Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has just named his side for the third pre-season friendly of pre-season at Valley Parade in Bradford.
The manager in charge at Bradford is Leeds-born Stuart McCall (shown above) who was a player for two spells at Bradford City and is in his second management spell for them.
Here is the team as just reported on the Newcastle United Twitter account.
Subs at @OfficialBantams: Woodman, Gamez, Manquillo, Mbemba, Saivet, Colback, Diamé, Aarons, Murphy, De Jong, Mitrovic. #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) July 26, 2017
Mbemba, Hanley, Dummett, Aarons, Mitrovic and de Jong – who started the last game – are on the bench at the start of this game.
We also expect it to be all change again at half time, as Rafa gives as many players as he can a run-out tonight.
It would be nice to get the win tonight against the League One side.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
212 comments so far
Jail for Ashley
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:37 PM
Comment #1Canny team and bench with a couple more to come
Ron Knee
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:39 PM
Comment #2The return of Ritchie!
Our Toon
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:40 PM
Comment #3Bobby
Depends on how quick we moved for both manquillo and for Merino, the other signings were in the press for longer as it took a while to get the deals done, manquillo and merino it seems we’ve been alerted to availability and moved quick.
We live in a world that is full of leaks, in all aspects of life and business. I do agree most of the stories are bs but some do carry water
DubaiMicky
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:40 PM
Comment #4Rafa is beginning to show who he currently thinks is is strongest team.
Our Toon
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:41 PM
Comment #5Glad Ritchie is back, the no10 position is still a worry, I don’t like ayoze in that role
toontaff2
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:42 PM
Comment #6Micky at 4, beat me to it.
Looks closer to our preferred starting line up.
bladeuser
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:42 PM
Comment #7JAIL
nothing sinister it’s a log in I use at work more to do with rotor blades for the aviation industry
ASH OUT
toontaff2
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:43 PM
Comment #8Better let Rafa know Our Toon is not happy with him picking Perez.
Our Toon
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:44 PM
Comment #9Unless Shelvey is used as no10 when merino comes in
YoungMag :P
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:45 PM
Comment #10So the second half team…
____________Woodman
Gamez_Mbemba_Lejeune_Manquillo
_________Diame_Colback
Murphy_____De Jong_____Aarons
_____________Mitrovic
Our Toon
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:46 PM
Comment #11Toontaff
Still got a chip on shoulder mate, dear me you need to grow up!!
Our Toon
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:48 PM
Comment #12Young Mag
Aye it’s taking shape with depth and looks good what we have on bench
toontaff2
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:48 PM
Comment #13Henri is still involved. Thought he’d been binned.
ShirebrookToon
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:49 PM
Comment #14Is this game being shown live anywhere? Any periscope links or owt? Thanks in advance
Jail for Ashley
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:50 PM
Comment #15Bladeuser,
That’s comforting.
toontaff2
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:50 PM
Comment #16Our Toon, you clearly are a humourless soul. You cannot say anything positive, can you? Calling anyone who disagrees with your negative waffle a child makes you sound like the chip is heavier on your little shoulders, pal.
toon kk
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:51 PM
Comment #17Harley
Tbh I don’t know much about the lad but has come from a very good squad of players. I know it is not possible to rate a player through a you tube clip but at least it gives us a idea of what the lad Is all about. Very pleased to have him on side.
Markaccus
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:52 PM
Comment #18Ok. We are signing another clubs bench warmer…However…. A Dortmund benchwarmer is a different prospect altogether. As a few have already mentioned, the starting midfield there is awesome, so the likelyhood is this guy would walk into our 1st eleven. Can only see positives in this one. Don’t see him as a reject, more likely a player who wants to play more than he is at the minute. Very pleases about this one.
Bobbybee
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:52 PM
Comment #19Our Toon, like the other 300 we’ve been linked to. BS more than not.
The two that were in the press was simply down to prolonged negotiations – which saved us about six million from the prices they stated at first. Good business.
Do you know who was keeping this lad out at Dortmund? Sometimes a move is the only option for a player who wants to play rather than sit on his backside picking up wages. Rather have that sort myself!
Markaccus
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:52 PM
Comment #20Pleased
magspuggy
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:52 PM
Comment #21Old git
Its a joke fella try not to take it so seriously
If i offended you i appoligise
It was only in jest.
