It was great to see Siem de Jong and Rolando Aarons starting again for Newcastle last night at Tynecastle in the good 2-1 win.
Siem put a great ball through to Dwight Gayle for our first goal after inly three minutes and Rolando looked good and hit the bar twice.
In short, both these players have the class we need to compete in the Premier League next season, although they are probably our two most injury prone players.
Newcastle players huddle before the game last night
But the medical department will be watching the two of them closely and these two players could be like new signings for us if we can only keep them fit.
All of our players in that first half played well and we looked a decent team and Rafa obviously has each player knowing just exactly what they have to do.
Here are some comments from the Newcastle fans about the game last night with one or two other comments put in.
It’s always nice to win.
If we keep De Jong and Arrons fit they will be like 2 new signings.#Nufc
— Al (@BigAls09) July 15, 2017
If all stay fit and get confident am happy with the spine of our side krul lejune shelvey de jong gayle could be really good imo #NUFC
— dave armstrong (@1davearmstrong) July 15, 2017
Really hope De Jong makes it this season! #nufc
— Liam Gray (@Liam_Gray) July 15, 2017
Good win last night, great if we can get Murphy in over the weekend too ???? #nufc
— Gem (@Gemma_Boyes) July 15, 2017
Night started good with #NUFC winning but #redsox scored 2 in bottom of 9 inning to get a walk off win against the #Yankees not good
— ray atkinson (@driver62637172) July 15, 2017
@dwightgayle is going to be knocking them in for us this season don’t know why people think we need a striker so badly #nufc
— alexandra day (@AlexandraDay93) July 15, 2017
Even if it’s only Hearts, it’s good to get a win under our belts for the first game. Still needing some signings asap! #nufc
— Ash (@AEvans1991) July 15, 2017
Can you help Caleb out??
Sometimes I feel like the only #Geordie in Arkansas! Is there an #NUFC supporters group in Arkansas? Anybody?
— Caleb Heagerty (@bosshawghag) July 15, 2017
After seeing @the_dilsh tonight, why are we linked with goalkeepers? #nufc
— Iain Jones (@iainjon3s) July 15, 2017
“Dwight double breaks Hearts”. Show me a better headline. #nufc
— Marc Smith (@MarcSmith8) July 15, 2017
Rafa Benitez has made it clear that he wants a deal done over the weekend and managing director Charnley is working on the transfer. #NUFC
— NUFC 360 (@NUFC360) July 15, 2017
Needed. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/VJY8j1nkSk
— ? (@ffsColback) July 15, 2017
87 comments so far
ronaldo aarons
Jul 15, 2017 at 9:41 AM
Comment #1With krul and darlow left out of the squad does that mean that Elliot, woodman and a new keeper will be our lot this season. If so then id rather keep darlow/krul and loan out woodman.
giimps
Jul 15, 2017 at 9:49 AM
Comment #2Imho, the team that “got us relegated” is not to blame, the incompetent coach got us relegated, Rafa, when he came in changed everything and had us playing well towards the end , our points tally from the last few games where he’d got his message across would have been top 10 side with the same players that mctufty couldnt get a point with.
Does anyone think mctufty would have gotten us promoted last season with the team Rafa had”….cos I don’t .
Rafa has the ability to make players better than they were, just by organizing and controlling them……he will get the best out of any team we put out, there will be mistakes made, nobody is perfect but he will make us better than the sum of our parts.
So bear with it ,let things unfold in their own good time and see where we are in the middle of August, i think a few will be pleasantly surprised, obviously some will not be happy……but you can’t keep everyone happy all of the time
JP...from The Rock
Jul 15, 2017 at 9:52 AM
Comment #3If that photo of Murphy is photoshopped then it is very well done. Would like to see that being official today.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 15, 2017 at 9:55 AM
Comment #4Internet collapsed completely just after kick off last night….. What formation did we start? Mbemba right back, or 3 at the back?
Internet is still dodgy, even the highlights crashed halfway through, but saw De Jong’s assist. Doesn’t matter it was in a friendly, a touch of class is a touch of class regardless. Hopefully he can stay fit and provide us with additional options this season. I think whatever the case, if he makes it through pre season fit, he is still worth keeping around as he offers a style and ability we don’t have elsewhere in the squad.
Great news on Murphy, I think those who think we are overpaying will be pleasantly surprised. Get this one signed and sealed quickly, and move onto the centre of midfield and a striker.
