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Rafa Praises The Humble Sean Longstaff – Says He’ll Continue To Improve



21-year-old Sean Longstaff is fast becoming a Newcastle star and the number one choice for Newcastle in the center of midfield.

Sean got his chance when Jonjo Shelvey and Mo Diame were injured and Ki was away on Asian Cup duty playing for South Korea.

Sean has looked an excellent young player and he’s also somebody who has his feet firmly on the ground.

If Rafa stays with us, he will need to change his transfer plans with the attacking midfielder position well covered now by Sean, Jonjo or Ki.

He will need to bring in a young defensive midfielder with Isaac Hayden set to leave Newcastle in the summer, a right back and another striker – at the very least this summer.

Sean Longstaff and Rafa Benitez after the Bournemouth win

Rafa was asked by the Chronicle if he thought Longstaff can continue with his top form:

“Talking with Sean he is fine and he is mature enough.”

“He is somebody who will continue to get better because he listens to you and works hard. He’s very humble.”

“We’ll see with the others back regarding competition but in terms on his behavior and what he will do next I am quite positive that he’ll do well.”

“He knows that he’s doing well.” “At the same time he will continue to work hard.”

“He’s not somebody who will just accept arriving on the scene then say: ‘That’s me done’.”

“My understanding is that his family and the people around him are focused and will give him the right advice.”

His younger brother Matty is impressive as well and could be the next youngster to come through the ranks and into the first team.

Matty plays in central midfield too – like his older brother.

Comments welcome.


54 comments so far

  • JDdubai

    Feb 16, 2019 at 9:00 AM

    Comment #1

    Is it correct that is £2.95 on the club website to watch the match but it’s free on CSKA’s YouTube channel?

    1
  • beermonkey

    Feb 16, 2019 at 9:09 AM

    Comment #2

    what time is the match

    0
  • Ron Knee

    Feb 16, 2019 at 9:12 AM

    Comment #3

    As part of the club’s Spanish training camp, Newcastle United will play CSKA Moscow on Saturday February 16th, kick-off 11am GMT.

    1
  • DubaiMicky

    Feb 16, 2019 at 9:22 AM

    Comment #4

    talkSPORT Extra Time’s Tom Latchem has claimed that if Newcastle fans invaded the pitch in protest of Mike Ashley, quicker results would arise from the ownership saga.

    The hosts of the program also criticised the seemingly ineffective efforts of the sd storefront protests.

    So would a pitch invasion work (when ashLIE was there of course), and what could the repercussions be?

    2
  • Jib

    Feb 16, 2019 at 9:28 AM

    Comment #5

    CSKA’s own YouTube channel
    showing live kids footy at the mo’
    See what it shows at 11 am

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5q4_4v_-sU

    1
  • Jib

    Feb 16, 2019 at 9:30 AM

    Comment #6

    Micky

    Tom Latchem is a 30 year old
    Chelsea supporting radgie

    do behave

    0
  • DubaiMicky

    Feb 16, 2019 at 9:34 AM

    Comment #7

    Jib, just passing it on, it kinda worked with west ham – they changed. Would ashLIE – I wouldn’t think so.

    1
  • geordietom

    Feb 16, 2019 at 9:43 AM

    Comment #8

    jail…

    just read your comment on last nights thread…

    about who is paying £100 k on due diligence god knows who paid. and i do agree with your bit a about buying a car as the car you want to buy aint the the car thats in the write up … same thing with ASHLEY we dont know what the books are like until someone unpicks them …

    0
  • Ron Knee

    Feb 16, 2019 at 9:52 AM

    Comment #9
  • martoon

    Feb 16, 2019 at 9:59 AM

    Comment #10

    On the nufc.co.uk it says match starting in 2 hrs 2 mins – is that not 12 o’clock?

    0
  • Ron Knee

    Feb 16, 2019 at 10:03 AM

    Comment #11

    Lee Ryder
    ?Verified account @lee_ryder

    Darlow, Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Lejeune, Barreca, Kenedy, Ki, Diame, Almiron, Rondon #nufc

    0
  • Jib

    Feb 16, 2019 at 10:04 AM

    Comment #12
  • martoon

    Feb 16, 2019 at 10:04 AM

    Comment #13

    Looks like it is 11 o’clock – does that mean if you pay then you miss the first hour?

    0
  • Jib

    Feb 16, 2019 at 10:06 AM

    Comment #14

    I think someone is confused
    11 am here is Noon in Spain

    1
  • Lindisfarne

    Feb 16, 2019 at 10:17 AM

    Comment #15

    eith Downie
    @SkySports_Keith
    Jamaal Lascelles has apologised to Martin Dubravka for his outburst at Wolves: “I shouldn’t be doing that to him, so I apologised. But I’m the captain and I’ve got the armband because I’m honest, not gifted. I’ve also got a job to do. Martin has been unreal for us.”

