Aleksandar Mitrovic had an excellent game for Serbia last night when he scored after 5 minutes with a header.
That was after another header from him had been brilliantly saved by Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Aleksandar headed the ball home from a cross, and he looked dominant in the ait last night and was again Serbia’s danger man.
Switzerland came back into the game in the second half and after 52 minutes, a blockbuster shot from Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka leveled the scores.
23-year-old Aleksandar Mitrovic – sterling game for Serbia
After 90 minutes Stoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri scored the winner at the death when he broke free from the halfway line to score.
But Mitro should have had a penalty in the second half when a Swiss defender had his arms wrapped around him from a corner as he pulled the Newcastle striker to the ground.
If that’s not a penalty, then we don’t know what is.
It was a sterling performance from 23-year-old Serbian and it’s small wonder he is still popular on Tyneside.
Mitro gives everything when he plays, and he worked his socks off last night making some good defensive headers too.
But Rafa Benitez is still unlikely to change his mind about keeping him at Newcastle but he seems to be worth a chance next season.
But we just don’t think he now fits in on Tyneside, given the system Rafa is using at Newcastle.
Mitro led the line for Serbia last night in great style – there’s no doubt about that.
It would appear he’s worth at least £20M to any club given the inflated transfer fees of today.
Comments welcome.
26 comments so far
Jib
Jun 23, 2018 at 8:55 AM
Comment #1Leading the line for Serbia vs Switzerland is about
3 levels below top ten in the PL.
Serbia and Switzerland would struggle against a top
ten Championship side
Pottsclock
Jun 23, 2018 at 8:55 AM
Comment #2In a word, no.
The next Mike Williamson
Jun 23, 2018 at 8:55 AM
Comment #3Imagine if Mitro played for Feyenoord or Anderlecht and we wanted to buy him. They’d ask for £40m plus easy. At 23 he’s a lot better than at 21 when we got him for £15m. Quite simply if we wanted to buy him we couldn’t afford him. He’s starting to look like the great striker many expected in his youth.
RobLeenio
Jun 23, 2018 at 8:56 AM
Comment #4One good game at the world cup is not going to change Rafa’s opinion of Mitro in the slightest. I’m pleased he had a good game but the only effect will be on his transfer value. Whether or not Rafa chooses to cash in has likely already been decided
lochinvar
Jun 23, 2018 at 8:59 AM
Comment #5Does Mitro want to go or does he want to stay ?
Remember that his ambition is to follow in the footsteps of his beloved hero Shearer. Or will the bright lights and clubs of Lundun town turn his head ?
The next Mike Williamson
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:02 AM
Comment #6I don’t get how he doesn’t fit Benitez’s system. It’s a complete myth. Gayle certainly doesnt. Joselu surely can’t. And Benitez has had many styles of strikers over the years. The only thing I see he’s looking for now is a target man as Atsu/ Perez/ Ritchie are all small or weak so he needs one big guy for balance. Other than that you have to work hard for the team which Mitro does.
Nicky the ball tosser
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:04 AM
Comment #7I’m in the camp that thinks Mitrohas the quality to contribute for us next term. Sign a top number 9 to play ahead of Perez, bring Mitro back into the fold, and sell both Gayle and Joselu if you can, and bring in a better option at ten and a top winger of course, and if Ashley won’t sanction it, burn his house down.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:07 AM
Comment #8Will Rafa the stubborn change his mind on Mitro…
…Rafa reminds me of my old man at times…especially how he had become over time. Age does that to people…
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:08 AM
Comment #9…but congrats to Mitro once again!
lochinvar
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:11 AM
Comment #10Wish him well
Former Liverpool and Newcastle United star Jose Enrique is recovering in hospital after successful surgery to remove a rare brain tumour.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:13 AM
Comment #11If we sell Mitro this summer what kind of striker are you guys expecting we bring in?
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:14 AM
Comment #12I wish you good health Enrique!
