Newcastle United kicked off the Sela Weekender with a thumping 4-0 win over Girona; the in-form La Liga side who finished third in the Spanish top flight last season.
Sean Longstaff opened the scoring at St James’ Park just three minutes in, Jacob Murphy bagged his fifth of pre-season, Anthony Gordon scored on his first start of the summer and Longstaff grabbed another before the break, with the electric Alexander Isak also having a penalty saved that he did so well to win in an utterly one-sided first 45 minutes.
The second half was more competitive – which was probably just as well – and saw teenage talent Trevan Sanusi feature, showing more flashes of promise after cameos in each of our previous three friendlies in Hull and Japan.
As expected, the squad was a mix of young and old – a completely different XI is set to start tomorrow’s 4pm clash with Stade Brest – and featured the return of Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak up top, Joelinton in midfield and top young talents Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento at full-back with Nick Pope in goal. It was also a big moment for Jamie Miley, as Lewis’ older brother was handed his first senior start in front of 31,958 at St James’ Park:
NUFC XI: Pope – Livramento, Krafth, Burn (c), Hall – J. Miley, Joelinton, Longstaff – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
SUBS: Ruddy, Gillespie, Heffernan, Parkinson, Stanton, Harrison, Hernes, Munda, Sanusi, Shahar.
The likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Lloyd Kelly, Miguel Almiron, Harvey Barnes, Odysseas Vlachodimos and new signing Will Osula missed out, suggesting they’ll play tomorrow. The bench featured U21 talents Trevan Sanusi, Leo Shahar and Alfie Harrison, with veteran goalkeeper John Ruddy also in the squad as he waits for his first appearance since arriving on a free transfer this summer.
Sandro Tonali (ineligible) missed out once again along with Callum Wilson (back), Lewis Miley (foot), Sven Botman (ACL), Jamaal Lascelles (ACL), Matt Targett (Achilles), Martin Dubravka, Jamal Lewis, Harrison Ashby, Alex Murphy (hip), Joe White (back) and Garang Kuol (knee).
For the visitors, former Man Utd duo Daley Blind and Donny Van de beek both started, with former Spurs stopper Paulo Gazzaniga in goal for the La Liga side who’ll be competing in this year’s UEFA Champions League.
Supporters flocked to the St James’ STACK ahead of the 7.30pm kick off, enjoying food, drinks and entertainment in our new fanzone that opened on Thursday behind the Gallowgate before the real action got underway as Premier League referee and Toon fan Michael Oliver blew his whistle.
Anyone who got to their seat late might’ve missed the opening goal, as Sean Longstaff opened the scoring less than three minutes in. Jacob Murphy did superbly to drive through the Girona midfield and put Isak in behind. The Swede cut it back to Livramento and his ball across the box was met by Longstaff, who slid a low effort past Gazzaniga who couldn’t get down quick enough. 1-0 and chants of “Sean Longstaff, he’s one of our own” belted around the
The second came 10 minutes later after some good work down our left between Gordon and Isak, with their interplay in tight areas ending with our star striker picking out an unmarked Hall in the box with a dinked cross. Hall’s header was glanced to the far post and fell to Murphy, who lashed home at the Gallowgate to make it FIVE pre-season goals from our in-form right winger. 2-0!
At the other end, Pope was called into action an made a smart save low down to his right before we made it three just 30 seconds later. The dominant Joelinton pinched the ball back on the half way line and Gordon was quickly slipped in behind down the left before holding off his man and firing a left-footed effort past Gazzaniga and into the far corner. 3-0!
🏴 Anthony Gordon finish to make it 3-0.
Well won back by Joelinton and set up by Alexander Isak ⚫️⚪️#NUFC
— NUFCBlog.co.uk (@NUFCblogcouk) August 9, 2024
Moments later, Isak won a penalty after some brilliant skill bamboozled the Girona defender who clumsily brought him down in the box. Michael Oliver pointed to the spot and we had the chance to make it FOUR before the 20-minute mark, only for Isak’s spot kick to be saved as Gazzaniga guessed right with a smart low save.
