Eddie Howe’s Mags stepped up their pre-season preparations with a 2-0 win over Hull City this afternoon, with Alexander Isak and man of the match Jacob Murphy getting on the scoresheet at the MKM Stadium.
After a training camp at the Adidas HQ in Germany – which ended with a 3-1 win over SpVgg Unterhaching – and a behind-closed-doors meeting with Burnley earlier this week, this was our first pre-season game in front of a crowd, seeing us meet a Hull side that finished 7th in the Championship last season.
A 4,500-strong travelling Toon Army made their voices heard throughout as a slightly patched up Newcastle side missing 19 players featured a few big guns and a number of youngsters on the bench who will be buoyed by second-half cameos.
Murphy’s positivity and productivity was a highlight as he played a part in both goals, but Hall showed his class in a couple of different positions (CDM, LCM, LB), Joelinton looked strong, Burn was solid at centre-back, Pope made one superb save, Isak scored again and we kept a clean sheet while avoiding any injuries.
NUFC XI: Pope – Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Lewis – J. Miley, Joelinton, Hall – Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
SUBS: Vlachodimos, Ruddy, Heffernan, Turner-Cooke, Kuol, Parkinson, Stanton, Emerson, Munda, Sanusi, Thompson, Harrison, Charlton.
We made a really bright start as Joelinton – who bossed the first half – went close in the opening minute after some good link-up play between him, Hall and Murphy ended in the Brazilian arriving into the box and firing over.
The home side settled into the game and enjoyed long periods of possession without ever threatening before Joelinton made his presence felt in the box once again. Isak hung up a teasing cross to the back post and big Joe had a powerful header well saved by the Hull goalkeeper, leaving the Tigers right-back in a heap at the back post.
Minutes later, Murphy delivered another teasing cross into the box from the right, only this time it just evaded Joelinton – who was making a habit of arriving into the box from midfield – and Isak. A new right-winger is needed, but it was good to see Murphy looking sharp three weeks before our opening day clash with Southampton.
Right on cue, Murphy’s good work down the right was finally rewarded as he sat down his man and found Isak with a cross. The Swede reacted first at the near post and prodded past the goalkeeper to hand us a 1-0 lead. Watch the goal below:
Alexander Isak breaks deadlock!
Hull City 0-1 Newcastle United pic.twitter.com/KLyETuiH4v
— PushGoals (@PushGoals) July 27, 2024
Pope had barely been called into action in front of a packed out Newcastle end, but the big man showed his class and razor-sharp reflexes by parrying clear Reagan Slater’s close-range effort moments before we made it two at the other end.
Once again, it was Murphy at the forefront of the action. His low cross was aimed for Barnes – who did well to make a darting run across the box – but the delivery went past everyone and found a way into the far corner to make it 2-0. We had a half chance to make it three just before the break, as Lewis’ cross from the left was headed on target but too close to the goalkeeper by Isak.
As for the 19 who missed out, Kelly, Longstaff and Willock stayed back on Tyneside to train and build up their fitness. The game came too soon for Schar and Almiron – who only returned to training on Friday – while Guimaraes, Trippier, Gordon and Dubravka are still on leave after representing their countries this summer.
Tonali was ineligible, but Wilson (back), Lewis Miley (broken foot), Botman (ACL) and Lascelles (ACL) remained sidelined due to injury, with Targett also edging his way back from an injury-riddled 2023/24. It’s not so clear why Ashby, A. Murphy and White weren’t involved, however, while Gillespie’s omission isn’t much of a shock given the number of goalkeepers at Howe’s disposal.
To my surprise, Howe made no changes at the break and stuck with the same 11, although it felt like a matter of time until we saw a number of youngsters come on. Murphy continued to look our biggest threat and almost set Barnes in behind, only for the former Leicester man to miss control the ball just as he looked set to burst clear. Minutes later, Livramento fired over after Lewis’ ball from the left evaded Isak, who could’ve grabbed a second on the hour mark when his effort from a Barnes cut-back was brilliantly blocked by the Hull defender.
A raft of changes followed soon after as Sanusi, Harrison, Turner-Cooke and Parkinson replaced Isak, Barnes, Livramento and Joelinton with 63 minutes on the clock. A great chance for a host of U21 talents to show Howe what they’re capable of, with Sanusi an exciting winger in England’s U17 ranks and Harrison a highly-rated attacking midfielder who swapped Man City for Newcastle earlier this year.
18-year-old Harrison immediately looked calm and comfortable receiving the ball in tight spaces and was always showing for it. The pace of the game had slowed in the second half – although our shape always seemed pretty solid – and Pope was forced into his second save of the match with 20 minutes remaining, comfortably pushing Longman’s edge of the box effort to safety.
With 73 on the clock, we saw three more changes. Vlachodimos replaced Pope for his first public outing in front of the Toon Army, while winger Emerson and England youth midfielder Munda replaced Lewis and Murphy.
Vlachodimos was immediately tested within a minute of entering the pitch as Omur’s shot from range was tipped away for a corner by the Greek international. It was a Newcastle side full of youngsters at this point, featuring plenty of square pegs in round holes, so it felt like a period of Hull pressure was coming over the final 15 minutes.
The only ‘senior’ players left on the pitch at this point was Hall, Burn, Vlachodimos and Krafth, with another two teenagers coming on as 19-year-old midfielder Ellis Stanton and Geordie full-back Dylan Charlton replacing Miley and Hall.
