Here are the two second-half goals that Aleksandar Mitrovic scored last night for Serbia in their 2-0 win over Nigeria.
This lad is in goalscoring form – just what Newcastle need?
Here’s another video of the goals – but it wouldn’t play for us.
Serbia’s goals vs Nigeria. Both scored by Aleksandar Mitrovic and assisted by Filip Kostic. pic.twitter.com/SDb9a96eeW
— Serbian Football (@SerbianFooty) March 27, 2018
Comments welcome.
22 comments so far
RobLeenio
Mar 28, 2018 at 11:10 AM
Comment #1From previous – I do wish Ed would stop using that photo of Rafa that makes him look like the Mekon. Bet Rafa does too.
http://www.dandare.org/dan/aliens/mekon.htm
RobLeenio
Mar 28, 2018 at 11:16 AM
Comment #2Jib, re Dani Garcia, I know nothing about him really but is he more of a defensive mid than number 10?
From http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/03/14/do-report-newcastle-united-and-southampton-tempted-by-la-liga-ac/ :
“A natural ball-winner who averages 2.7 tackles and 2.5 interceptions per game in La Liga, Garcia would slot into the base of compatriot Rafa Benitez’s midfield at Newcastle, perhaps giving more creative licence to the technically gifted Jonjo Shelvey and Mikel Merino.”
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 28, 2018 at 11:31 AM
Comment #3Thought Garcia is a defensive midfielder? Him and Diame rotating or even playing together in some games would be solid possibly allowing Hayden to be loaned out for more game time and experience although I could see Hayden eventually becoming a centre half has all the tools to do well there!
Jib
Mar 28, 2018 at 11:46 AM
Comment #4Yeah
My Bad
who tf I was thinking of I have no idea
🙁
RobLeenio
Mar 28, 2018 at 11:49 AM
Comment #5Also, if we sign Garcia for free and Ozyakup also for free, where will we be spending our money this Summer? That will leave a huge pot for a potential top-class striker and a couple of squad / back-up players, even before we factor in player sales.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 28, 2018 at 12:05 PM
Comment #6LCBP,
I’m not sure if sending Hayden out on loan would improve him, he’s done the hard yards with us and Hull and made a good few PL starts, he either stays and fights for a place or it’s time to upgrade him, personally I’d like to see him stay.
Yung Mitro
Mar 28, 2018 at 12:10 PM
Comment #7I live in London, so managed to get to the Serbia game last night, Mitro looked good up top with some nice hold up play and took both his goals well, still think he’ll have a good World Cup and we’ll cash in on him this summer…
Waited for the players to come out as well after the game and got a picture with the main man which, seeing as my account name is dedicated to him, obviously made my day, haha, was a class guy getting picks with everyone who wanted one! Told him to come back to the Toon to get rid of Joselu lol
magpie6699
Mar 28, 2018 at 12:24 PM
Comment #8Working in Huddersfield today, would you believe! Taxi driver a big football fan but not going to St. James’s. He reckons their Australian Mooy has come back with a knock but others suspect it’s nowt and he’ll be fit.
DubaiMicky
Mar 28, 2018 at 12:25 PM
Comment #9And what did Mitro say to that comment then Yung ‘un?
Bobbybee
Mar 28, 2018 at 12:32 PM
Comment #10People may be questioning Rafa for letting Mitro go, but I’m more wondering why Mitro wasn’t producing this form for us. I go to games, I’ve witnessed his apathy at times. I fully understood why Rafa was concerned with picking him. Now, he turns up elsewhere and starts making a fist of it. Strange.
Maybe this is exactly why Rafa sent him out on loan, to get his appetite back? Just as maybe this is Mitro’s response to being sent away. Clearly he wasn’t doing it for us, whereas now he is. Whatever the reason, it’s worked. Either he comes back to us a better player or he adds a few million to his fee. Either way, this loan has been good for both player and club.
RobLeenio
Mar 28, 2018 at 12:41 PM
Comment #11Good, intelligent comment Bobby. I’ve expressed similar sentiments before without perhaps the same eloquence and I completely agree with you. The Fulham loan was likely to be win-win in advance of it happening, it’s definitely been that now we have the benefit of hindsight.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 28, 2018 at 12:44 PM
Comment #12Bobbybee,
Totally agree with all that, if he’d been scoring like that for us he would have played more. People argued he needed more of a run in the team, he didn’t need a run in Fulham’s team before scoring and Daryl Murphy played less than him and scored more. You’ve heard people say that a good manager would have played to his strengths, a good manager does it his way and takes no sh!t, does anyone think Rafa would have put Cisse on the wing after Demba Ba played so well there because Demba Ba he threw a strop because he wasn’t scoring. It’s win win for us, as you say he comes back here with a point to prove or he’s put 10M on his value which hopefully Rafa gets to spend on a striker of his choice.