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:15 AM
Comment #13Mitro and Perez actually been our best pairing
jazzyp
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:16 AM
Comment #14Speedy recovery Enrique
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:17 AM
Comment #15*has
OneAlanShearer
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:17 AM
Comment #16I’m sorry but I can’t see how people can forget how many shots mitro would need or how little he’d contribute other than fouling players prior to Fulham and this world cup. Granted he’s improved his attitude but for me he flashes hot and cold. I suspect rafa wants pace and power with accuracy.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:17 AM
Comment #17Anyone gonna be watching Germany vs Sweden today?
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:19 AM
Comment #18Because we move on OneAlanShearer…and because we think people can change, adapt and improve
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:20 AM
Comment #19He’s doing well at the WC! Be happy 😉
c-dog
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:24 AM
Comment #20@roblen
Two very good games. And a good half season in the championship. Stop with the brown nosing Rafa sniffling. Nobody is saying Rafa is bad. People just want to see Mitrovic work for us cause he has potential to be really good. We’ve and so should you have had enough of garbage like Joselu
The next Mike Williamson
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:24 AM
Comment #21there aren’t any out there. they’re probably all playing in the reserve leagues for the elite teams. jorgensen seems like the best bet and i guess he’s past it or take a punt on sandro ramirez who benitez wanted last year. either that or we fork out 15m for some untested french young talent.
i’m not knocking rafa but almost all the strikers we were linked with last year had stinking seasons, and who can claim tammy tap in is the “defend from the front” type any more than Mitrovic is? this is where that false claim falls to pieces.
OneAlanShearer
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:30 AM
Comment #22The cost of a quality striker is going be higher than I think Ashley will let happen. I’d try for 3 strikers with potential and hope one works out well. Mitro is history.
kc2012
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:35 AM
Comment #23I said it a few Weeks ago and I genuinely think that the Mitro, Mbemba and Mbabu situations will turn out to be Rafa’s biggest mistakes as Toon boss and will all come back to bite us.
Who is Rafa expecting to bring in to replace him for around about the same price – Probably Jorgenson who honestly looks half the player Joselu is.
I’ve never been the biggest Mitro fan but in the last 6 Months he’s proven me wrong and now looks a very good striker and there’s no chance we can sell him for £20m. He’s worth a lot more in the current inflated market.
Also Rafa needs to think about that £12m release clause in Shaqiris contract imo. He’d be a quality signing for us.
sing in the corner
Jun 23, 2018 at 9:44 AM
Comment #24Mitro is still not the right starting striker for us. Let’s not over hype his performances in the last 2 games. He’s done ok. He showed he can control his temper which is a big plus.
But…
He still doesn’t work enough off the ball I think. And his anticipatory movement remains rubbish. You need that in PL, especially when you have no pace.
OneAlanShearer
Jun 23, 2018 at 10:25 AM
Comment #25Sing – yep that’s exactly his problem. If you could combine yoselu’s work off the ball, Gayle pace and mitros power and heading ability you’d have a great player….but you can’t.
Mitro is a pretty static one trick pony, if you play to that you’ll get a goal return but that make a you predictable and easier to play against. Premier league defences take pace, power and accurate striking to beat. I’m hoping rafa finds the quality required to test those defences adequately enough. I genuinely believe we’d struggle with mitro, Gayle and Joselu. Give it 3 or 4 games without a goal and then people would realise we should have sold him. I’d start by buying Carroll because for me that’s am upgrade on mitro. I’d then get someone like Tammy Abrahams in. Add a number 10, Kenedy and a right back whilst replacing mbemba and strengthening the central midfield and we have improved to be threat. I would not sell lascelles and stick a massive price tag on him, something daft like 100 million. Our team spirit along with added quality will make us formidable then.
TomaKaThor
Jun 23, 2018 at 12:27 PM
Comment #26Always wanted mitro to stay, he is head an shoulders above what we have and could get, he is a nightmare for defenders to deal and his hold up play is good, something none of our strikers can do.