Newcastle completed their 6th pre-season friendly game this afternoon at St. James’ Park against Italian club Hellas Verona.
Newcastle scored two good goals in the first 12 minutes of the game and then cantered through the remain 78 minutes with the home side being superior to the visitors in almost every aspect of play and came out winners by 2-0.
This was good preparation for the Premier League starting for Newcastle next Sunday at home to Tottenham, and the team looked compact and very well organized.
The squad was missing top goalscorer Dwight Gayle, who apparently has been nursing a knock and local lad Jack Colback was also left out of the squad.
Newcastle wore their black strips which looked just terrific!
Newcastle players celebrate after early goal
Verona is managed by former Newcastle assistant coach Fabio Pecchia who left us last year for pastures new in his home country of Italy and like Rafa got the relegated side immediately promoted back to the top division.
It was really no contest this afternoon, and the scoreline of 2-0 did not represent Newcastle’s complete dominance, and Rafa had the lads playing well and fighting for every ball – and yet it’s still only preseason.
The fight and passion shown by our players really augers well for the coming season – we will not be an easy side to beat because of our organization and every player is willing to put everything in for the team.
The crowd of 23,906, was a little disappointing but the game was over in the first 12 minutes with Newcastle finding holes in the Verona defense almost at will.
After four minutes Javier Manquillo got down the right wing well and put over a good cross, and it was Spanish forward Ayoze Perez who put the ball into the back of the net past goalkeeper Nicholson at the near post.
And then just 8 minutes later and it was another goal from Christian Atsu in pre-season as he confidently put the ball home from a narrow-angle.
And maybe we are going to see more goals from the Ghanaian winger who has had an outstanding preseason for the Magpie since signing permanently for us in June after being on loan last term.
But still for the number of chances we created we only scored twice, and maybe this will persuade those at the top of the club to bring in one or maybe even two strikers to the club during this transfer window so we can convert more of the chances we are creating.
It was a problem we had last season in the Championship, and we should be fixing that this pre-season.
In the second half, Rafa made a bevy of changes bringing on nine players giving a home debut to impressive holding midfielder Mikel Merino – who could well be a star of the future at Newcastle.
But we still couldn’t score even though Matt Ritchie hit the post with one of those free-kicks of his and young winger Rolando Aarons was really close with a header.
In short – Newcastle were utterly dominant in this game, and yet it was still only 2-0.
That tells us we are still too weak in the striker position.
That’s four wins in the six preseason games with a draw and one defeat.
Now to beat Spurs next Sunday afternoon!
Newcastle: Elliot (Darlow, 64), Manquillo (Murphy, 64), Lejeune (Lascelles, 64), Clark (Mbemba, 64), Dummett (Gamez, 64), Ritchie, Shelvey (Merino, 64), Hayden, Atsu (Aarons, 64), Perez (de Jong, 72), 64), Mitrovic (Diame, 64)..
Hellas Verona: Nicholas, Bearzotti, Fares, Buchel, Kumbulla, Souprayen, Zucilini, Bessa, Verde, Cerci, Pazzini.
Goals: Perez 4, Atsu 12
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Preston)
Attendance: 23,906
209 comments so far
toontaff2
Aug 6, 2017 at 7:33 PM
Comment #81Thought Perez, Atsu and Lejeune were great, but Shelvey was a different class.
Verona fans were noisy buggers!
toontaff2
Aug 6, 2017 at 7:36 PM
Comment #82£4.70 a pint of Coors in the Platinum – cheeky barstewards!
ShirebrookToon
Aug 6, 2017 at 7:39 PM
Comment #83Toontaff
Your season ticket in strawberry corner?
hellodjo
Aug 6, 2017 at 7:43 PM
Comment #84I’d compare mitro to say troy deeney, on the face of things he doesn’t have great skill and pace etc but as mitro can do he occupies defenders causing mayhem and acting as a focal point for the attack getting us up the pitch, makes other players shine in our team. Distinctly remember a 2-1 defeat to Watford few years ago and deeney just slaughtered us, mitro is young and wants to play here he’s passionate and personally I think we’d be foolish to get rid right now
Lilongwe Geordie
Aug 6, 2017 at 7:49 PM
Comment #85hellodjo,
Yeah, Deeney kept pulling off the defence and dragging players out of position to create space for their centre forward whose name escapes me at the minute.