Five minutes later, Dan Burn almost got in on the action. After Gordon left his man for dead and Livramento’s teasing cross from the right, Burn arrived on the edge of the box and lashed Longstaff’s cut-back towards goal, but it was stopped well by Gazzaniga who showed quick reflexes to parry away.
Joelinton should’ve made it four just before the break after Murphy’s burst of pace and perfect cross put it on a plate for the Brazilian, but his header struck the bar before Longstaff smashed the rebound beyond static Girona defenders and a helpless Gazzaniga. 4-0! Murphy deserves praise for his work in the build up, yet it was an attack that started with Joelinton’s powerful drive from deep and Isak’s stinging effort from range.
Half-time and Girona, who had never played Newcastle before today’s meeting, were probably wishing there wasn’t another 45 minutes to play. Pre-season or not, it was hard to believe they lost just seven of 38 games in La Liga last season on their way to a third-placed finish.
Howe was keen to get 90 minutes into the legs of some, opposed to making wholesale changes at the break, but he did make one substitution as exciting winger Trevan Sanusi replaced Gordon – who was brilliant but was blowing early – for the second half.
The 17-year-old was our biggest positive from that 2-0 defeat to Yokohama last time out and he made an immediate impression here, always showing for the ball, driving at his man and trying to make things happen down our left.
Thankfully for us and the Spaniards, it was a more competitive second half and featured Pope’s second save of the game as our No.1 did well to parry a low effort away for a corner after getting down quickly at his near post.
Next up, Newcastle United Women take on AC Milan in tomorrow’s 1pm kick-off before the Sela Weekender finished with Eddie Howe’s Mags taking on Stade Brest; a French side who finished third in Ligue 1 last season.
Potential XI vs Brest: Vlachodimos – Trippier, Schar, Kelly, Lewis – Harrison, Bruno, Willock – Almiron, Osula, Barnes.
- 22nd July – SpVgg Unterhaching 1-3 Newcastle (⚽ Barnes ⚽ Murphy ⚽ Isak)
- 27th July – Hull City 0-2 Newcastle (⚽ Isak, ⚽ Murphy)
- 31st July – Urawa Red Diamonds 1-4 Newcastle (⚽ Isak, ⚽⚽ Murphy, ⚽ Hall)
- 3rd August – Yokohama F. Marinos 2-0 Newcastle
- 9th August – Newcastle 4-0 Girona (⚽⚽ Longstaff, ⚽ Murphy, ⚽ Gordon)
- 10th August – Newcastle Women vs AC Milan Women (1pm)
- 10th August – Newcastle vs Stade Brest (4pm)
I can’t get excited about this. It’s a pre season friendly – great 🤷🏼♂️.
The lack of new additions getting quality game time can’t be ignored by a 4-0 score line against a team we should be beating 4-0.
Those in charge of recruitment at NUFC need to hang their heads in shame.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Watched it online. Great Start. Hopefully, people will back off Longstaff and Murphy. They played very well. Sanusi looks a prospect. He’ll keep the pressure on Barnes and Gordon. My only negative was young James Miley. Not that he did anything wrong it’s just that when he came off I didn’t recall him being mentioned by the commentator once. I wasn’t particularly watching him, so I’m not making any Judgement. The fact that Eddie started him speaks volumes.
PremAndUp(Quote)
It’s pretty underwhelming on the transfer front, I know we got to be careful not to fall foul of the rules but no one else seems worried. Everyone busy signing talent, wtf is going on.
Isak will be off at this rate.
kimtoon(Quote)
Sharpy mate, I hear you, but this was a side that finished third in La liga last year and are in the champions league for this coming season. Still a good performance and a great win.
I too wish we had more new signings in to work with the team though. We are painfully slow in both getting rid of unwanted players and buying in new ones.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
We have a squad of 34, which is the third biggest in the Prem. If anyone is coming in at least half a dozen need to go, if anyone will have them.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Gilly – it’s a friendly mate. How competitively were Girona playing?! It was a good run out but if it was a European game I don’t imagine it would have been quite as easy.
