Salomon Rondon played two games for Venezuela in the last international break and scored two goals.
The final game was in Panama a week last Tuesday night, and he scored twice in his country’s 2-0 win.
And he had to make it back to Newcastle and Panama to London takes anywhere from 12 hours to 15 hours depending on the route taken and the intermediary stop.
It’s a long flight, and then Salomon would have to make it up to Newcastle from London.
And it was expected he would not start last Saturday’s game against Arsenal and instead, Joselu played the whole game in the 2-1 defeat.
But the Venezuelan didn’t even get a runout in the second half – but he did get two games under his belt playing for his country, and that will help with his match fitness.
Salomon Rondon – in training at Benton
Here’s what Salomon had to say today as reported in the Chronicle:
“It was good for me because I scored two goals with my national team.”
“Of course, it’s a long flight from Panama – our last game was there – but I’m happy and confident when you score goals there.”
“After, it was about being focused and getting back to Newcastle.”
“I feel good. It’s a long flight, with the jet lag – it’s six hours behind in Panama – so when you arrive here you have to change quickly.”
“It’s difficult sometimes because you can’t sleep and things like that, but now I’m more settled, so that’s good.”
“It’s difficult for the supporters when they are seeing the team near the bottom of the table, but everyone knows our skills and that we work really hard.”
“This is the Premier League, this is the game, and you have to get focused on the next game.”
“The next game for us is Palace, so we have to get the three points. I think, in my opinion, you have to get just one win to get the confidence back.”
“We know it’s a difficult game for us away at Palace, but we have to improve and do our best.”
“Everyone knows, with Crystal Palace, how they play. They have quality players, but we have to impose our game and be efficient when we create chances and score goals.”
“The most important thing is the team and our game, and to just be careful when they try to play, because they are really quick on the counter-attack.”
“Everyone knows how they play and we know, of course, how we will play.”
It’s crucial we get the win at Palace although only two of five fans think we can come away from Selhurst Park with the win.
And Jonjo Shelvey and Jamaal Lascelles are still doubtful for Saturday.
But assuming those two are fit here’s a strong side that can get the business done on Saturday.
Dubravka
Yedlin Lascelles (c) Fernando Dummett
Shelvey Diame
Ritchie Perez Kenedy
Rondon
Comments welcome.
29 comments so far
Lindisfarne
Sep 20, 2018 at 8:13 PM
Comment #1TOON
TOON
Optimistic Panda
Sep 20, 2018 at 8:22 PM
Comment #2How long till kick off.
Doubt the mood on the blog will change, no doubt when we win the nah sayers will say Rafa should have done that 5 games ago.
The real shame is the poison in the club is Ashley. Transfers equipment facilities all done as cheaply as possible.
It’s easy to say this and that in hindsight but woulda coulda shoulda doesn’t cut it.
Rafas stuck with his lot as are we, he knows all the players better than us and the tactics, maybe there’s reasons he didnt/doesn’t make subs when people think.
Rafa didn’t get to where he is by luck, he deserves our support, you may not like a lot of what you see on the pitch but if you want to turn on someone Ashleys your man!
Toonlegend
Sep 20, 2018 at 8:30 PM
Comment #3Not very optimistic are you.
Toonlegend
Sep 20, 2018 at 8:37 PM
Comment #4In Rafa we trust.
With our tactics, being a very attacking, entertaining team, we should win this weekend, after all, hes got his formation spot on thats why we are doing so well……. How many wins have we got……… Oh wait we havent won yet.
jazzyp
Sep 20, 2018 at 8:44 PM
Comment #5NUFC record of bringing through youngsters is appalling… last night Mbabu played right back against Man U in the Chanpions League, tonight Tavernier captains Rangers from right back in the Europa league. Our back up at right back… Javier bloody Manquillo
GeordieTwo
Sep 20, 2018 at 8:52 PM
Comment #6Well said jazzyp. Javier Manfruits isn’t good enough even to be a backup. He was terrible in the match he played earlier. Easily beaten by the winger on his side. Can’t remember who he was. Replace Manfruits!
GeordieTwo
Sep 20, 2018 at 8:53 PM
Comment #7We’ve absolutely got to get better at recognizing (and hanging onto!) young talent. Can’t afford to let them get away with such a tight fisted owner. Harrumph!
Optimistic Panda
Sep 20, 2018 at 8:59 PM
Comment #8Ibiza
It’s been shocking, not since the days of Clark Watson Howey and Elliot have we had more than one in a blue moon.
Since Hall and Sheperd we’ve brought nowt through, abysmal!
