If Aleksandar Mitrovic expects to have a long term stay at Newcastle, then he must get his discipline under control and Rafa Benitez will have noted the 21 year-old could have cost us the game on Sunday, with the daft foul he committed on Kyle Walker.
The score was 2-1 after 68 minutes when the Serbian international received a straight red card for a challenge, which could have resulted in Kyle’s lower leg being broken.
Aleksandar Mitrovic – after scoring with a great header against Spurs
And because he was also sent off with a straight red at the beginning of the season against Arsenal, it means he will miss the first four games in the Championship next season.
Mitrovic has also been criticized for the foul by his idol Alan Shearer – and Alan has said the young striker doesn’t seem to be learning – so let’s hope Mitro takes heed of the good advice from the Newcastle legend.
He is an excellent prospect and we really like the lad a lot, but discipline is what’s missing at the moment, although we still have to remember he’s still only 21.
Rafa will make him in to a much better striker in years to come.
The 21 year-old just seems to love playing for Newcastle and he is sorry for the relegation in his first season on Tyneside:
“I am sorry about relegation but Newcastle is too big a club and I hope that we will soon return to the elite.”
“On a personal level I’m happy, I could not have given more, but I was however, making my debut in the strongest league in the world. At the moment I am living my dream in Newcastle.”
“I hope to be at the club for many years and I will be a legend. Of course many children are dreaming of playing for Real, Barca, Manchester United – I always just wanted to wear the shirt of Partizan, Newcastle and my country.”
“The footage (of the foul) looks much more serious than it really was – it was a big fuss as far as I am concerned.”
On the positive side Aleksandar scored on Sunday with just a beautiful header in the first half to put Newcastle 2-0 up.
It was a lesson from the youngster on how to head a ball text-book style.
As soon as Benitez arrived on Tyneside he mentioned what a good header of the ball Mitro was – and that the players had got to get better service into the young striker.
We expect that Rafa will bring in quite a few new players into the club this summer with an emphasis on strengthening the defense and he is likely to bring in one or two strikers too – a position which has also been a weakness of the team.
We can expect the new signings to fix the problems that have been at Newcastle now for at least two years – and why it has taken this long to do that is a very good question.
Comments welcome.
147 comments so far
manxpie
May 18, 2016 at 3:48 PM
Comment #1Me too Belfast i hope townsend realises Wat he’s got here tho stadium love him got back into the England squad after years of being in the wilderness
but then again he is a footballer!
Being a winger I think is the hardest position in football but the consistency he has shown is better than any winger in the league barring the obvious and who knows if he had been here all season
I’d give him a pay rise and new contract tbh
Bobbybee
May 18, 2016 at 3:48 PM
Comment #2Ha ha, here’s one for the record – i agree with tuff on this one. 😉 Give it out, expect to take it. You can’t sit back having a dig at people and not expect it back when it is deserved. Well said tuff. You can frame that if you wish! 😉
Bobbybee
May 18, 2016 at 3:54 PM
Comment #3Right, let’s draw a line under it now eh? I’ve had my fun but know when enough is enough.
Manpixie, you may have hit on the solution there my friend. Give him a better contract, in return for him removing the get out clause. Dead simple really. We all want him here and so does Rafa, so it makes sense all round. His career has been totally boosted by coming here and having listened to how we feel about him when it looked like he was coming off, he must realise this is where he ought to be? At long last things are changing for the better. Now is the time to get on board.
Bobbybee
May 18, 2016 at 4:02 PM
Comment #4Manpixie?! Sorry matey! 😉
dok - the horrid colonial
May 18, 2016 at 4:07 PM
Comment #5Message from the blog ruiner
jib, that made me spit coffee lol, well done…
I did, have it saved to my comp when its necessary, thank you lad
Spoof
May 18, 2016 at 4:08 PM
Comment #6Not sure that Mitro would have a long term future here under Rafa, I hope I’m wrong as I really do like Mitro but I have my doubts as to whether he is Rafa’s sort of striker, Rafa does seem to prefer the quick feet and more mobile type of striker rather than the big powerhouse which is what Mitro is, I fear for the lads future !
Bobbybee
May 18, 2016 at 4:09 PM
Comment #7Is this the same Shearer who nearly launched Lennon’s head into orbit, deliberately and with malice? How short some peoples memories are! 😉
goommy
May 18, 2016 at 4:09 PM
Comment #8A legend!!?? Don’t make me laugh Mitro boy. Striker with 2 red cards a season wanna be a legend? If you don’t fix this you will end up like that Mario Balotelli dude. So much potential but needed by no one. I used to have very high hope for you but after seeing what you did to Kyle I think I’m done..Good luck.