Nufc-83
Aug 6, 2017 at 7:51 PM
Comment #86Lilo again you are talking like what you say is fact. I am sure a lot of managers and cbs would much prefer to see mitro on the teamsheet rather than Gayle. You make it sound so easy to stop Gayle that I’m sure championship teams should have been able to stop him scoring especially as teams sat deep with 10 men behind the ball. The fact they couldn’t and we will face teams much higher up the pitch bodes well for Gayle in my opinion. No point in carrying this on as the proof will be in the pudding. On another note I would like to see mitro and Gayle play together based on our current squad so I agree in some ways.
Lilongwe Geordie
Aug 6, 2017 at 7:52 PM
Comment #87Ighalo….
Nufc-83
Aug 6, 2017 at 7:52 PM
Comment #88Lilo it was ighalo was it not. Difference with deeney is his hold up play is really good and actually when he gets chances he is a decent enough finisher.
jimmysmith
Aug 6, 2017 at 7:59 PM
Comment #89I think Mitro is our best bet at 9 with Perez at 10. We are a better unit when they play together. Gayle’s goals helped us to the title, but you can’t put all your eggs into the Shelvey Gayle basket in the epl. I expect we’ll bring in a striker who may start ahead of Mitrovic, but I don’t think Gayle will consistently start this term, at least not leading the line. We have more strings to our bow, and if we don’t have enough, we need to add them.
Nufc-83
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:00 PM
Comment #90Let’s see if Rafa agrees. For me if gayles fully fit he will play no doubt at all. Mitro only here as we have not been able to bring more through the door in my opinion.
toontaff2
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:03 PM
Comment #91Shire, middle of Gallowgate above the goal!
Seems HWA is the new Goat Mouf Fool.
https://goo.gl/images/SWbi2H
toontaff2
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:05 PM
Comment #92Perez will start, after day.
Not sure, but think it’ll be Mitro with Gayle coming on later.
Not been Mitro’s greatest fan,but he did ok again today.
beermonkey
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:08 PM
Comment #93can any1 let me know how Ben El-Mhanni is getting on
toontaff2
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:10 PM
Comment #94This will be the week for Martoon’s predictions.
toontaff2
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:11 PM
Comment #95Beer, he’s still going – up to 10,000 keepy upies.
beermonkey
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:12 PM
Comment #96toontaff
the record will soon be his then
hibbit
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:14 PM
Comment #97toontaff @92
not if to days rumors are true supposed to have damaged a hamstring on Thursday having a scan on Monday when the swelling goes down ………….. as i said rumors !!!!!!!!!
toontaff2
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:15 PM
Comment #98Noticed Darlow was fuming with himself, after 2 very poor kicks – he would have tried to kick himself, but………….
Jib
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:16 PM
Comment #99That must be Welsh
It’s either keepy ups
OR
Keep uppies
Never keepy uppies ffs
Jail for Ashley
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:16 PM
Comment #100I think Ritchie and Atsu will be the two ‘purple’ wingers, I really want Murphy to come good as he’s one of our own but he disappointed me today, his final ball was pretty hopeless and then he looked to have given up crossing at the end, hope it was just an off day.
Bambams
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:17 PM
Comment #101I think we might just get Lucaz Perez…..
toontaff2
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:18 PM
Comment #102Hibbit, chance for Mitro to stake his claim. Or Rivierelinho?
manxpie
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:20 PM
Comment #103Who’s everyone’s starting 11 then for spurs?