A rare attack followed for Howe’s young Mags, where an isolated Sanusi did well to win a corner soon after drawing a foul on the same flank. At the other end, Burn looked assured as our left-sided centre-back and looks the favourite to start the season in that role while Kelly builds his fitness and settles into the squad.
The second half was a classic pre-season friendly in the end, but it’s good to see us score a few in the first half, pick up no injuries and see out a win to nil ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Japan.
🎶We're back 👍#NUFC pic.twitter.com/f6Wu4Qq7bq
— Dominic Scurr (@DomScurr) July 27, 2024
Good write up Olly, mate.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Maybe make this one a featured thread?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
👍 Cheers Olly!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I honestly think Murphy is underrated by a lot of our fans. So he doesn’t do a million step overs or nutmeg a fullback – but he does some really good work on that right side & seems to link well with Isak.
Good friendly that today & Hull would be a decent club for some of our young uns to go out on loan to imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Agree Sharpy, Murphy was MotM for me, although Hall came very close.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – I’ve read some ‘fans’ saying we were only playing Hull in a friendly – that’s Murphy’s level.
But I disagree. I think he played well in the PL last season as well.
I’m not saying he’s the answer to RWF – but he’s better than Miggy & he’s good enough to raise the bar for recruiting the improvement for that position imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Absolutely mate. He was way better than Miggy last season.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I know it’s really cliche but with players like Tonali, Barnes, Hall even Botman – players like that missed so much of last season – I don’t want to say they are like new signings. But if we can add a RCB, RWF and CF – maybe a CM as well.
With no Europe, we are going to have a squad of players that could really do some damage.
If Bunce can ensure the players are fit for Howe to select as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gilly – are you worried about RB at all if Trippier leaves?
Would we need to improve or would you go with Tino, Krafth and Ashby?
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think I’d be ok if Tripps goes. Livramento is very good now and probably first choice. Not yet sure about Ashby but Krafth would be a good back up. However, if Tripps does go, I wouldn’t be surprised if we got another RB in.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I too really like Murphy and agree that he is better than Miggy.
kimtoon(Quote)
https://youtu.be/QC_bGqFh9MI?si=LQgxUAzz4oBL8ygY
Don’t know much about the young lad we’ve been linked with from Sheff Utd.
I know you shouldn’t YouTube scout & I know it’s only 1 game – BUT – he looks a big strong lad, pacy, good finisher but with room to improve.
At £10-15m he looks a pretty risk free option – especially if we keep hold of Wilson this season too.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy , He looks ok but impossible to really judge at that level.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I agree, and I wouldn’t expect a finished article at 20 to be fair. But if it’s a fee of £10m – I think that’s pretty risk free really. I mean that’s a fee a Championship side could easily pay if it didn’t work out with us, so money back at least I reckon.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I hope folks don’t mind me revisiting staveley’s departure .. esp after I suggested it was just a business thing and time to move on.
So here’s a direct quote when she was asked if hers was always going to be a temporary role at the club.
“ No, that’s absolute rubbish,I’m heartbroken not to be there because I love the club more than anything; the fans, the community, everything. And I would wish to be there every day, but it’s also not fair. The club’s management team need to have the chance to deliver their business plan. We did a great job and it’s been a privilege to be part of it, but they need to be left to do their jobs, too.”
Seems fair and I hope it’s as amicable as she makes it sound
Jonesy(Quote)
Jonesy – I just copied that very comment to paste it on here to make the same point mate.
Nobody disputes what a great job she did getting the club away from Ashley, and her influence since.
I’ve said it before & mean it – she’s up there with Sir John Hall for me in terms of legacy in our clubs history.
But we all knew the plan was to grow the club & the finances required to do so would be out of her reach eventually.
Thats no disrespect to her at all. She is clearly a formidable business woman. But I read the other day that since her leaving our club is now valued at 1 billion – that’s phenomenal.
I’m sure she wanted to remain part of something so good that she played such a big part in creating. But as she said herself, it was time to step aside & let the club grow.
Sharpy17(Quote)
On the transfer window – it’s about time we saw some movement now I think.
I know Mitchell has only been in post a couple of weeks, but it’s not like he was starting from scratch. I’m sure we knew what positions wanting strengthening & our scouts would have drawn up a list of options.
We were somewhat embarrassed by the fire sale to see off PSR – you’d have thought the club would have wanted to respond pretty quickly & decisively as a counter measure.
It seems we have opted on Thiaw as RCB – but that seems to be dragging on.
Have we identified a main target for RWF or CF though?!.
If Mandy was moved on so the club could get on with business – let’s start getting on with business!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Looks like we have a promising kid joining from Blackburn. Finneran, 16 yrs old. Don’t know anything about about him.
I’ve just read a laughable post saying we’ve bid £67m for Arda Gular from Real Madrid … I cannot see that happening. Well it is silly season.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
According to TM he’s only worth £38m, so a bargain.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Anyone watching the match? Canny first half. 2-1 up. Isak and Murphy again. Tell you what, Hall and Livramento are going to be outstanding players for us.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
4-1 to us, final result. Murphy with a second and Hall with the 4th. Pope saved a penalty that wasn’t really a penalty (it was outside the area). Good game but it show the gulf between our first team players and the second string.
Gilly Toon(Quote)