Matty Longstaff got a run out with the Under-23s this afternoon against the West Brom Reserves. Matty and his teammates played well against a very experienced side that featured a lot of first-team players for the Baggies. Ultimately the lads lost 2-1 on a goal in stoppage time by former Welsh international Hal Robson-Kanu.
Newcastle did get another goal from Thomas Allen whose penalty made it four goals in the last four games. He also turned 20-years-old today.
Happy birthday to @Tom_Allan99, who turns 2?0? today! ??? #NUFC pic.twitter.com/KaUjnCyXvH
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 23, 2019
Under-23 coach Neil Redfearn spoke to nufc.co.uk after the game and was delighted with the performance put in by the youngsters:
“I thought the lads were absolutely outstanding. We created the better chances, and we were the better football side and controlled the game. If you look at the team they’ve put out, you’re talking about five or six first-team players.
“It was a great performance from us, and we’re going in the right direction.”
The Newcastle side featured Matty Longstaff and Jamie Sterry, but the West Brom team had a number from their first-team. In addition to Robson-Kanu, West Brom sent out captain Chris Brunt, Omani international Ali Al-Habsi, and Egyptian international Ahmed Hegazi.
Redfearn went on to name a few of the standout performers today. He was particularly impressed with the midfielder trio of Jack Young, Matty Longstaff, Mo Sangare.
This is what Redfearn had to say about the performance and how his youngsters are improving each week:
“We played a bit differently with Matty (Longstaff) coming in and played three in midfield with Luke (Charman) down the middle. I thought the wide players caused them all sorts of problems in Rosaire (Longelo) and Tom Allan.
“I thought the three midfielders were outstanding today in Jack Young, Matty Longstaff, and Mo Sangare. That’s the way to compete in midfield – energetic, aggressive and passing the ball well which gave us a real platform to go and play on.
“Going back to the process, these boys are improving and getting better and better every week. There’s a confidence about us now and a bit of a swagger when we play.”
While they didn’t make it three wins in a row in Premier League 2, they have added another good performance after starting the season with three straight defeats.
91 comments so far
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 23, 2019 at 8:36 PM
Comment #41Munster, that puts me on the naughty step with you then! 🙂
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Sep 23, 2019 at 8:41 PM
Comment #42Munster
The poor passing is due to the overall poor quality of player that fit Ashley’s criteria.
Poor players = poor passing
Its obvious to everyone on the blog that you find football extremely hard to understand, especially when it concerns Nufc, I’m sure even with your limited intelligence you’ll be able to work out the above equation.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 23, 2019 at 8:42 PM
Comment #43Munster,
How many have slated Tammy ”Tap in” or said Rondon was too slow, you simply can’t criticise a manager for a signing he never made.
toon22
Sep 23, 2019 at 8:44 PM
Comment #44Munster
Still knocking Rafa ?
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Sep 23, 2019 at 8:44 PM
Comment #45Munster
I’d like to see evidence that Rafa moaned for £20m for that Danish striker and sick note Sturridge.
Direct quotes from Rafa if you dont mind, no paper talk.
toon22
Sep 23, 2019 at 8:45 PM
Comment #46He is for sure a very odd toon fan indeed
Very odd
Jib
Sep 23, 2019 at 8:45 PM
Comment #47Jail for Ashley
you simply can’t criticise a manager for a signing he never made.
you do !
Munster Mag
Sep 23, 2019 at 8:51 PM
Comment #48Jasper, saturday was one of the worst efforts i’ve seen in years. I said SB deserved a chance to put his impression in the team etc but all I saw saturday first half was bad passing, long passing, no real press and little effort . It was a bit scary tbh
Munster Mag
Sep 23, 2019 at 8:54 PM
Comment #49OP the striker himself was all set to move and according to the media rafa was incensed re sturridge as he was expecting him at Benton. But what wud I know – you told me im not an nufc fan .
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Sep 23, 2019 at 8:57 PM
Comment #50Rafa set his stall and stuck to it.
It never bothered my he never went more attacking when we played the “weaker” teams in the league because I didn’t consider them weaker.
I saw the limitations in the players and squad as a whole.
To succeed with Rafas style and formation slow and steady wins the race, continuity is what drills positioning and tactics etc into players.