GeordieTwo
Sep 20, 2018 at 9:00 PM
Comment #9We need a serious discussion of wor backup players. Are they good enough as a group? Clark, Schar, Hayden, Manquillo, Joselu, Atsu. There’s the main ones. Good enough are they? If we want to finish bottom 10 then yes. Otherwise no. We must have better bench players. Of that bunch I would probably keep Schar (’til we see more of him at least) and Clark.
GeordieTwo
Sep 20, 2018 at 9:01 PM
Comment #10Agreed Panda! Abysmal!
Optimistic Panda
Sep 20, 2018 at 9:02 PM
Comment #11Ibiza
How many good local players have we lost who wouldn’t come to our academy?
RUNAWAY777
Sep 20, 2018 at 9:06 PM
Comment #12A Pain in the Blog ill not be drinking on sat as not working up north for next 5 week need to keep myself rite for my flight working in the sun and getting free broad too cant beat it.
jazzyp
Sep 20, 2018 at 9:14 PM
Comment #13NUFC were on the official scouting list as Bayern Munich defeated Benfica 2-0 last night.
Now this story may be true but can someone tell me what is the point in sending the scouting team all over Europe and the world, To then sign no f@cker every season.
Before the loons start..No F@cker isn’t a player
cyprus
Sep 20, 2018 at 9:22 PM
Comment #14Why are you picking on the bench? The starting 11 isn’t too scary for any opponents.
We can pick favourites but how many would you really be unhappy if we sold?
Optimistic Panda
Sep 20, 2018 at 9:30 PM
Comment #15Jazzy
Got to spend £124m somehow.
Nostradamus the Geordie
Sep 21, 2018 at 2:12 AM
Comment #16Back from working a day from hell and still having to defend things with you Lesh.
So maybe you’re rolled up in your sheets dreaming the fact that you got one over me, makes you feel all warm and toasty eh Lesh.
You wrote to me last thread:
Nostradamus
Your words….. ‘But I thought with the non-disclosure all parties sign they were allowed to talk about it until the deal is done?’
You must agree they don’t exactly sound like someone who knows all about NDAs.
Hence my comment – not from a smart arse!
Wow, Lesh, I’m a beaten man, oh my god how could I have written something that made me look like a fool.
But like a Phoneix from the flames, I rise from the ashes to defend myself against someone smarter than everyone.
Once I write this maybe you will feel you have to go back and check things, but I will save you the trouble as I’m nice like that.
I wrote with reference to someone in the states looking at purchasing Newcastle United.
Just look at the date and time Lesh and I wonder how you could have missed something right underneath what I wrote below.
Nostradamus the Geordie
Sep 20, 2018 at 2:17 PM
Comment #22
Rocco Commisso owner of Cosmos was trying to purchase AC Millan that deal fell through or its still in the balance, maybe as this is still up in the air he would look at other ventures within Europe and yes Newcastle may be an option. But I thought with the non-disclosure all parties sign they were allowed to talk about it until the deal is done?
Nostradamus the Geordie
Sep 20, 2018 at 2:18 PM
Comment #23
they were not allowed
Do you see it Lesh, hope you do as I wrote it just after I posted the comment #22 so its comment 22 and 23 less than a minute apart?
Yours however Lesh.
Sep 20, 2018 at 2:28 PM
Comment #26
Lesh 10 minutes after I wrote mine and only 2 posts later, so back to your last amazing, you got me banged to rights comment, I’m still trying to figure out why you didn’t see my #23 comment under my #22 comment when you posted ten minutes later, oh shite I just realized, you left that out to make me look foolish and make yourself look awesome. I will, of course, wait for your return mail, I know you will have plenty of time to figure something out. This is really tiresome having to defend things. Howay the Toon!!!!
The overrated Frenchman
Sep 21, 2018 at 2:31 AM
Comment #17Talking about bringing young talent through (or recruiting same), I could only shake my head in disbelief with the promotion of Steve Nickson to head scout. I think he had five or six years as the main man in identifying and helping to sign these potential stars. Well, if that wasn’t five or six years of abject failure, I’ll eat Jib’s diamente encrusted tiara. And it’s rewarded with promotion to the top scouting job and a resounding endorsement from the manager. It speaks volumes about the state of this club in my opinion. Mediocrity reigns supreme.
lesh
Sep 21, 2018 at 4:27 AM
Comment #18Nostradamus
You’re making something out of nowt man.
There’s no way I was trying to get one over on you – I don’t play those games.