Bobbybee
Mar 28, 2018 at 12:54 PM
Comment #13Rob, I’ve not questioned his ability in the past, but sometimes watching him stood in the centre circle with his hands on his hips watching the play, I’ve been annoyed by his effort. No doubt he loves it here, but with Rafa you need more than talent.
This team isn’t the most talented, but it makes up for that with with effort and commitment. I just think he needed this move – temporarily only hopefully – to get him going again. No question, Rafa will be keeping a good eye on him and is likely in contact with him. Hopefully he’s sent him there with “prove me wrong” ringing in his ears.
He’s still a young player. Years ahead of him yet. This is what happened with Kane and look at him now. He’s better where he is than sulking in the U23’s, that much is for sure.
DubaiMicky
Mar 28, 2018 at 12:54 PM
Comment #14Mitro won’t be sold until after the World Cup is my thought. If he plays a Peaky (Blinder) then he’ll go for £30m+ just like sissoko did.
RobLeenio
Mar 28, 2018 at 12:54 PM
Comment #15Jib, could this be your number 10? Plays for Salzburg and scored twice as they beat Dortmund in the Europa League a couple of weeks ago
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/03/28/do-report-newcastle-united-have-been-tracking-salzburgs-valon-be/
magicmac54
Mar 28, 2018 at 1:04 PM
Comment #16Bobbybee i agree with most of your comments, i find you always put very good comments on this blog, where i would disagree with you Bobbybee with respect is no matter how much we dress it up Mitrovic is a much much better striker than Joselu, i dont think anyone would disagree Bobbybee, its not like we had a wealth of quality strikers who could score goals, in football terms its a no brainer Mitrovic has much more quality than Joselu, i dont think we will ever see Mitrovic back at Newcastle under Rafa, i do think Rafa is a first class Manager Bobbybee but all managers make mistakes from time to time, i can only conclude there must have been a personality clash between Rafa and Mitrovic Bobbybee, but i always like your views and your comments on the blog Bobbybee. HWTL.
Bobbybee
Mar 28, 2018 at 1:25 PM
Comment #17Magic, thank you for those kind words. Not sure where I say Joselu is better than Mitro though mate! He’s not. Neither is Gayle, but as you point out, there’s something not right between Mitro and Rafa.
I think Rafa trusts Gayle and Joselu more to follow instructions, that’s all. That doesn’t make them better players than him, it just fits the team dynamic more.
Every player has a job to do for the betterment of the team. It’s been mentioned often that Mitro doesn’t follow instructions well and that, imo, is where the problem is.
Clearly with us, the team is better than the individual parts that make it up, which makes it imperative that everybody follows instructions and does a particular job. If one player goes walkabout, it disrupts the side.
Ben Arfa was a magician on his day, but he also played for himself more than the team, which is why he struggled to hold down a place for in most clubs.
Hopefully Mitro will learn from this loan and will return, although I suspect you are right that Rafa will move him on. But on the Joselu issue, imo Mitro is a much better player.
Jib
Mar 28, 2018 at 1:28 PM
Comment #18Robleenio
Aye I’d take him
The Norwegian Gazza
any day of the week
RobLeenio
Mar 28, 2018 at 1:34 PM
Comment #19Off-topic, and apologies, but for any cricket fans Steve Smith and David Warner being banned for a year seems harsh. Other players have been caught ball tampering and been issued fines and short-term bans
Mind, David Warner did say after Faf du Plessis was caught ball tampering in 2016:
“We hold our heads high and I’d be very disappointed if one of our team members did that…. If you’re going to overstep the mark, be prepared to get fined and miss Test matches” so I guess he’s bound to be judged by his own words
RobLeenio
Mar 28, 2018 at 1:42 PM
Comment #20Jib, is it greedy to want all 3? Berisha number 10, Ozyakup as competition / cover for Shelvey and Merino, Dani Garcia as cover / competition for Diame and Hayden. This would surely be very good business.
Bobbybee
Mar 28, 2018 at 1:42 PM
Comment #21Rob, agree mate, the ban is way ott. Granted, it’s cheating and deserves punishment, but is it that much different from a player diving to earn a penalty? Not imo. Cheating is cheating at the end of the day and it’s always gone on. Players, will always look for a way to gain an advantage, whether legally or not but a year ban is ludicrous.
That said, having that smug look knocked off Warner and Smith’s faces is priceless. 🙂 Hopefully though, commonsense will prevail and it will be reduced on appeal. It is their way of earning a living after all.
toonincheek
Mar 28, 2018 at 2:20 PM
Comment #22RobLeenio –
It’s not just the incident – it’s the culture.
What’s the difference between an Aussie
and a pint of milk?
Leave both in the sun for 2 weeks and the
milk will develop a culture.