Jonjo Shelvey made his first appearance for some time when he came on after 79 minutes yesterday with the score 2-1 to Everton.
And his first pass was a beautiful long cross-field ball out to the right wing and Miguel Almiron ran onto it.
It seems that Jonjo wanted to prove something yesterday to the Newcastle fans and maybe to Rafa too.
There has been some talk of maybe selling him to West Ham in the summer for £20M, but his determination and skill yesterday, which helped us get the famous win, were there for all to see.
Maybe Jonjo will start in place of Ki next Saturday at Bournemouth although Ki also needs some game time too to get back to his best.
But Shelvey is in the mood and has been wanting to play for weeks based on yesterday’s performance.
Rafa Benitez talking To Jonjo Shelvey
It showed yesterday and Jonjo showed the excellent skills he has and it looks like he has no plans to leave Newcastle anytime soon.
Jonjo deserves credit for helping Newcastle win the game yesterday – a terrific cameo performance from the England International.
Here are some tweets from the fans after yesterday’s great win.
#nufc never been Shelvey biggest fan but his intro was massive today, the balls he can play & drives us forward rather than sideways & backwards, now has Miggy to knock balls to as well, starts next week?
— Waaatson (@paul_taylor1) March 9, 2019
The absolute guts from Shelvey to sling those passes any minute is why we still need him. Squad. #NUFC
— Don Abel (@zhorze) March 10, 2019
That second half team performance today deserves alot of credit, But this team looks so much better going forward with shelvey in there his passing will open up many defences. #nufc
— Ashley (@ADMiller_88) March 9, 2019
Got to say. #nufc First half was poor today, summed up by Ritchie pen miss. Awful all round. 4 at back second half made difference. Shelvey really made difference. Last 10 mins today mental. #toonarmy
— stephen bell (@Steve__Bell) March 9, 2019
#NUFC Thought Dummett was outstanding when he came on and Shelvey was class too on them last 15mims. Good pros who we have missed..
— Keith Inkster (@InksterKeith) March 9, 2019
shelvey almiron perez and rondon are the key to winning, think of the type of passes shelvey could be picking out to play almiron through. #Nufc
— Josh (@JJS__1) March 9, 2019
Jonjo Shelvey made the difference tonight, best footballer at the club #NUFC
— Mr L Dobson (@Mr_Dobson_PE) March 9, 2019
Can’t wait to see the Shelvey-Almiron combo in the midfield. #NUFC
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) March 9, 2019
#nufc noone has seemed to have pointed out that we changed massivly as a team when jonjo shelvey came onto pitch! #GameChanger
— Dean Dodds (@doddsy1991) March 9, 2019
Great result #nufc Shelvey made the difference with his passing & tbf he looked well up for it. Hopefully he can keep that up till end of season & we’ll see him & Longstaff in CM next season
— Chris Currie (@Wig82) March 9, 2019
These people are disrespectful. Jonjo Shelvey is a special player and loves the club and is here to stay. I want him to stay for his whole career #NUFC https://t.co/WXmXKNm5FY
— LeLockdownFootball (@LeLockdownFBall) March 9, 2019
What a comeback! Thought Shelvey changed it when he came on. @AyozePG was quality and Rondon was a tank! Love it #NUFC
— Gary Foster (@GarySMB) March 9, 2019
Buzzing for the toon great performance by the lads @salorondon23 @AyozePG @Lascelles16 Jonjo Shelvey proving the haters wrong #NUFC
— ShaunMichaelBennett (@ShaunBennett13s) March 9, 2019
Shelvey was the difference today always looking to play forward and create something out of nothing #nufc
— Robert (@Robertonufc) March 9, 2019
Very excited to see Shelvey pinging balls for Almiron to get on the end of. Finally someone to hit with that absolute wand. #nufc
— Colin Edwards (@colin_edwards56) March 9, 2019
Comments welcome.