I’m not annoyed we aren’t spending a fortune – it’s got nowt to do with the amount. It’s the inability to get deals done.
Let’s be honest, if this was a transfer window in the Ashley era we’d all be stotting!! Especially after a nothing January window as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
True! ☹️
Gilly Toon(Quote)
According to todays news we’ve offered £50m for Guehi despite them putting a price of £60-65m on him – very Ashley esque
But if we have £50m to spend, move on!! Thiaw was £35-40m a few weeks ago – get it done.
That we don’t even seem to know who we want at RWF suggests that Mitchell has come in with different ideas, because we’ve known its a position that needed improvement for long enough now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Re RW.
We need two good players in every position.
If Miggy has dropped out of those two places and needs replacing we have a choice.
Has Murph’s form been good enough so that we don’t need an instant starter, Arda Guler for me, or can we go for a cheaper option such as Noni Madueke from Chelsea as a loan to buy?
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – I genuinely don’t care.
It doesn’t bother me that we got Osula for £10m over Jonathan David for £40m.
I wouldn’t care if we spent £65m on Guehi or Thiaw for £35m
It wouldn’t bother me if we spent £50m on Neto or Raphina or loaned Madueke to buy.
I’m not one that thinks spend big. I actually prefer the idea of developing players. So the spend side doesn’t bother me too much.
What is frustrating me is what appears to be a total lack of plan.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Time to ‘chill’ guy’s. Negotiations are just that two sides wanting the best outcome. The financial restraints forced on us have got to make it more difficult and long winded.
‘Hang their heads in shame’ Look at their record thus far bought in;
Bruno
Isak
Botman
Trippier
Gordon
Barnes
Hall
Livramento
Burn
Pope
Wilson
Also adding a host of good youngsters and women!
Failed to get?
Lingard?
Phillips?
Maddison?
The Ashley players Howe improved Joelinton, Murphy, Willock, Longsaff
Together with the new Backroom staff a whole ‘rook’ of Good youngsters and women
Not too ‘shabby’ I think. My motto has always been ‘Do it slow but get it right’
The window is not closed yet ‘What will be will be’
nutmag(Quote)
I’m not sure about the ‘total lack of plan’
Both Guehi and Thiaw have the same agent, so the conversation for both of them is between Mitchell and the same person. This enables Mitchell to be aware of any subtle shifts of position for either player.
Like you, I don’t care which we get.
Much as I want players in the day the window opens or at least before the season kicks off, it’s still true that a lot of deals are done within the last couple of days before the window closes.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Nutmag – I understand how negotiations works – as does WHU by the looks of it .. oh and they also seem to manage to go through their negotiations keeping it out the media & social media.
I don’t need to chill at all. This is why we have employed so many behind the scenes staff – who are managing to buy plenty of kids – or money makers.
But what they aren’t doing is backing Howe and the first team players. First team players like Isak, Gordon and Bruno who we depended so heavily on last season & who want some help, want to see the club have some ambition so they can be at a club they seem to love playing for, but can be achieving European football every season & competing to win trophies.
Because if we don’t Howe will inevitably pay the ultimate price & these players will be on to their agents.
They have done so little in this window – either bringing players in or moving people on that they should hang their heads in my opinion – they need to do better!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Prem – I didn’t know that they had the same agent but that to me makes it even worse that this debacle has dragged on so long.
Though that said, the delay with Guehi seems more like Palace want £65m and our max bid so far is well short at £50m.
Seems pretty straight forward to me. If we want him, meet his fee. If we deem it too high, pay the lower fee for Thiaw.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Osula looking good. Scored but marginally offside. Looked just on to me. Barnes puts us 1-0 up at HT
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – if he can stay fit I think Barnes could have a really good season.
I also really like the look of Osula. I have no immediate expectations from him but think he will develop into a really good player.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Finished 1-0. Bit of a nothing second half.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
New thread up!
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/08/10/newcastle-1-0-brest-toon-lift-sela-cup-on-busy-day-at-st-james-park/
Gilly Toon(Quote)