    5
  • Ron Knee

    Feb 16, 2019 at 10:17 AM

    Comment #16

    Chris Waugh
    ?Verified account @ChrisDHWaugh

    Joselu is also on the bench for #nufc. Missed off the initial list, but the Spaniard is among the replacements. There are 12 players on the bench, so either one will miss out, or we’re going to see a host of subs…

    0
  • Mag :P

    Feb 16, 2019 at 10:26 AM

    Comment #17

    Excited about that lineup.

    I would keep that side and make three changes for the game at Huddersfield.

    Dubravka for Darlow.
    Longstaff for Diame.
    Ritchie for Kenedy.

    Howay wor almiron

    2
  • Lindisfarne

    Feb 16, 2019 at 10:31 AM

    Comment #18

    Surprised Fernandez, Dummett and Muto are not starting. Plus it looks like a continuation of the 3421 formation.

    0
  • Mag :P

    Feb 16, 2019 at 10:42 AM

    Comment #19

    Any ‘free’ links or am I going to have to feed Mike Ashley’s pocket?

    1
  • ilovetoon8788

    Feb 16, 2019 at 10:45 AM

    Comment #20

    Free links please. I don’t want to pay the fat b*d

    0
  • MAUTITOON

    Feb 16, 2019 at 10:47 AM

    Comment #21
  • ronaldo aarons

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:07 AM

    Comment #23

    Lol almiron is quick and Diane just missed a sitter.

    Link is very good on hesgoal, don’t understand Russian but I’m confident they’re already much better than English speaking commentators.

    0
  • ronaldo aarons

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:07 AM

    Comment #24

    Thanks for posting the link, wasn’t able to post it on here for some reason.

    0
  • simon376

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:10 AM

    Comment #25

    Thanks for the link

    0
  • MAUTITOON

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:19 AM

    Comment #26

    RONDONDON DON DING DING DANG DANG

    0
  • Ron Knee

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:20 AM

    Comment #27

    Nice goal.

    0
  • MikeAshleysWallet

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:25 AM

    Comment #28

    https://www.newcastletillidie.co.uk/streams?fbclid=IwAR3bV4NmXJZxrZKDZ6bqb8ViKBJmd06ws2s_h-v7WQ42modugo7U-Rl1Ebo better quality with English commentary but its about 10 minutes behind real time

    0
  • Genjikai

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:33 AM

    Comment #29

    Rob from last neet. It got chalked up as an own goal but again Kelland done the business.
    Scored a hat trick against blyth spartans the other day in the cup.
    Like a said hes played uptop his whole life and is very creative. Good attacker of the ball and can spray a pass. Has played for englands youth teams all way through.
    Rafa likes what he sees and changed him to cb, (ball playing cb spraying balls. Whos 6 foot 4 and can attack a ball.
    Fit into our system atm?

    1
  • Munster Mag

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:39 AM

    Comment #30

    Tks for the link Ronaldo. It’s a mad world, middle aged man eating brekkie in a pub in tipperary watching nufc playing a Moscow team in spain on his phone. Sad fanatic!

    3
  • MikeAshleysWallet

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:42 AM

    Comment #31

    Bad one to concede that. Lascelles to blame, charging up field and losing the ball.

    1
  • ilovetoon8788

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:44 AM

    Comment #32

    Not impressed with almiron or Kennedy. On paper we have 3 South American players upfront.

    On the pitch is totally different. No attack coming from the left side at all. Only yedlin our biggest attacking threat from the right.

    0
  • Munster Mag

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:45 AM

    Comment #33

    Rafa won’t be happy losing defensive shape like that

    0
  • Mag :P

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:49 AM

    Comment #34

    Almiron has looked very lively. Linked up well and should have an assist from diame’s chance.

    Yedlin has been our biggest attacking threat with Ki playing some lovely balls out to him.

    Kenedy has completely lost his confidence. A shadow of the player from last season.

    Really strange.

    2
  • Ron Knee

    Feb 16, 2019 at 11:58 AM

    Comment #35

    Entirely different XI for #nufc in the 2nd half it looks like. Hayden, Manquillo, Fernandez, Dummett, Woodman, Ritchie, Perez, Muto, Joselu, Longstaff & Atsu are all warming up in their kits at the break

    0
  • Munster Mag

    Feb 16, 2019 at 12:00 PM

    Comment #36

    Interesting to see if we need a left aswell as right wing / wingback in the summer. Not convinced yedlin is good enough at all even if doing well today

    0
  • Munster Mag

    Feb 16, 2019 at 12:01 PM

    Comment #37

    Muto beginning to look like a bad purchase but hope he makes the grade with us.

    0
  • Lindisfarne

    Feb 16, 2019 at 12:05 PM

    Comment #38

    I was hoping to get a better look at Berreca in the 2nd half with there only being one camarea.

    0
  • Lindisfarne

    Feb 16, 2019 at 12:11 PM

    Comment #39

    Are they playing 442?

    with Perez and Atsu on the wings?

    0
  • MikeAshleysWallet

    Feb 16, 2019 at 12:12 PM

    Comment #40

    Great chance spurned there. Joselu really is pants.

    1


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