We wondered initially why Massadio Haidara was missing from the initial group of 23 players that Alan Pardew took on the week-long training camp to Portugal, but it looks like he was nursing a knock, and needed more fitness training.
Massadio beating up on a Newcastle coach
And Gael Bigirimana had only just returned to Newcastle, after representing the England U20 side at the World Championships in Turkey – but we finished bottom of the group (again) but Bigi was hardly used – so if you don’t use your best players what do you expect?
But it looks like both lads could be participating on Sunday afternoon (3:00 pm kick off time) when Newcastle will take on Blackpool at Bloomfield Road in the 4th friendly game of the season – although that first half at Pacos de Ferreira was anything but friendly.
Both lads are budding stars for Newcastle, and Haidara has already said his target this season is to displace Davide Santon from the left-bank position in the first team – but Santon looked pretty good in Portugal.
Bigirimana is 3rd from the left in the front row
And Gael Bigirimana had a very good first season on Tyneside, and played 25 times with a great goal against Wigan, and if he progresses this season like he did last season, he could be pushing for a starting place in the team next year – we think he’s that good.
We hope he’s that good.
Haidara did make the training camp at Braga over the weekend, as he had caught up on some of his training at Benton, and he’s seen above taking his frustrations out on a Newcastle coach. 😀
Alan Pardew talked about the two players in the Chronicle today:
“Bigi’s a player we’ve got high hopes for, but he’d literally walked through the door before the team left for Portugal.” “We thought it was fair he stayed with the U-21s.” “With Moussa Sissoko, Vurnon Anita, Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote, it was going to be difficult for him to get a game.” “I’d rather he played and see how does.” “He didn’t get much action with England’s U-20s, so he needs game time.”
“Massadio improved quicker than we thought. We didn’t think he could do anything last week.” “All my best medical care was in Portugal, so I decided to bring him out. We got some good work into him.”
It seems that it’s neck and neck between Massadio Haidara and local lad Paul Dummett as to who gets the chance to challenge Davide Santon this season for the left-back spot.
And there cannot be much between these two lads at the moment, and whoever doesn’t stay on Tyneside will be sent out on loan, probably to a Championship club, to get first team experience there – and plenty of clubs will be interested in taking either of these lads on loan.
Massadio and Gael are two of the most promising youngsters at Newcastle these days, and we hope to see both of them get an outing at the seaside on Sunday..
Comments welcome.
We are trying to help Ingo Hagemann who is an International student at Northumbria University studying for an MSc in Sports Marketing, and he’s doing a survey as part of his Masters dissertation. The survey is on the controversial sponsorship between Wonga and Newcastle and it takes only five to ten minutes to complete.
Please help Ingo by taking the survey here – many thanks.
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29 comments so far
WWYCD
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:27 PM
Comment #1Cisses back in from the cold! Hopefully anyway now lets get him some new friends signed!! Howay keep the good news rolling
rainrix
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:27 PM
Comment #2Not commenting as in 2 seconds we’re going to have a new article about cisse.
Wait…..
Indian Magpie
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:28 PM
Comment #3NUFC resign Cisse
viv
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:28 PM
Comment #4Has Remy signed?
Tinman
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:30 PM
Comment #5http://i4.chroniclelive.co.uk/incoming/article4325509.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Rachelle-GrahammmJPG-4325509.jpg
Might have something to do with him staying 😉
Mister Tuff
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:31 PM
Comment #6Indian -why has Cisse resigned or do you mean re-signed. By the way our poem the other day was rubbish.
bzak12
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:32 PM
Comment #7Pardue reckons striker panic over, with Cisse back on board and Shola like a new signing ‘We’re ready to go!’
Mister Tuff
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:32 PM
Comment #8error our = your
IITianToon
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:32 PM
Comment #9@Ibiza mate, how quickly moods swing on here
if Remy and Gomis sign, and Shola is moved on, imagine the hysteria and #didntitellyouso posters.
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:34 PM
Comment #10Glad that’s finally resolved now we can get on and concentrate on getting some signings in!
check the toastie
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:34 PM
Comment #11More likely Shola stays and we sign nobody – imagine the hysteria#intheknownobber
LooneyToon41
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:34 PM
Comment #12SSNews now reporting Cisse agrees to wear Wonga strip.
@5. Tinman. I’d agree to wear a onesie, for 1 hour with her!!!
Ok… i say an hour, but that includes foreplay, a few beers and a fry up.
ToonDarnSarf
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:34 PM
Comment #13Ed’s slowing down! Or maybe he didn’t have that result drafted!
Ibizatoon
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:35 PM
Comment #14IITian…Are you suggesting that people will suddenly be in a better mood if we sign a player or two and all of a sudden all those other things that are currently the end of the world issues wont be so important?
I struggle to believe the blog could be so fickle…mind you, I struggled to believe that JK was back so there you go….
Ibizatoon
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:36 PM
Comment #15check…It’s been a while. How was the goodbye Danny Simpson party? Have you recovered yet?
Rake
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:37 PM
Comment #16Do you reckon the club were just like so you like to gamble and Cisse said.. Err I’ll see you on monday morning for training…
Markaccus
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:38 PM
Comment #17Looney
Cisse would skip the fry up. He isn’t alowed to eat bacon 😀
Imagine if our shirt sponsor was a pork butcher!
toonarmydownsouth
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:38 PM
Comment #18Ibiza
If course people will be in a better mood mate!
Don’t think it’s fickle to want to go into the season seeing the squad strengthened like
Tinman
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:39 PM
Comment #19http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydF8_mNzMdc
Easy to forget how good HBA actually is since he hardly plays.
From 0:37 to 0:47 – if that doesnt make you laugh I dont know what will. Bet I was furious at the time
Markaccus
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:39 PM
Comment #20We wouldnt be able to have any jewish players either…..
Ibizatoon
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:40 PM
Comment #21Tads…I get that, just a little tongue in cheek comment really. Seems everything is a downer at the minute, understandably so I guess, but if things are really so bad, does a player or two really make that much difference or is it more a case of papering over the cracks?
bzak12
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:41 PM
Comment #22Bet that’s why we’ve had no signings yet, our hero Jokin-ear has been sorting out the Cisse dispute What a guy!
Tinman
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:42 PM
Comment #23Markaccus, Rake, keep it up haha
gus3232
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:42 PM
Comment #24great news about cisse,now lets hope he doesnt think we have enough strikers with shola scoring 2 friendly goals,can see it now,pardew happy with newcastle strikeforce
plana
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:46 PM
Comment #25Let us all rejoice at the return of the gambling man. Raise your cans of Tadcasters, Newcastle Brown ale to the dream team that is Cisse and Ameobi.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:46 PM
Comment #26Rumors has it Cisse will wear both the Wonga and the Aspers insignia 😉
So Ibiza…Köstritzer?
Ibizatoon
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:48 PM
Comment #27Jesper…Almost there mate…one more thread to go…you can do…zimmerframe at the ready… 😉
No idea, but will keep an eye out for it
plana
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:54 PM
Comment #28Do you see what i mean Viv?
rwpoynter
Jul 25, 2013 at 6:43 PM
Comment #29Glad your tests are OK Ed, been there ,got the tee shirt. Hope all continues well with you