I know Gayle got 2 yesterday, but we are thin in that area – Gayle, Mitro, Muphy. Murphy will likely go, Arma needs another loan, as does Heardman in all likelihood. Unless Perez is to be used as an out and out striker then this area needs attention.
ronaldo aarons
Jul 15, 2017 at 9:58 AM
Comment #5https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bXEDmstwbNg
Lilongwe, nufc fans TV review of the game. Talks formations and positions players played in etc.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:03 AM
Comment #6Ronaldo,
Cheers, sadly internet here is really bad at the minute. took me 4 minutes just to watch the first 30 seconds of highlights from last night.
toontaff2
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:07 AM
Comment #7Rolando hitting the bar. 😮
AncientC
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:10 AM
Comment #8Rob Elliot wearing number 21 in the above picture, that is quite telling. Have the official squad numbers been announced yet?
lochinvar
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:10 AM
Comment #9HITC Sport understands that Everton have won the race for the Newcastle United youngster.
Do you think that letting Lewis Gibson go is a wise move ? Just hope that Charnley has inserted some buy back clause or % of fees for any future transfers when he hits the big time a la Deli Ali.
Or is he being used in fishing terms as a sprat to catch a mackerel and we can expect to see Barkley or other Evertonian arriving at our door.
Everton have agreed a deal to sign highly-rated Newcastle United youngster Lewis Gibson, HITC Sport understands from sources close to the club.
Gibson is regarded as one of the best young talents in the country after impressing for club and country. The England Under-17 international is seen as one of the most promising players to come through the ranks at Newcastle, and his departure will come as a major blow to the club.
AncientC
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:11 AM
Comment #10Never mind, found them. For anybody interested: http://www.themag.co.uk/newcastle-united-squad/
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:16 AM
Comment #11Loch,
He is only on scholarship terms, so we aren’t ‘letting him go’, we have no choice if he chooses there terms over ours.
Munster Mag
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:22 AM
Comment #12Bloody repost…. Charley is no mug, and getting Sissoko to spurs for 30mill was top class v Leave of all people. Mitro deal took weeks too with his silly family dragging it on. If Norwich want as much as, 16mill and we get him at 12, that’s good enough for me in a ridiculous market.
posada
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:28 AM
Comment #13Lil
We have a choice. We could match their offer or beat it if we really wanted to keep him.
Fulham managed to hang on to their 17 year old prospect.
Thing is do you start paying your 17 year old players serious money.
They are just a prospect at that age.
We have all seen them play for England at 17 and disappear by 20.
On the other hand Gazza was not thought of as a world beater at that age and did the opposite.
Some at 17, like Rooney was, are the exception to the rule. He went straight into first team football at that age as he was that good. Also, he was 17 going on 30 as he was physically as strong as some who were 21/22.
AncientC
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:32 AM
Comment #14Wesley Sneijder available on a free after having his contract terminated. Only just turned 33 last month.
kc2012
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:36 AM
Comment #15A few of my mates watched the game last night and apparently Aarons and SDJ looked very good. Keeping hold of them and keeping them fit this season is a must. Lazaar also looks like he could be a very decent player if played in a more attacking role. If we get Jacob Murphy in, another striker (because Mitro isnt good enough imo) and someone in the wing back positions I actually think we have a very good squad going forward.
giimps
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:40 AM
Comment #16Everton trying to do what the big boys have been doing for years, poach the prospects from weaker clubs and hope they come through, Chelski have something like 30 players out on loan every season, they get em in and loan em straight out or put them into their u23 team then loan them out, if they’re good enough they may get a game , if not they sell for ridiculous amounts ,very few make it, it’s like a graveyard for talent, players go there for the big money and rot……..Citeh are doing the same.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:41 AM
Comment #17posada,
That’s if the money is the only factor for the player. He may view it as a better pathway to first team football, he may view it as a better place to develop and grow as a player. At that age, for a player joining another academy, I doubt the primary influencing factor is a big contract. I doubt Everton will be paying big wages, but they have a nucleus of talented youth players and have given youth players opportunities to shine in recent years. Lewis is probably hoping for more opportunities in the development squad, and we’ve just added 2 defenders to that squad who had been released by their clubs.
Fulham hung onto Sessegnon for now as he is getting regular first team football, if he wasn’t then I’m sure he would have left to play at a bigger clubs academy.
posada
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:46 AM
Comment #18Lil
Not sure about that.
I think we will have everything at our club for a 17 year old player.
Not sure what they can offer him that’s better apart from cash.
Our academy was good enough for Arma, it should be good enough for him.