8 comments so far
lochinvar
Mar 10, 2019 at 7:24 AM
Comment #1Miggy needs quick balls on the deck through to his feet or the space he’s running into rather than long in the air Hollywood passes from Shelvey so hope they practice this as the results could be great. . By all means have some variety. Balls in the air to Rondon to take down and occupy defenders. Long cross field passes to wingers. Punchy fast passes through the middle to Miggy splitting defences. That would be entertainment. Mind yesterday was anyway.
Ben Afri
Mar 10, 2019 at 7:24 AM
Comment #2Regarding some of what I’ve noticed about our game. Yes, Lascelles should never have been beaten. But that clearance by Ritchie was appalling. Had that clearance been headed out into that position from inside the box, many would agree that it would have been terrible defending. But from the position where Ritchie cleared it, that was school boy stuff.
Secondly, I am not sure why Ritchie seems to avoid using Miggy’s runs. Almiron makes some of the best runs into space and Ritchie decides to go inside. Some may argue that Miggy’s runs create space by dragging a defender out of position but what Ritchie is doing is passing the ball back to our own centre backs most times. It’s as if he doesn’t trust him. Conjecture it may be, but there is definitely no cohesion between Miggy and Almiron.
That said, I do commend Ritchie’s heart. He’s a fantastic ambassador for the work ethic that encapsulates Rafa’s ideal character at the club.
Hayden was fantastic. I’m really impressed by his all round performance. His positioning was faultless. His timing in tackling was that of a seasoned veteran. Some of his forward passing was graceful. And I never see him complaining.
Schar was perhaps overwhelmed by emotion yesterday. He was clearly frustrated when we were down and nothing was going our way. He seemed to be another character Rafa needs to man manage the way he’s done with Shelvey.
Speaking of which, I admire Shelvey’s dedication to improving. I was impressed by him requesting more game time with the under 23’s so when his time chance came to make it back into the 1st team, I think he’s earned it. But then getting booked for mouthing off to the referee!?
Dummet was fantastic when he came on! I haven’t read through everyone’s responses on this blog but to me, the person who seemed to have sparked the solidity that gave us the solid platform to move forward with confidence was Dummet’s sturdy introduction. I’m not sure if he played left back in a back four, but to me it looked like we kept our 3 CB shape and he just slotted in at LCB. Love that position for him. I’d like for him to be given that role alongside Fernandez and Lejeune.
Jib
Mar 10, 2019 at 7:29 AM
Comment #3“St James’ Park crowd frightened Everton today” – Rafa Benitez
lochinvar
Mar 10, 2019 at 7:30 AM
Comment #4Greggs are on a roll.
New menu starts this morning influenced by NYCmag having to move to the Toon permanently following his appointment as Club Mascot Extrodinaire.
OJ and Baguels this morning.
Yellow Taxi rides across the High Level Bridge.
Statute of Rafatery to be built at the entrance to Tynemouth harbour.
Have a nice day y’all.
Jib
Mar 10, 2019 at 7:32 AM
Comment #5Supporting the Toon summed up in a pic
lochinvar
Mar 10, 2019 at 7:34 AM
Comment #6Jib@3
“St James’ Park crowd frightened Everton today” – Rafa Benitez
Says it all.
Munster Mag
Mar 10, 2019 at 8:39 AM
Comment #7Top pic Jib. Glad shelvey did well. As I had said a team doesn’t want to be losing guys who can pass like him, in a hurry.
Geordie-john
Mar 10, 2019 at 7:02 PM
Comment #8LOOKING AT THE JORDAN PRICKFORD FOOTAGE OF HIM TAUNTING THE NEWCASTLE FANS DURING AND AFTER THE FULL TIME WHISTLE IS TERRIBLE.
I THOUGHT THAT THE FA FROWNED UPON SUCH ACTIONS TAKEN BY SO CALLED PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS ?
DID HE WANT TO CAUSE A PITCH INVASION ? HIS ANTICS ARE NEARLY AS GOOD AS HIS PERFORMANCE.
SORE LOSER !