Speaking to The Athletic, Sean Longstaff has been discussing the criticism he, Dan Burn and Miguel Almiron receive from certain Newcastle United fans; either online or in the stands:
“I think me and Burny (Dan Burn) are sometimes easy targets when it’s not going well. It’s probably the same for Miggy (Almiron). We’re not stupid, we see a bit of it, but good or bad we stick together as a group, try our best and stay as level as possible.”
Regardless of if he’s a local lad or not, it’s not nice to hear Sean Longstaff – or any Newcastle player for that matter – have to say this is an interview.
It’s part of modern football culture, unfortunately. No matter how good a team is – there always has to be at least one scapegoat who fans can blame when they have no other way to diagnose what’s going wrong on the pitch, over one or several matches.
People always want to have a solution as to what could be done better, and the easiest solution is always to blame an individual (player or manager). Unfortunately for us it’s Longstaff, Burn and Almiron at the moment. And at some point in the future when they’re no longer at the club, that role will shift to someone else.
Of course they’re players we *can* and will improve upon, but they’re still players who have contributed immensely in their own right to a really successful period for the club. They deserve respect.
Criticism is fair, but these guys often get blamed in a disproportionate way, and regularly for things that aren’t even their fault. It’s a phenomenon which probably exists in most clubs.
Not many blaming Burn for anything as far as i can tell. 🤷🏻♂️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
He sucks .. we should sell him quickly…everything about him is average or below the average…you can’t qualify for champions league with longstaff
Henock nufc(Quote)
That includes target, Wilson, almiron, dubrka, Lascelles and j.Will
Henock nufc(Quote)
Said this many times thought the bad press he got off some fans was shocking last season proved we can win games with him playing still can be a valuable squad player for us 8 goals from midfield in all comps was good return
Darren Bebb(Quote)
He went from 750 quid a weeks to 52k …he isn’t the **** …he actually sucks missing opportunities on a weekly basis…someone take him
Henock nufc(Quote)
Very short memories is yet another failing suffered by a number of supporters. Last season Burn came in for substantial stick with not just a few demanding he be replaced as not being up to it. And not so long ago it was Murphy who was the whipping boy.
“you can’t qualify for champions league with longstaff” – yet we did …. another example of short memory. If these players weren’t worth their place then Howe would have moved them on by now.
Tonytoon(Quote)
Though funnily enough we did …..
Vince Moralee(Quote)
Some Wallopers on here!
We will do what finances allow.
Other teams have to want to buy your players before you can sell them.
ABM(Quote)
How many of our “star” players would be willing to play week in week out with a
painful foot injury when we desperately needed bodies on the pitch.
Apart from (maybe) paying to attend games, what gives the right, to these contributors
to talk about a player who has given his life to NUFC in such a fashion. “He sucks”
“get rid of him” Who are these cretins? You’re dismissing a stalwart of Newcastle as
if he’s something you’ve had the misfortune to step in on your way to SJP. That is
if you’ve actually ever been.
For Christ’s sake show some respect.
Supporter since the 60’s despite the dross allowed in the ground today.
Bill W.
One time Byker Lad
Bill W.(Quote)
BDB and Longstaff give everything every match. Clear to see how much the Club means to these boys.
They are premier league players not super stars like Bruno but not many are. They would be picked by any team. Give them the respect they deserve.
You guys probably never played – last picks (..might have spelt that wrong !) in the play ground who know nothing!
John Herron(Quote)
You will find unpleasant moaners and toxic commentary across social media and warped opinions ..the majority of fans do not agree with Henok Nufc .. and appreciate Sean miggy et all .. the time for change will be decided by the club player and manager
Mike(Quote)
These are the same players who gave every thing to save us from going into the Championship.
Do we want to improve the team of course but as we progress we should be thankful for what these players have done not slag them off.
In my humble opinion after years of being on a downward slide I see nothing worth complaining about. Just my opinion up the Mags.
David Brown(Quote)
Yet we did qualify for the champions league, and longstaff was integral to that achievement. Proven by the drop of in results when he was out injured!
SteveL(Quote)
I’d love to see a bunch of premier league footballer go round to a building site and stand round a brickie shouting things like “you’re ******* useless”, or “you couldn’t build a straight wall if you tried”, throwing bottles of water at him.
It’s nothing to do with the culture of modern football and looking for someone to blame.
It’s all about fans being idiots and acting up because they think it’s OK to be arseholes protected by the anonymity of a 52 K crowd or the internet.
BykerBill(Quote)
Critisism comes with the territory but the abuse is obviously, completely unwarranted. To those that think it’s ok, it isnt. It’s pathetic.
Trav(Quote)
The only critism I have of Sean is he dives, that is cheating and it should be wiped out of our game. Sean gives his all for the club and I love him for that.
Kevin(Quote)
Longstaff Played last season, when needed and he was not fit (injured)
Hanock Nufc. You’re an A*se!
I don’t know how old you are probably about 6?
William Cowx(Quote)
Burn came under a lot of criticism because Howe played him as a LFB against some very speedy wingers, so Howe was at fault as he could have played Hall.
Burn excelled in the latter part of the season when played in his correct position, so it was not his fault.
Longstaff has come under a lot of criticism just like Almiron because although they can run all day they lack quality in the final third.
Longstaff’s injury may have contributed to his performances and Howe was probably forced to play him due to the injury situation.
The question is when we have everyone fit do we keep Burn and Longstaff as squad players or from a business point of view do we cash in when we can.
Almiron although a good servant on £100k a week I might add, has to go as he lacks what is needed (along with his age) if Newcastle want to improve and progress.
Joseph(Quote)
Rune Andre Marthinsen(Quote)
Well, they did, didn’t they?
Longstaff did play a massiv role in the team that qualified to the CL and he scored the goals that won us the place in the cup final. He also played in the fantastic mach against PSG.
Eddie Howe belive in Shaun Longstaff… but you think you know better?
Rune Andre Marthinsen(Quote)
These players are all class in my eyes and I’m happy we have them. I hope they stay. Longstaff is captain material. I’ll be very sceptical about signing “replacements”, they’ll need to prove themselves in black and white before I rate them as an improvement… the grass is always greener
We can’t get rid of all of our academy players like Longstaff if we want to qualify for the Champions League. Mark Gillespie and Lewis Miley aren’t enough.
tomatao(Quote)
Henock, please remove “nufc” from your name title, it’s embarrassing.
You suck .. we should ban you from commenting quickly…everything about You is well below average or or simply pathetic …you can’t qualify as an NUFC loyal supporter or mention champions league and Sean longstaff.
I’ll call you out
You must be a below average Mackem.
Geordie Mac(Quote)
You’re either a whinging macem or a whining manc. Why don’t you crawl back under that rock from where you came?
We neither need you not want you or your type at our club.
Kevets supporter since 1965.
Kevets(Quote)
BDB & Sean are still contributing. They are the work horses of the club. Who allow the flair players to strut their stuff.
The younger players are getting better but will struggle at some point during the season and that is when a team requires players to step in and make a difference.
I don’t think the younger players are ready to take over from BDB yet and don’t forget he’s from Blyth
Spanish George(Quote)
These people forget we were going down extremely fast,until Eddie came along and transformed the team ,with so called players who apparently suck!! Into a team that reached group stage of champions league, and who knows what would have happened if it wasn’t for injuries? Support your team don’t criticice certain players,everyone has a bad game now and then.
Paul T(Quote)
This very blog contributed to the dissenting voices often slating Burn and in particular Longstaff so hardly fair you comment on it’s not nice to hear our fans saying this about our players when you are stirring the pot yourselves 🤷🏼♂️
David(Quote)