing straight at the Mainz goalkeeper soon after a good bit of wing play from Allan Saint-Maximin set up a half-chance for Jonjo Shelvey.
Watch the only goal of the game below:
Ryan Fraser, Chris Wood and Jacob Murphy all looked rusty – a reminder that we are in desperate need of a new striker and right winger – however Elliot Anderson looked the best player on the pitch after coming on for the final 30 minutes.
He always showed for the ball, wasn’t afraid to get stuck in, got us on the front foot with a few driving runs and showed impressive balance when in possession. The 19-year-old looks fearless and ready to stake a claim for a first-team spot this season.
Sven Botman continued to look dominant in the air and tidy on the deck in what was his first start in a black and white shirt, however Fabian Schar suffered an injury scare in the opening stages of the second half, hobbling off with what appears to be a potential hamstring injury.
We looked fit and ended the game by far the better side, however the lack of quality on display in the final third may give us a timely nudge to get deals done in that area of the pitch over the coming weeks.
Here’s the players who featured – and those who missed out – following our third friendly of the summer out in Austria:
STARTING XI: Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Dummett – S Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton – Almiron, Wood, Fraser.
SUBS: Dummett on for Ritchie (31st minute) and Burn on for Schar (57th minute)
XI for final 30 minutes: Pope – Krafth, Lascelles, Burn, Targett – Willock, Shelvey, Anderson – Murphy, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
UNUSED SUBS: M Longstaff, Turner-Cooke.
MISSING: Lewis (calf), Fernandez (calf), Manquillo (groin), Watts (knee), Darlow, Gillespie, Gayle.
Next up, a behind closed doors clash with Burnley on Saturday, followed by a meeting with Benfica next Tuesday.
Prem looks like we get the details of the last person who posted when we submit comments
kimtoon(Quote)
Now I am being told it’s a duplicate comment when i hit submit, it’s all very odd
kimtoon(Quote)
Sharpy: at 25 mil I think Harrison would be a great buy. We need someone else to help us get into Europe and we saw from Diaby that some players will not come until we get there. Harrison’s value will not go down as he is only 25 and even if we sort of rent him for a couple of seasons before we can get the real elite players it would be worth it.
It is a bit like Chris Wood. He is slaughtered every week on a couple of NUFC youtube channels, even if he is not playing. But they forget how desperate we were when we signed him. Up until then we only had Tripps and Wilson was out for 3 months and there was speculation he might not play again in that season. We didnt get Bruno and Target until I think the last day of the transfer window and BDB was the final week.
Wood takes so much stick. I dont think he is that great but was brought in to serve a purpose. Some NUFC “fans” just have to have someone to complain about no matter what. He was better than Big Joe when he played in the same position 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I know I said I wanted rid of Miggy earlier so might appear to be contradicting myself but I dont call him shyte, and the worst buy in NUFC history. I actually like Miggy but think he is not be cut out for a top 6-7 PL team which we will be soon.
Next time Wood is brought up on youtube channels as the worst player ever I might get on there in the comments and ask if they ever saw Amdy Faye, or Riviere, or Xisco?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Everton got beat by MLS side Minnesota 4-0 last night. I think they are in trouble because they cannot spend any money and their team really isnt very good. I dont want to gloat because we have 3 tough games coming up and there is a chance with the split squads that we might suffer a big defeat.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Leeds are in Australia so I dont think anything will happen on Jack Harrison until they get back. We have obviously fired a shot across the bough to unsettle him. I think it might work and that we know we will have to up our offer.
He has 2 years left on his deal so this is when they can get max value. This ends in one of two ways – he signs for us, or he signs an extended contract at Leeds.
The Chronic think this will drag on until the end of the window. I am not so sure, if they offer him a new contract and he refuses to sign, I think it might move more quickly.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kevin Mbabu to Fulham for £5.5m. great business. Never understood why we sold him.
Harrison is head and shoulders above what we currently have down the right. I don’t see a great deal of difference in effectiveness between Murphy, Miggy and Fraser. All Championship level. I’d keep Fraser as although probably more injury prone, he can cover both wings.
Murphy and Miggy both have terrible records at PL level.
Can’t we sell both of them and have Harrison plus another winger?! A specialist right winger would be good.
Only thing with Harrison is that he is more suited to the left wing. I guess Maxi is right footed though, so they could switch wings and cause chaos (if Maxi learns how to release the ball at the right time)
Shamrock(Quote)
Actually changed my mind on Fraser. His stats stand out above Murphy and Miggy. Definitely a keeper for the squad.
Shamrock(Quote)
I think we may have to temper expectations both in the market and in the league this year. We did very well to ‘pull’ Botman and Bruno. Class additions, but our squad is riddled with mediocrity on relatively high wages compared to their ability (Championship). So it’s going to take time to fix that, climb the table and attract top level players consistently. Plus we need to build the club profile in the market so we can actually afford to buy consistently top players.
