The Chronicle have posted an interview conducted with Sean Longstaff from China.
This is the first we have heard from our exciting young midfielder since the departure of Rafa Benitez.
There were reports that the local lad was absolutely gutted that Benitez was no longer the manager. That news strengthened the belief of many that it was just a matter of time before he would end up at Manchester United.
However, the club set his valuation at £50m which has thus far tested Manchester United’s resolve in bringing Sean to Old Trafford.
Sean Longstaff– keen to impress Steve Bruce
The good news is we heard no public resistance to this move by Newcastle from Sean. We only heard that he wanted to speak to Manchester United but only if a fee could be agreed.
That was always followed with the caveat that he was fully committed to Newcastle United.
Sean has come out and spoken to Lee Ryder today and this is a bit of what he has said:
“I just keep my head down.
“I am just trying to get fit – that’s all I can focus on. I am still a Newcastle United player.
“I want to get back on the pitch as soon as I can. That is what I am looking forward to doing.
“I make more and more progress everyday, that’s all I look forward to. I can’t wait to get on the pitch and impress the new boss.
“If somebody had said to be me a year ago I would be in this position, I would probably have laughed at them.
“This time last year I was deciding whether to go to League One on loan. A year on, you are seeing your name linked with one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“For me, it is all a positive really. It gives you even more confidence. When I was in for a short amount of time people took notice of me. It is flattering but my job is at Newcastle.”
These comments are reminiscent of what Sean Longstaff said to NUFC TV in early June. At that time though, he also spoke of his dream to play a full season at St James Park.
That was before the news of Rafa Benitez leaving hit the players and fans like a ton of bricks.
This is what Sean told Lee Ryder about the news of Rafa leaving and his plans for the way forward:
“The new boss is coming in and it’s a clean slate for everybody – including me.
“I just get my head down and work on the pitch. Like anybody knows you are no use to anybody if you aren’t fit.”
“Nobody wanted to see Rafa Benitez go.
“But that’s what football is – it changes, all of the time.
“I would say everybody was sad to see Rafa go but the squad is excited now as a new manager is coming in.
“Rafa leaving is in the past. It has to be positive now from within and we must all look forward.
“This is a new challenge and it is up to us as players. New staff members are coming in so it is about everybody pulling in the right direction.
“We have to look forward to the new season with a freshness and an open mind. We need to be ready to go.
“It is for everybody. All of the players have a clean slate.
“It rejuvenates everybody knowing that they have to impress the new boss. The standard will go up a notch.
“It is something that everybody has to look forward to and relish. That’s the older lads and the younger ones. It is better that way. We are all looking forward to it.
“There’s no excuses now so to speak so everybody has to get their head down and get focused on what will happen in the future.”
These are excellent and quite reassuring words from the very mature twenty-one-year-old.
The motto coming from this club over the past two days has been to push forward.
Sean mentions that here and it seems to us that the squad is looking to crack on under the new head coach.
Our hope is that we can get at least six first-team players in this window and not lose any vital members of the squad.
This will be crucial for this club to push forward when they have been left so far behind.
287 comments so far
geordietom
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:10 AM
Comment #41mund …
i did see the bit you put on about bruce coming to us . which you doubted at the time . you can only put on what your told . but no matter what you’ll always get shot down …
Tony Baloney
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:11 AM
Comment #42Froggy: I am watching the golf.
#notfromDinnington
toon22
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:12 AM
Comment #43Hiya
😉
Mund
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:12 AM
Comment #44Wow Tony you are seriously full of sh!t.
What this guy is doing right now is talking out of his ass. I’ve never once defended my uncle in fairness I called him out and his credibility and you know this Tony because I said it to you but it’s all good I know your crackers every since your fling thing saw you for what you are and moved on to a brighter life. I could actually be a friend to you mate I do actually feel really sorry for you it’s not nice being dumped or divorced or whatever your situation is. Come mate you can use my shoulder get it all out
Tony Baloney
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:13 AM
Comment #45Geordie Tom: mund talked rubbish about his uncle saying a NUFC takeover would happen the next day. Then he said it again. That is why I shot him down. He said his uncle was an ITK at SD and it turned out to be rubbish.
MarkBro
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:13 AM
Comment #46Hopefully we can sign enough players to keep us up. Gutted about Bruce but we need to move forward whilst upping the ante on removing Ashley.
No games for me, no SD and I’ll join boycotts. I wont go to the games just to boo bruce etc. Pointless route
Mund
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:14 AM
Comment #47Geordietom
Aye mate I learnt the hard way lol but I know some are like me and appreciate these little bits of info which like a lot say should always be taken with a pinch of salt. But tony doesn’t understand this and demands answers like he deserves them.
MarkBro
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:15 AM
Comment #48How many on here claimed they knew pll wirh info …BULLSHOITE 🙂
yes my dad does work at the Airport but he knas sweet FA , usless t**t 🙂
toon22
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:15 AM
Comment #49Tony
Your exactly what us toon fans need right now
Keep it up
5 million net spend in 12 years
hibbit
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:17 AM
Comment #50Mund
leave it mate your doing exactly what he wants he ‘s begging you to engage just leave it,
he’s a WUM he thrives on conflict and your his chosen target.
RobLeenio
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:17 AM
Comment #51On Joelinton, in my opinion he’s an exciting young talent who would do well here and quickly become a fans’ favourite. In ordinary circumstances I’d be very excited about him coming in.
Sadly, if Ashley remains in place we’ll see the lad come in for max 2 seasons before he’s sold to one of the big 6 on instalments for huge profits that we’ll scratch our heads trying to figure out where they went. Not his fault, I bear him no ill will and hope he does well in his time with us, but it’s too familiar a tale to be excited in his arrival.