The players may not like it, boring but it makes their job that much easier.
Changing formations and style every 2 or 3 matches is a distraction the squad and team couldn’t handle or afford.
I still say a large portion of fans rate our players way better than they are.
Remind me of all the bids we received for our players.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:09 PM
Comment #51Unless you actually like banging your head on a kerb I’d suggest the only real way to get the Rafa sceptics to see the contrasts between his management and Bruce’s is to wait until the season is almost over. I’m sick of the stats that “prove” our mackem makeweight is doing better than Benitez and the buys that he never made or even said he wanted being blamed for our downfall. What a waste of time arguing about it.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:11 PM
Comment #52Munster,
The first target was Plea who scored 15 in 35 of Borrussia, Churnley decided he was worth 20M but not 22M, next was that crap Danish bloke that you seen play once, he was also too expensive, it was nearing the end of the window and we needed a striker, 8th richest club in the PL and we had to bring in three loans two of which, Kenedy and Dubravka saved our status in the PL.
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:15 PM
Comment #53I think what I’m trying to say is, Rafa built a side that was much better than the sum of its parts.
I doubt many managers could’ve done that.
Still waiting to see what Bruce has planned, people talk about our first 10 last season.
Why not ask how much difference there was in the side in Rafas first 6 games at the club.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:21 PM
Comment #54As far as can be fathomed, it appears that what isn’t working is Bruce’s attempt to patch the dam with chewing gum while he looks around for a bucket without a hole in it. He’s obviously trying to impose a “style” of his own to try and make sense of what to do with the perfectly serviceable unit Rafa had made over three seasons, but which was then hobbled by two square peg transfers made completely separate to Bruce’s knowledge, and the loss of perez and Rondon.
Now he’s got the committee horse problem as foisted on previous bumbling incompetents and his “style” appears to be a disastrous attempt to implement some kind of fluidity in a side that’s been used to rigid positioning and absolute knowledge of the same style being played by those around them. It’s a horrible mess, it’s like being force fed a blancmange with chopped onions you can see what’s happening but you just wish it would stop.
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:24 PM
Comment #55toon22
Actually it was me who made a very minor reference to Rafa not Munster, if you wish to retain any credibility do get your facts right.
And the context was in the poor passing nature of many managers we’ve had under Ashlie who never seem to be able to improve that side of our game, including Rafa, although he was starting to improve it towards the end of last season and we all know what has happened since then.
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:26 PM
Comment #56Tsunki
That’s one way to discibe it.
I don’t think he’s tried to impliment a style or formation, he hasn’t shit and he’s still on the pot.
He’s scarred to pull the trigger and miss, so he’s frozen like a rabbit in the headlights.
Its sink or sink time.
All the cliches, nearly.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:27 PM
Comment #57During the long run of lean results at the start of the season just about everyone could see what was being worked on. I can’t remember anyone calling for Rafa to be sacked or even being dismayed at the results. It was a work in progress, the defeats were slim and often harsh given how much work was put in. But eventually the results as expected came in. As a masterclass of percentage and attrition it worked exactly as planned and there was a solid base to build on. We ended up with a defence that was among the top in the league. When almiron arrived and longstaff coming in we started to look like a midfield tank with real attacking threat. Teams stopped pummeling our back door and started keeping an eye on their own hind quarters because we would break with purpose and intent. We ended the season like that full of hope, waiting to see what Rafa was going to bring in for next season’s big push.
Then Mike delivers Steve &#@+-* Bruce. And nobody thinks he did that on purpose, because he just could? Righto then. 😐
Munster Mag
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:27 PM
Comment #58Jail, you are falling back on lies – again – to teg to prove a point. I was delighted we got Rondon. Stop lying man and debate properly. Have you owned up yet that I actually didnt want Pearson ahead of Rafa, or still peddling that lie?
lochinvar
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:30 PM
Comment #59Manchester United are considering whether to introduce safe standing at Old Trafford. (Mail)
Sunderland meanwhile are considering a trial to introduce safe seating at their Stadium. A number of commodes are being considered.