I’m ok with just solid PL mid table standard players with the occasional bit of stardust sprinkled in whilst we re-establish ourselves as a top half side for the time being.
Shamrock(Quote)
It is pretty funny to see how giant some of our new signings are. You see Eddie and Ashworth in photos with Pope, Botman and BDB and they look like munchkins. The likes of Dubs and Lascelles aren’t short, but this lot are massive.
It is also funny to see Tripps next to them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
What are the rules for “tapping up”? Can we not get on the phone to Harrison’s Agent and let him know what his fee would be on a transfer and also what we are willing to pay Harrison? I am sure Leeds will offer him a new contract but they will also be in a relegation fight again.
If Harrison doesnt pen a new deal in the next 10 days, I think we will get him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It seems a lot of contracts are agreed with clubs before fees have been agreed with clubs these days. Tapping up seems to be a thing of the past and it’s just standard practice now. No idea when it changed or why.
Shamrock(Quote)
Contracts agreed with players I mean
Shamrock(Quote)
Forrest are paying Lingard £200k a week. 😱😱😂😂😂. They are fuc.king mental.
GIlly Toon(Quote)
I always liked Bertrand Traore who is now at Villa.
Dean Smith bought him with the Grealish money, but when he left & Gerrard come Traore fell out of favour.
He’s ASM on the right side of the pitch & has goals in him. He’s only 26 as well.
We are apparently interested in Carney Chukwuemeka from Villa too, so offer Villa £40-50m for both and it’s 2 decent players.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gilly – we’ve dodged a massive bullet there like.
Both us & WH could have taken him and offered a decent wage – but the lad clearly favoured a relegation battle for a huge pay day.
Sharpy17(Quote)
club say lingard is getting 120,00 grand a wk,still owr much for me
icedog(Quote)
I would’ve liked Lingard and think he could’ve done a great job for us. He would have been idolised too if he played like he did for wet spam! But not at those crazy wage demands. It’s not like he needs the money! Let’s see how he does at Forest.
GIlly Toon(Quote)
Must be a slow news day if the best that Keith Downie can come up with is that there will be an additional 3-5 outgoings to make room in the squad. We have all know this ages. The only shock is that Richie and Fede MIGHT NOT leave. I think they will. As for Darlow. He is 30, there is no way he will accept 3rd goalie so we are just waiting for an offer.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
It has turned out the way I thought that all of this talk of us getting cash for outgoings was just nonsense. Our unwanted players were worthless.
I have always maintained that the 3 we can get money for are Darlow, Miggy and Murphy. But they might be useful squad players so we do not HAVE to sell.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So WHU have agreed a fee for Scamacca – £30.5m plus £5m add ons.
I’ll be bitterly disappointed if they get him over us mind.
We desperately need to strengthen that position & he would not only be perfect, but the type of statement signing we want to be making – really show our intent.
They get him ahead of us & it only says to me that we are nowhere near where we think we are or want to be!!.
Also saying they remain interested in Broja – if they were to get him too 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Got Ice details now, it’s all very odd
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s really odd, Kim. Working on a fix.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Gilly – I would to sign the 90mins on a football pitch Lingard & think THAT Lingard would be a good addition to the team.
But the off field Lingard, the one that has chosen to go to Forest over WH or NU for money over football – THAT Lingard, I’m pleased we didn’t sign.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Olly – I’m yet to find anyone else’s details pre filling mine, but I am always having to re-input my details when posting.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I know there are better – but they are proving very difficult to sign.
I would be happy to see us sign Sarr & Dennis from Watford. Both are still only 24 and a great age for Howe to work with & develop.
Both have scored 10 PL goals & Dennis got 6 assists, Sarr got 8 – some of those for each other’s goals obviously. Not bad figures for a relegated team – not when you compare it to ASMs 11 PL goals and 14 assists.
I think both would help get us up the table next season – make us a top 8-10 team. Once there, maybe it will make us more appealing to these better players who seem reluctant to come at the moment.
Both would improve the strength in depth to our squad for the next 5 years at their current age.
Both could be got for maybe £40-50m.
The only concern would be both are Africa and so we would lose both to the ACONs when that’s on. But that’s not a concern for the coming season, so shouldn’t be an issue for now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
KIM i would always a,llow you to use my details lol,ive got my own for the moment
icedog(Quote)
Hmm, I’ve got Icedog’s signing details now 😬😳. I thought it was ok as my own have been there a few days now. Oh well 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
That’s odd Gilly, I’ve got Yours
PremAndUp(Quote)
😂😂😂 good job it’s not bank details!! – whoever got mine would be getting a right *** deal 😂😂😂
Sharpy17(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2022/07/23/newcastle-beat-burnley-twice-in-portugal-as-seven-mags-get-on-the-scoresheet/
Olly Hawkins(Quote)