giimps
May 18, 2016 at 4:13 PM
Comment #9I think Ivan Toney may be more Rafas type, along with Adam Armstrong, they’re both quicker and more mobile, maybe not as strong ,but power isn’t everything, pace is the killer for defences used correctly…..like Leicester
hibbitt
May 18, 2016 at 4:13 PM
Comment #10Bobbybee
i am a very placid type of guy but i could have knocked lennon’s head into orbit that day
Bobbybee
May 18, 2016 at 4:18 PM
Comment #11Hibeett, only if you’d got there ahead of me matey! What a tw@t, he deserved what he got. You get my point though… 😉
manxpie
May 18, 2016 at 4:20 PM
Comment #12As bad as the challenge was on walker it looked a lot worse in super slow motion tbf plus walker is a bit of a dirty twat as well plus lamellas was a horrible challenge on townsend that could have easily have badly injured him plus dier’s so I’m not feeling sorry for any spuds players
the 10 game ban for it that some were calling for were well over the top like
Essex Geordie Bill
May 18, 2016 at 4:21 PM
Comment #13I have to agree that any player who tries to cripple an opposition player is a liability to the game and deserves a lengthy ban. How about they’re banned till the victim is playing again.
Essex Geordie Bill
May 18, 2016 at 4:27 PM
Comment #14Re Hails earlier comment about people who trawl back threads for ammo to use I couldn’t agree more, it’s really sad and personally I couldn’t be *arsed, if some one wanted to score cheap points against me I’m more likely to laugh than take offence.
Still it takes all sorts and does make the blog interesting at times.
Jail for Ashley
May 18, 2016 at 4:28 PM
Comment #15Oh Bobby Bee, the hypocrite himself,. doesn’t like people talking behind his back??? yet has been ranting about me all afternoon.
Firstly, are you right in the head marrow, who has been taking the pi$$ out of your disability, anyone on here will testify I am the first to pull someone for racist or vile insults.
Secondly how am I a fair weather fan, I have regularly gone to about ten games a season under Ashleys ownership until I finally had enough last year when enough was enough and I decided to make a stand. You keep pointing out that I said I’d never go back while Ashley was there yet you have no proof, I actually found a post of mine to BandB that said I wouldn’t go back unless there was drastic change, I believe there has been and now will pay that back by putting my money upfront. I went back there this season long before Rafa was talked about while we were third bottom so how is that only going in the good times. You need to calm down marrow and get your facts straight before spilling your bile on here. As Charlie and hibbitt will back up, I’ve nevber had a go at match going fans which is another one of your petty false accusatuions.
Jib,
If that’s the best you can come up with don’t bother. I’ve made no secret of the fact I was very supportive of Pardew on here after that double manager of the year. Wind changes in seconds, it took me a full season of humiliating defeats, shyte football and worse excuses plus his getting in bed with the fat man that turned my opinion on Pardew.
Jail for Ashley
May 18, 2016 at 4:32 PM
Comment #16*I actually found a post of mine to BandB dated two years ago.
Rotonda heights
May 18, 2016 at 4:34 PM
Comment #17wouldn’t miss him, nor did the team after he was carded, best football we’ve played in an age. Mitro is never getting away from defenders, misses so many chances and 2 reds just this season, nut job. Much prefer Armstrong or someone in that mould who can get in behind.
Bobbybee
May 18, 2016 at 4:36 PM
Comment #18Hibeet? Jesus, i keep doing it! 😉
giimps
May 18, 2016 at 4:37 PM
Comment #19Has there been any release of where we’re going pre season this year?
Iv looked but couldn’t find anything, hopefully it’s somewhere they can all play together as a possible team rather than playing the u21s in case the the seniors got injured………it could have been even worse than the 397 playing days our squad was injured for if they hadn’t, well done JC and Chumpley….another fine mess and all that…….Rafa might want Spain or Portugal……wel probably end up in Greenland or Antarctica if Chumpley is choosing again
hibbitt
May 18, 2016 at 4:48 PM
Comment #20have i got this right championship srarts on the 6th of august ?
Bobbybee
May 18, 2016 at 4:48 PM
Comment #21Jail, you just posted when i put my post up, so how did i know you weren’t there? You’ve probably been here all along, desperately looking for something to back you up. Personally i can’t be bothered doing that – two years ago? Really? 😉 If you insist on having a dig, expect it back marrow. 😉 You are not immune. It works both ways. Maybe if you changed that drama queen moniker, it might not be too bad. Deny away at what you said, i couldn’t care a toss. We know. 😉 Desperately looking back years to pick out little bits, is so so sad. Man up, admit what you said. Nobody really cares anyway. I’ve repeatedly said you ignore me etc, but you can’t resist. Don’t bleat when it comes back at you. Anyway, once again, i’ve already drawn a line under it and only responded in like. I’m taking the p!ss. Having a laugh at your expense, as you love to do. Don’t give it out, you won’t get it back. Simples!