It’s the same with Bruce. I bear him no ill will, I don’t think he’s a patch on Rafa as a coach but not many out there are and why would anyone better come to us now having seen how Rafa was treated. He’s probably the best we could get, not his fault, the fault lies entirely with the owners and his minions.
Excitement in sport is engendered by the prospect of competition. We don’t have the latter so the former is lacking, despite what happens in the transfer market between now and the Arsenal game.
The only hope for competition returning is for Ashley to leave. All else is, I’m afraid, irrelevant.
Mund
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:18 AM
Comment #52Tony OMG hahaha you don’t half come out with some crap.
I never once said it would be done on any day and never repeated the next day anything.
You are shameful tony but listen now I have a really good life I’m really happy I have an amazing wife and 3 beautiful and amazing kids and I smile everyday with how lucky I am. So let me be straight there isn’t a thing you could say to name me bite I have people like you for breakfast mate. Pathetic chancers
toon22
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:18 AM
Comment #53That’s about 400 grand a year
We’re left with an infrastructure that’s antiquated
A thread bear team that’s in turmoil
A traitor as a manager
Mackem coaches
No strikers
But let’s just ignore all that and bicker and cause arguments as it helps defend Jabba
geordietom
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:19 AM
Comment #54Tony …
yeah he did put stuff on . but in fairness he did say he doubted his uncle about steve bruce. once bitted i suppose …
posada
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:19 AM
Comment #55West Brom now have Rondon off the wage bill and 16.5 million in the bank.
Will they come in for Gayle.
One in one out.
One out one in.
Mund
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:20 AM
Comment #56Hibbit
Aye I know mate I’m not biting I quite enjoy putting people like that in there place. It’s borderline bullying and I hate bullies and I’ve always put the likes of them in there place but i do realise I’m fighting a losing battle lol
outside the box
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:20 AM
Comment #57from previous years under the cashlie regime ….before a player can be signed the player pool and wages must be decreased …for further squad additions players must be moved on
on another note although amusing is it fair to keep winding up the shift worker from dinnington when its obvious from his delusions of adequacy he is not 100%.
Jib
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:21 AM
Comment #58Bruce will not be in the dugout vs West Ham
He only has a tourist visa he didn’t have time
for a work one.
Tony Baloney
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:21 AM
Comment #59It is strange that Froggy is asking me why I am awake this early in the US.
Ed gets up at 3.30 every day and writes articles for this blog!
I told toon22 that I was watching the cricket world cup which only happens every 4 years and now I am watching The British Open.
Will probably watch The Ashes as well which starts at 5am here.
toon22
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:22 AM
Comment #60Tony so your watching the golf
I’m guessing you got out of bed late then let’s say 11am
It’s now about 4am at best in America
In the past you’ve gone on to post all day (UK)
Did you forget your in America?
geordietom
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:22 AM
Comment #61bitten even
toon22
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:22 AM
Comment #62JIB
He is also still under contract at SW
beefman13
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:22 AM
Comment #63Once a mackem!
toon22
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:23 AM
Comment #64Tony and his 24/7 PR lol
It’s never MAs fault
Tony Baloney
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:23 AM
Comment #65Hibbit: the collective.
geordietom
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:24 AM
Comment #66posada… @ 55…
shake it all about …
😀
toon22
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:24 AM
Comment #67You didn’t say your at work
Or working shifts
Your choosing to stay awake
toon22
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:25 AM
Comment #6824 hours at a time sometimes
nufc 11
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:25 AM
Comment #69Sean mate, hit the road at high speed up to Manchester staying at NUFC will rob you of your soul and ambition to reach the top.
Rob1971
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:27 AM
Comment #70I wonder if Ashleyisamackem will be on today, I am sure today is the day we would here something about the takeover
toon22
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:28 AM
Comment #71Tony
Hiya
Bills Son Is Back
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:28 AM
Comment #72Frog,,
You are one to talk about being on here all day.
You are either pre-school age, retired or taking the pi$$ out of your employers time.
I’m retired, what’s your excuse.
Or is Ashley paying you to be a Mackem shill?
Tony Baloney
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:28 AM
Comment #73frog: what does it matter whether I live in Dinnington or Timbuktu? I am awake watching the golf and when I was getting up at 4am for the cricket I messed up my body clock so would have a nap at 2pm central time. It is pretty easy to understand without a conspiracy of me living in Dinnington.
RobLeenio
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:29 AM
Comment #74beefman, so did you refuse to cheer for Steve Howey?
Once a mackem, and all that!
😉
toon22
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:29 AM
Comment #75Did you forget your in America
LoL
Jib
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:30 AM
Comment #76toon22
JIB
He is also still under contract at SW
Nope he resigned
Tony Baloney
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:31 AM
Comment #77Bills son: if you say anything against the collective they will try and take you down. That includes Jib who is the biggest hypocrite on here because they all hate him and then he tries to be their friend.
toon22
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:32 AM
Comment #78Tony
Hiya JIB
Pain in the Blog
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:32 AM
Comment #79Tony Baloney #34,
“He will probably claim Einstein made the statement of the definition of insanity soon. Which is an urban legend.”
You are correct that the insanity quote usually attributed to Albert Einstein was never actually proven to be said by him. But I do think you mean it’s an ‘urban myth’ and not an ‘urban legend’.
And just to be picky, you are not watching the ‘British Open’. You are watching the ‘Open Championship’.
Tony Baloney
Jul 19, 2019 at 10:33 AM
Comment #80#IdontliveinDinnington
#IliveinChicago
#askmeMam