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
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 7, 2017 at 2:24 AM
Comment #201I think Mitro will improve if he’s given gametime. If you look at targetmen or other players who rely on positional sense and creating space or using their brain like playmakers, defensive midfielders, number 10s or defenders they always peak much later than players who rely purely on pace or stamina. Those type of players often don’t improve much beyond the age of 20 and are sometimes finished by mid twenties once a few injuries have taken their pace or stamina while you often see a targetman playing his best football in his 30s. Kevin Davies was 34 when he got called up for England. Crouch seemed to improve loads when he was older too.
Most if not all players England produces rely heavily on one or two physical assets (pace, strength, stamina, height.) The only English players I can think of that rely on other assets are Lallana and Carrick. So our youth teams are usually amazing but they rarely get any better. We just end up with loads of unimginative marathon runners and sprinters. Wheras Spain and Italy will play lots of Iniesta, Silva, Pirlo types who are outmuscled in their youth and need a lot more time to develop their superior passing game.
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 7, 2017 at 2:31 AM
Comment #202We’ve spent £38m this season if you assume we will make Merino permanent and only got back £14m. So we have spent more than most.
I think the problem at the moment is a stand-off between clubs and agents. The agents know there is tonnes of money so they will be demanding £40,000-60,000 in wages just for bench warmers, and the premier clubs will be determined not to just let the players take all the increased revenues like they usually have in the past. If we start giving flops like Joselu 60k then players like Dummet will want 60k and before you know it we’ll be making a loss.
Veltman
Aug 7, 2017 at 4:44 AM
Comment #203How did Pardew stayed that long? Well,he showed promises, took the best out of
Demba Ba,Ben arfa,Cabaye,Cisse,Tiote etc etc,took the club to impressive 5th place finish after long time,won double manager of the season and many more.The list goes on.Why do people always look at the negatives, i have no idea.If that is the case,
Rafa himself has lots of negatives. He didn’t saved the club from relegation remember.This full season is his biggest challenge.Let’s see how he will fare it.
jazzyp
Aug 7, 2017 at 5:42 AM
Comment #204Martoon
If you come back through entrance 12 there are toilets there and then there are another 3 sets as well.
The Bar at the bottom end do Latte and Tea or coffee.
So next time your in the Platinum, please take a look round before making idol comments
Munster Mag
Aug 7, 2017 at 6:03 AM
Comment #205Why did the Chronicle not mention rafa’s comment about ‘I was expecting something else’ or words to that effect? The Mirror likes to put the boot in, but surely this was noteworthy?
Munster Mag
Aug 7, 2017 at 6:11 AM
Comment #206Mike Williamson I haven’t seen the stats of other clubs but is it true that our net spend is bigger than most? Surely not? Veltman, pardew tends to blow up at all his clubs but was given little credit for 5th place, which was silly really. His losing runs were shocking though and he was lucky to survive as long as he did.
optimistic prime
Aug 7, 2017 at 6:34 AM
Comment #207Although I think we need a couple more decent players I can understand why things haven’t moved more quickly.
Atm we aren’t that far away, reading Rafas comments from yesterday it doesn’t sound like we need to sell to buy but we definitely need to sell, maybe we have space for one or two.
I’m seeing it as it’s best to hold fire before getting those last one or two in hoping to move more on whilst waiting. I think we’ll get a least one more good signing regardless if anyone goes out, if we sign more without anyone leaving now and we got to January desperate to sign players but can’t because of how many we sign now that alone could relegate us.
Its frustrating but it makes sense, better deals and better players are always going on in the last week, have patience we’ve waited a year for our EPL return with Rafas what’s a few more weeks.
martoon
Aug 7, 2017 at 6:57 AM
Comment #208Jazzyp – The toilets at entrance 12 aee ladies only so I can’t comment on them. The large gents at the other side only has 2 cubicles which is ridiculous for a toilet that size.
I was at the table ordering drinks for half time and you couldn’t order coffee there!
martoon
Aug 7, 2017 at 7:36 AM
Comment #209* I can only speak as I find if there is a way to order coffees for half time it was not explained to me!