ShirebrookToon
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:53 PM
Comment #22Jail,
He makes Airfix models in other words 😆
Markaccus
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:55 PM
Comment #23Toontaff
To be fair to Our Toon in this case, Perez has only occasionally looked good as a no.10. He is very inconsistent. If he produces his rare good form more often, then great, but I also have my doubts at the moment.
ShirebrookToon
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:56 PM
Comment #24Mark
Your right mate. I’d take a Dortmund bench warmer any day. Their bench is pretty phenomenal though so this lad had a job on pushing for a spot
Budge123
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:58 PM
Comment #25Bobby – re Glass Jack staying in London.
He probably doesn’t want to uproot his young family. Can’t blame him there really.
Also we’ve probably dodged a bullet if we were interested in him
The last thing we need currently need is 100 k a week sitting in the S Taylor sweet.
Our Toon
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:58 PM
Comment #26Toontaff
You are obviously keen to fit in hence the digs you keep throwing in. I suggest you go back and read today’s blogging rather than coming on with issues you have from discussions 4 days ago. Everyone seems to have moved on but you can’t, only kids and other type of ppl hold them type of grudges.
I suggest you fully read things to be informed of the days discussions prior to typing.
Markaccus
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:59 PM
Comment #27Looks like we are trying to do most of our business under the radar now. Probably for the best in the current market
Budge123
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:59 PM
Comment #28Suite lol
ShirebrookToon
Jul 26, 2017 at 7:01 PM
Comment #29So 2nd under the radar signing in the space of a week. Rafa has gone into stealth mode!
Our Toon
Jul 26, 2017 at 7:01 PM
Comment #30Bobby
Very true on the links of 300 plus mate, hobo made a list on previous thread, please see below and be mindful he was replying to bladeuser
HoboToon
Jul 26, 2017 at 6:01 PM
Comment #10
Im optimistic about this lad. People saying he struggled to get games at dortmund forget that Mikhitaryan sat on the bench so much that he was no longer needed. Also, you have Gotze, Rode and Kagawa sitting on the dortmund bench so of course his chances to shine were limited. Dortmund saw something in this lad, and so does Rafa, HWTL
Also add in the American lad pulisic (spelt wrong sorry) and you see what kind if quality they have
hibbit
Jul 26, 2017 at 7:07 PM
Comment #31there’s 3/4 on HoboToon’s list that would walk into our team not sit on our bench so i woulnt read to much into him not getting game time !!
hibbit
Jul 26, 2017 at 7:08 PM
Comment #32wouldn’t
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 26, 2017 at 7:08 PM
Comment #33Newcastle United: Rob Elliot, DeAndre Yedlin, Ciaran Clark, Florian Lejeune, Paul Dummett, Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey, Christian Atsu, Ayoze Pérez, Matt Ritchie, Dwight Gayle.
Starting line up
toontaff2
Jul 26, 2017 at 7:09 PM
Comment #34Mark, Perez/De Jong/Diame – all are dubious for first choice at no. 10.
Our Toon is just one of a number of commenters who always find a way of turning everything NUFC into a negative, miserable experience. I was having a playful dig at him. Seems, he thinks I am a child, need to grow up, have a chip on my shoulder and am doubling up as Toontime. 😆
hibbit
Jul 26, 2017 at 7:10 PM
Comment #35we now need to see some departures
toontaff2
Jul 26, 2017 at 7:12 PM
Comment #36Cannot get the NUFC.co.uk commentary to work, again, but have got a link from NUFC.com to Live Sports FM.
ToonTime
Jul 26, 2017 at 7:12 PM
Comment #37Dortmund are the 7th highest ranked club in Europe so no mugs! Julian Weigl is the guy who kept Merino out of the team. Only 22 himself but already an established German international.
Our Toon: I don’t think in Merino’s case he just happened to come available. Apparently Rafa had him watched at the U21 Euros back in June.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 26, 2017 at 7:13 PM
Comment #38toontaff,
You’re a very serious dude, I can see you moving to the Platinum club permanently after next Sunday.
sing in the corner
Jul 26, 2017 at 7:16 PM
Comment #39Welcome to Merinho!
I’ll be pleased for Jack Colback if he gets a decent move now. He has been a good servant to the club, a real grafter not blessed with creative talent but never given a fair deal by the majority of our fans n my opinion. He has copped unfair amount of the blame and stick for the shortcomings of a succession of team mates, on many an occasion.
Good look Geordie!
The other less fashionable players in our squad should watch out – new hate figure / skapegoat needed now. Wonder who is next?
magspuggy
Jul 26, 2017 at 7:17 PM
Comment #40https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/live/live-audio