Elliot
Manquillo lejuene Clark dummett
Ritchie shelvey Hayden atsu
Diame mitro
toontaff2
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:20 PM
Comment #104JIB, you goat mouf fool 😆
jazzyp
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:21 PM
Comment #105Bambams
Something your not telling us ??
jazzyp
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:21 PM
Comment #106https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DGilWYGXgAAZA3V.jpg
toontaff2
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:21 PM
Comment #107Manx – Perez for Diame, then same.
Diame looks much better in middle.
manxpie
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:21 PM
Comment #108Jail it was his first game in his dream stadium he was obviously nervous he’ll defo come good
manxpie
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:23 PM
Comment #109I agree but think rafa will be more cautious I actually think diame has been terrible but rafa seems to like him
beermonkey
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:24 PM
Comment #110manxpie
Elliot
manquilo laschelles new bloke I cant spell dummett
merino hayden
shelvey
Ritchie mitro atsu
jimmysmith
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:24 PM
Comment #111Gayle is fast, makes great runs, has good control, and is a real finisher. Mitro links play better and gives everyone, most importantly the wingers, an easier target and obviously is a greater aerial threat. I think we function better as a team when Mitro plays, and I can’t see us getting away in the epl with the more one dimensional approach that we had last year with Shelvey constantly looking to play Gayle in from deep. We aren’t talking Pirlo and Messi here, and the defences will be faster, more technical and better prepared. I also think Mitro now has the shirt, and that counts for a lot, particularly as he’s playing quite well.
beermonkey
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:25 PM
Comment #112manxpie
its not diame spurs swapped sissoko and diame when diame went of to acon back in jan
Jib
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:27 PM
Comment #113a href=”https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=goat+mouth+gif&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjxxLvFqsPVAhXjrlQKHUeJD0QQ_AUICigB&biw=1024&bih=517#imgdii=2eaYXSIOWb87CM:&imgrc=hAimo456kUo8mM:”>talking to my pal Toontaff
ShirebrookToon
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:27 PM
Comment #114Jazzy
I’d put Atsu in over Murphy mate. But other than that I’m same as you on the lineup.
What site you use for that mate?
Jib
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:28 PM
Comment #115talking to my pal Toontaff
try again
bladeuser
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:28 PM
Comment #116Jibbrish
I don’t do friendlies they are boring and a waste of money but due to technology I seen the game although I was flitting between that and the women’s british open which was a tad more exciting if the Bridgestone event had of been on then I would not of seen any of it but what I did see was a pub team taking on nufc
What you will see live and I will see on sky next week is an average team taking on a very very good side
Now I hope spurs get a pasting sadly I cannot see it happening fatman again has seen to that but stranger things have happened maybe spurs will have a player sent off early on maybe dummett can find a teammate maybe mitro can get one on target though that is a big ask
As he should start as our only striker who could trouble spurs looks like he has a tight hamstring
Wouldn’t you think a club with a bit of ambition even common sense would have bought another striker
Or am I being to ambitious
ASH OUT
Bambams
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:29 PM
Comment #117Jazzy
Just read what Rafa had to say after the match, that’s probably the first time Rafa has named someone we are looking at.
Rafa plays the press well and I think, just my opinion that he is letting those above know he ain’t afraid to update the fans which puts a bit more pressure on them two.
Time will tell but again in my opinion I think Lucaz Perez would be a great signing – if we can agree on his wages !
Jib
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:29 PM
Comment #118Moral
Don’t try to be a clever dick after a few scoops in the Toon
OneAlanShearer
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:30 PM
Comment #119Elliot
Manquillo lejuene Clark dummett
shelvey merino
Ritchie Perez atsu
Gayle
This the xi I’d start.
Nufc-83
Aug 6, 2017 at 8:30 PM
Comment #120Jimmy as I said I think the opposite. CBS are much better in the prem and will dominate mitro who is relativity weak for a big lad. Teams will push higher and commit more men leaving space in behind. Why did vardy manage to get in behind every week when Leicester won the league?