Your statement to the effect that parties signed up to an NDA are committed to absolute silence about any aspect of a proposed transaction, and your use of the word ‘thought’, suggested doubt on your part and invited clarification.
However, as your work seems to make you more than familiar with corporate acquisitions and their associated processes, I have clearly mis-interpreted your posts.
I was tempted to put my tongue in my sleepy little cheek and suggest that anyone with such exposure to takeovers etc could be working for SD which seems to be growing like tipsy. However, I won’t. 😉
lesh
Sep 21, 2018 at 4:33 AM
Comment #19Nostradamus
Growing like tipsy = Growing like topsy
Hey ho.
And given your name, can we assume you know who’s buying the club and when we’re going to hear about it? 🙂
Nostradamus the Geordie
Sep 21, 2018 at 5:52 AM
Comment #20All good Lesh lets sleeping dogs lie, the reason for the word thought was here in the US when business owners sign an NDA we have several clauses, we literally try and cover every possible scenario so they cannot talk to anyone except their attorney and even they have to sign one. But here they can be sued if they break an agreement, it’s the American dream in a nutshell.
I still don’t think this happens much in the UK but times may have changed since I lived there.
LMAO off with the SD connection, I would be the worst fan on the planet if I worked for SD, well maybe not the worse, but close.
I honestly would love to know who would purchase our club, but sadly I do not, I also would not care who it was, as long as they give Rafa the tools to try and build a club over the next five years, not asking much, just give the fans a little glimmer of hope.
We don’t ask for much, we just need that little glimmer and a team that works hard and fights for the badge, fans, manager and the great City of Newcastle.
I wish Mr. Sumner could get together with some consortium and take over at our club, at least we know he would do things right!!!
Jail for Ashley
Sep 21, 2018 at 6:51 AM
Comment #21https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-should-above-criticism-15177783.amp?__twitter_impression=true
toon22
Sep 21, 2018 at 6:59 AM
Comment #22It’s more likely MAs ending up in prison than selling us
It’s never MAs fault
Jib
Sep 21, 2018 at 7:56 AM
Comment #23More comprehension problems
This time Our Toon
I carefully avoided the word ” fit ”
with Rondon
I said:-
Rafa
“deemed him nowhere
near ready for a PL game.”
Jet lag can be a bugger
You must know – Our Toon
when you’ve been back to
Karachi to see your relatives.
Jib
Sep 21, 2018 at 8:07 AM
Comment #24There you go
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-striker-salomon-rondon-15179743
Nicky the ball tosser
Sep 21, 2018 at 8:31 AM
Comment #25Still a core of pretty good epl players who have hopefully been steeled by this tough start to the campaign and wedded together by it. Shelvey’s fitness is key, as is how well Ki, Rondon and Muto fare from now on, Fernandez is already a success. I watch the replays a little after the game which I listen to live on the radio and the football is far from poor, but Shelvey has been missed and the attack hasn’t quite been up to the mark as a unit against good opposition. Next ten games will give a proper gauge as to where we are. I think Rafa will stay, but the club is a mess with Ashley so uncommitted, and that must surely be resolved this season.
RobLeenio
Sep 21, 2018 at 8:46 AM
Comment #26Nicky, I agree with your points and would also like to add in the pride factor.
The guys must be hurting after the results and the negative press will not have helped. They’ll be desperate to put in a performance which yields a positive result.
RobLeenio
Sep 21, 2018 at 8:47 AM
Comment #27Here’s a mind-boggling stat based on this season.
Average points / game for Palace with Zaha in the team: 1.5
Average points / game for Palace with no Zaha in the team: 0
Jail for Ashley
Sep 21, 2018 at 8:56 AM
Comment #28Nicky,
That’s why we need to get behind the manager, he’s proved he can turn it around. All the bed wetters accusing him of being as bad as Mcardew will disappear without trace if he is replaced and results go from bad to worse leaving all the regular blogggers to deal with the aftermath.
RobLeenio
Sep 21, 2018 at 9:11 AM
Comment #29I got my Magpie Group newsletter last night, for those of you who don’t subscribe, a brief summary.
They gave details of the protests at the Arsenal game and the SD AGM with a link to a gallery of photos from the Arsenal match protest.
More importantly perhaps, they’ve released details of the next meeting of the next open meeting. 3rd October 6.30PM again at the Newcastle Labour Club.
Guest speakers are
Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central
Ian Mearns MP, Chair of all-party Parliamentary Group for football supporters
Kevin Miles, Chief Exec of the Football Supporters Federation.
That’s some high-profile people with some excellent insight into the state of the game and our club. Could be very interesting to hear what they have to say.