Bobbybee
May 18, 2016 at 4:52 PM
Comment #22Giimps, i reckon they’ll get the rafa thing sorted before deciding on pre season tours? As long as it isn’t like last season, all will be well i reckon. Can’t see rafa making mistakes like that, can you? 😉
giimps
May 18, 2016 at 4:54 PM
Comment #23I thought this was a football blog and not a who said what blog?
Shadow_Shearer
May 18, 2016 at 4:59 PM
Comment #24Mitrovic tackle was a bad one, but I think people are over playing it. It was a clumsy strikers challenge. It’s like some people think he was deliberately trying to injure him.
Yes I agree he’s hot headed & needs to work on that, but he was tryna shield the ball at the time.
His tackles are awful, he needs to work on that & his finishing.
Bobbybee
May 18, 2016 at 5:07 PM
Comment #25Shadow, i see it that way myself. Looked like he was putting his foot down to shield the ball, but ended up putting his foot down his leg. Only he would know if he deliberately meant to injure the guy, but wasn’t as bad as some are making out. If he’d meant it, it would’ve had far worse results. Clearly the atmosphere got to him a bit and he was hyped up. I think he’d looked at it again after getting sent off, which would explain why he came out at the end and apologised to the ref.
reilly
May 18, 2016 at 5:10 PM
Comment #26does anyone use widi.
lets hope rafa gets signed up soon,the last thing we need is this dragging on all summer.
Charlie in the Gallowgate
May 18, 2016 at 5:14 PM
Comment #27Spoof
Mitro – If Rafa stays and sorts his temperament out I think he will be a big hit in the Championship as I think you need a big battling centre forward – i.e. in the Carroll mould as in our promotion year.
RAFA – This is he staying or going the suspense is killing!!!
Bobbybee
May 18, 2016 at 5:18 PM
Comment #28Charlie, it might kill you a while longer matey, with the appt not expected for two weeks! 😉 Both sides are saying the right things and if i was a gambling man, i’d put money on him staying right now. That could change however, but we all want what’s best for the team, even ashley i reckon.
Oldgit1
May 18, 2016 at 5:21 PM
Comment #29See Bobbybee is having another rant. Try to avoid his pathetic posts. Some of you may find him amusing but I can’t stand his comments. He is so far up his own arse. Be nice if ed banned him.
Jib
May 18, 2016 at 5:21 PM
Comment #30Also people mention 2 reds for Mitro.
The one against Arsenal and the little squealer Coquelin was a joke.
hibbitt
May 18, 2016 at 5:21 PM
Comment #31the longer this goes on the more chance we have of losing him to another club
Bobbybee
May 18, 2016 at 5:24 PM
Comment #32Old git. Nuff said really! 😉
GeordieTwo
May 18, 2016 at 5:26 PM
Comment #33Rotonda heights: one of the magnificent long time bloggers that I look forward to reading. Loads of perspective on the club and it’s history. 8/10
Jail for Ashley: no nonsense knee knocker. Gives us his views in a straight forward way. 7.8/10
reilly: gets down to business straight off the mark. Steady, productive blogger. 7.6/10
Charlie in Gallowgate: very proud, intense supporter. Gives it his best and can really rock the boat. 7.5/10
Yo-yo
May 18, 2016 at 5:27 PM
Comment #34Studiously avoiding blog assassination attempts on grassy knoll ^.
Mitro says “it was a big fuss as far as I am concerned”
Yeh.. so missing 3 or 4 games beginning of next season is insignificant and just a big fuss ?
Clubs expect players to be available and show some self discipline and I’d fine him for self justifying comments like that.
As for Shearer – the man with the sledge hammer elbows… he always seemed to avoid getting carded as he was done to as much as did.
But ..averaged 1 yellow every ten games, sent off one so Mitro has a lot of role modelling to do
GeordieTwo
May 18, 2016 at 5:30 PM
Comment #35Oldgit1: has that warrior spirit. Doesn’t walk away from a tussle. 7.8/10
GeordieTwo
May 18, 2016 at 5:31 PM
Comment #36Yo-yo: clever insights. Very astute and gets right into the mix. 7.8/10
GeordieTwo
May 18, 2016 at 5:34 PM
Comment #37I wonder what Rafa is thinking? Can he drag the gang of idiots Ashley has put together as an executive team along with him as he brings us back to self respect as a club? It’s a tall order unless he can get more of a clear out done than just Carr.
dok - the horrid colonial
May 18, 2016 at 5:34 PM
Comment #38hibbitt,
ive got this hunch that rafa is gonna stay.. a coach of his aptitude will make a iron clad agreement to ensure MA doesn’t screw him over, imo…
GeordieTwo
May 18, 2016 at 5:34 PM
Comment #39What to do with Beardsley for example? Great player but no motivator of players. He has to go surely.
hibbitt
May 18, 2016 at 5:37 PM
Comment #40dok – the horrid colonial
i hope your right but just have no trust in these clowns to get the job done