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:30 PM
Comment #60Munster
Delighted doesn’t seem the normal vocabulary for a man with the nickname “Moanster”
Munster Mag
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:31 PM
Comment #61Tsunki, how stupid are you? We all see the contrast between SB and RB. None of us asked for SB. When you have a more relevant point do come back.
lochinvar
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:31 PM
Comment #62by the way how are Rafa and Rondon getting on in China ?
Don’t hear much about them from the Shields gazette
Munster Mag
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:34 PM
Comment #63OP, mr tuff came out with Moanster. Possibly because i called him ‘low hanging fruit’. no big deal.
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:34 PM
Comment #64The Chinese are in awe of Rafas one huge hand
Munster Mag
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:36 PM
Comment #65I think Dalian are way off the pace, mid table, according to a work buddy. There again, rafa has only just arrived. I must have a goo
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:37 PM
Comment #66TV time, later!
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:38 PM
Comment #67Munster as a noisy shouter or clanging bin lid you have no equal. You can choose to skip the Tarquin Bulletins ha ha but if you’re insistent on screaming the odds at least have a bash at understanding what you’re braying on about you lump. 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:39 PM
Comment #68Moanster,
You keep calling me a liar and making up lies to prove I am one, where did I say anything about YOU and wanting Rondon, I said how many people had criticised the pursuit of Abraham or slated Rondon and his speed and lack of goals until he got here, my point being, until that crap Danish bloke actually pulled the shirt on and fitted in to Rafa’s system you haven’t got a clue how he would have performed, no doubt Rafa would have preferred Plea over hifm but the footballing expert Churnley divided his age over his shoe size added three because of his nationality minus-ed five because he’d never played in La Liga and came up with the valuation of 20M OR he might have just come up with 20M because they wanted 22M and him and his boss thought that would be the best way to get Rafa to walk and save 3M in wages.
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:39 PM
Comment #69Rafas not at Nufc, I wish him all the best but I’m not going to be keeping a eye out for his results
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:39 PM
Comment #70Munster we really don’t want to know what that is you must have eurghhh..
Belfast
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:48 PM
Comment #71Keep it real Tarquin, keep it real.
Munster Mag
Sep 23, 2019 at 9:50 PM
Comment #72Rafa doing ok in china, just had a look. 7th out of 16, but 10 points behind 5th. Not bad tk be fair. If ashley flucks off i’d have him back gladly even if I would continue to question late subs, and unambitious football against average teams. Although I forgot, this is verboten amongst the troop. I’ll leave you fine taliban ministers to jabber amongst yourselves.
Jail for Ashley
Sep 23, 2019 at 10:00 PM
Comment #73So Munster,
If you are hoping that he comes back so that we can endure your very finely balanced and fair criticism of him, why are you keep harping on that Bruce needs to be given a chance rather than talk about his clueless displays, every time you mention that he is shite you have to add but he needs to be given a chance, with every compliment you gave Rafa there was a backhanded one after it, ”my Dubravka was a great signing but that crap foreign keeper was shite” I’m worried about Bruce, but he needs to be given a chance”
I truly believe that the baby that was dropped on it’s head by it’s drunken uncle in Angela’s Ashes is a systematic problem in Limerick and not just an isolated case, have you got a flat head Moanster?
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 23, 2019 at 10:27 PM
Comment #74Anyway i think Mr Bruce will make all this academic in no time ha ha he’s a self fulfilling fallacy.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 23, 2019 at 10:27 PM
Comment #75You know I’m keeping it real Belfast.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 23, 2019 at 10:29 PM
Comment #76The first offer was pretty decent btw Belfast but genji and his crew have got some way to go before they reach the magic £75 mark.
Genjikai
Sep 23, 2019 at 10:29 PM
Comment #77That ashley video has currently been viewed 198000 times.
Bleatin' n Bruced
Sep 23, 2019 at 10:31 PM
Comment #78Although I’ll consider £65 if the tunnocks teacakes come with the package. Difficult to turn those bad boys down, diet or no diet. 🙂
Genjikai
Sep 23, 2019 at 10:31 PM
Comment #79Tunski
Just one email does not cut it.
I demand talks resume.
Not good enough with the clubs mantra of no comment.
Genjikai
Sep 23, 2019 at 10:32 PM
Comment #80Tsunki
We withdraw our offer, didnt know you where a fruitcake type of guy.
Nowt a matter with that just not my type.