Ron Knee
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:51 AM
Comment #19So the squad go off to Ireland tomorrow. Now would be a perfect time to get some new signings in. It’s not looking very likely, though!
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 15, 2017 at 10:58 AM
Comment #20posada,
Good enough for Arma? Time will tell on that one. Everton have put far more youth players into the first team over recent years than we have. There is a more proven model for success there currently.
lochinvar
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:01 AM
Comment #21Lilongwe – the scholarship explains the position on Lewis. It makes sense so there must be a reason we didn’t try to persuade him to stAy.
Reilly
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:03 AM
Comment #22Talk of Diego Rolan coming in.
Lilongwe Geordie
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:04 AM
Comment #23Loch,
I’d imagine we did try and persuade him to stay, he probably got a better offer from Everton either financially or for his development and career progression.
one fine day
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:06 AM
Comment #24Watching arsenal v western Sydney
Lacazette looking very sharp .
Only arsenal can fill an 80,000 stadium here but give it the atmosphere of a reserve game
Some things just never change
hibbit
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:07 AM
Comment #25posada,
the academy is way behind a lot of clubs including Boro and Sunderland
and the same can be said about Benton the facilities in this day and age have fallen way behind top clubs in the prem
Ron Knee
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:10 AM
Comment #26Reilly
Hope not!
Sav
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:11 AM
Comment #27Had our pocket picked over Lewis Gibson – by Everton. That’s how far our stock has fallen. If the kid is such a prospect someone should have been responsible for signing the kid up. As it stands, we’ll get only tribunal compensation. bAs for Chelsea and ManCity and their huge number of players on the books (not to mention feeder clubs), it will only stop when football stops being the corrupt, cash-driven, badly-run sport it is – or hell freezes over.
Ron Knee
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:14 AM
Comment #28Mischief-making from the Chronicle?
“When Benitez was at Liverpool and once appeared in a tracksuit rather than a suit, it was deemed to be sending a message to the board that he felt like a coach and not a manager.
“Given the frustrating transfer window so far, one couldn’t help but wonder if a similar veiled message was being sent to Mike Ashley.”
Offkey
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:16 AM
Comment #29On Murphys price, I did not watch the u21’s this summer, so to me the difference between him and Armstrong in price seems to be their success last season in the championship and that’s it as both did well in league 1 for the same team. Armstrong must be close to him in price and if so what striker can we get for less than 15 million…..
one fine day
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:17 AM
Comment #30Hibbit
Yeah
Makes you wonder was going on behind the scenes with Benton and academy as I seem to recall the big sweetener when we were told our new sponsors were lone sharks was that they were going to pour money into our academy etc ..”the futures bright “and all that @hite
Maybe they spent it all on fatty’s minty big screen in the leazes ?
hibbit
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:19 AM
Comment #31Ron Knee
or getting Rafa’s message across !!!!!
thanks for the heads up on hart’s tv enjoyed the game shame about the commentator
AncientC
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:19 AM
Comment #32If Chelsea and Man City want to dump huge amounts of money into English football, they shouldn’t be derided for it. That money gets filtered down into other clubs, and is helping to build infrastructure throughout the English game. It is the ambitious club owners that have made the Premier League the success it is. It more owners were like Ashley, the Premier League would be in decline, not growing.
posada
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:20 AM
Comment #33On Gibson. Can’t comment on the standard of our academy relative to others, but will repeat our set up should be good enough for a lad of 17.
If you are playing with a proffesional set up, good coaches, ok facilities, sound medical back up, then you should be able to come through. If you are good enough.
Deli Ali – MK Dons.
toontaff2
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:21 AM
Comment #34We’ll need to keep an eye out for Jacob coming for his medical.
hibbit
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:25 AM
Comment #35posada
and there lies the problem “should be good enough” it’s not
Ron Knee
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:26 AM
Comment #36hibbit
PNE website has TV coverage too, apparently.
toontaff2
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:27 AM
Comment #37Lewis Gibson clearly does not have the Toon in his blood! Wasn’t he born in Durham?
hibbit
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:31 AM
Comment #38posada
lewis is a england youth internatinal mixing with players from all the top club he’ll have a good idea what every club has to offer
hibbit
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:33 AM
Comment #39thanks Ron will have a look
WWSBRD
Jul 15, 2017 at 11:36 AM
Comment #40Report I read on Gibson said we had offered terms which are still there for him but Everton had aswell…i know which I would sign tbh unless NUFCs offer is significantly better than Evertons