Steve Bruce’s press conference this morning lacked any blockbuster updates. We had hoped to hear that a number of our injured Magpies would be ready to go for the Arsenal match in a couple of days.
That is far from the case however as only Yoshinori Muto and Dwight Gayle have returned to training but are still doubts for Sunday. That leaves Emil Krafth, Andy Carroll, Jonjo Shelvey, and Javier Manquillo all still to return to full training.
Bruce did provide positive updates on Joelinton, Miguel Almiron, and Allan Saint-Maximin, but their availability was never really in question.
Joelinton went off at Oxford with a rib injury, but it was just a knock, and he’s returned to training. Miguel Almiron just needed a rest, so he’s ready to go. Bruce also said that Allan Saint-Maximin is starting to look like he’s getting back to the level he was before his injury.
The most concerning update was the lack of one on Matty Longstaff’s contract stalemate. The Chronicle’s Ciaran Kelly tweeted the following about Sean and Matty’s contract talks.
On Longstaffs' contracts: "Again, they're ongoing," Steve Bruce said. "They keep on going and you're going to keep asking. As I said many times, I hope we can get the two of them tied up but players these days have their own prerogative too so we have to respect that as well."
— Ciaran Kelly (@CiaranKelly__) February 14, 2020
We are two weeks from March, and Matty Longstaff is still nowhere close to being tied down long-term at his hometown club. That is very troubling. He can leave for just £400k this summer.
Any positives Bruce and the club manage to accomplish over the next few months can easily be wiped away if the 19-year-old is allowed to leave this summer. It will be truly sickening if the club cannot find a way to keep the young midfielder on Tyneside.
Signing Matty on a new deal should be the club’s top priority.
Bruce was also asked about the takeover, and this was his expected response.
On takeover: "No update from me. Nothing as far as I'm concerned," Steve Bruce said. #nufc
— Ciaran Kelly (@CiaranKelly__) February 14, 2020
We expect Bruce will continually be asked the question, but doubt he’ll enlighten us with anything more than he has this morning.
All in all, it looks like it’s business as usual at Newcastle with no juicy updates on contracts or the takeover.
What Will Be The Result At Arsenal On Sunday?
- Loss (44%, 1,119 )
- Draw (29%, 735 )
- Win (27%, 694 )
Total Voters: 2,548
74 comments so far
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 14, 2020 at 10:37 AM
Comment #1@Rotonda
I just wish Bruce would actually send us out to be aggressive winning the ball back Norwich were there for the taking and we just let Hanley stroll about passing the ball…..
Whatever folk say about Rafa’s tactics (even though we created miles more chances from open play under him) we were always aggressive in winning the ball back its pretty much the same players but we just seem far too passive
Arsenal is another example of this they are very much there for the taking but will we just let them pass it about and stroll to a 2 or 3 nil victory or make it difficult , press in numbers and attack that dodgy defence?
If Joelinton, Muto , Carroll, Gayle are not match fit and Almiron is still a bit fatigued I would give Allan a go in an attacking position hes rapid , scores goals and with the high line Arsenal play he would get in behind a few times
Lindisfarne
Feb 14, 2020 at 10:40 AM
Comment #2Roll on Sunday
The overrated Frenchman
Feb 14, 2020 at 10:42 AM
Comment #3Why would Joelinton not be match fit? He only missed the second half the last time we played.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 14, 2020 at 10:50 AM
Comment #4@Overrated Frenchman
He went off injured though? May have been precautionary but hes been playing through the pain barrier for quite a few games now
The overrated Frenchman
Feb 14, 2020 at 10:52 AM
Comment #5Yeah but that’s different from lacking match fitness
G
Feb 14, 2020 at 10:55 AM
Comment #6Probably bull, but a friend just texted me to say the takeover is happening on Sunday, apparently heard from a close friend of Lee Charnley. I personally don’t even believe anybody is in negotiation to buy the club.
Genjikai
Feb 14, 2020 at 10:57 AM
Comment #7genjutsu, ninjutsu, taijutsu.
Master all and you master the world.
Captain AmeriMag
Feb 14, 2020 at 10:58 AM
Comment #8An alleged friend of a friend via dubious text to an anonymous blog poster with a one letter name and a gangster minion avatar says the takeover is on?
GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!!!!!
😀
#CANSCANSCANS
Jiayou! (The next MW)
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:00 AM
Comment #9The Longstaffs dad knows sport and training and he will advise his sons where they can.develop as players. if its true bruce just throws the ball in the middle and says play lads and orders double running this is not the place. if bruce orders them to just form a second line ofvdefence and tells them to hoof the ball this is not the place. has bruce ever developed/ improved an attacking player?
Genjikai
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:00 AM
Comment #10Capt
Seems legit to me.
Crack me one open on arrival.
G
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:00 AM
Comment #11Would love you to be right Captain, but I’m firmly in the ‘Once it’s official, I will believe it’ camp.
Ron Knee
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:01 AM
Comment #12Sunday the 30th of February.
G
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:02 AM
Comment #13Ron @ 12. Agreed. The funny thing is, the friend in question usually isn’t one to cling to rumour. I think this is more hope than hit with him.
Ron Knee
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:06 AM
Comment #14Like a doomsday cult, G!
lesh
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:09 AM
Comment #15Bruce on Matty Longstaff….. ‘But players these days have their own prerogative….’
Well why don’t they make the lad and his brother an offer that’ll keep them at the club?
It’s not rocket science
Rotonda heights
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:11 AM
Comment #16LCBP
That’s what gets me about people like Bruce and others still blaming Rafa for the way Bruce plays now. Rafa’s long gone and Bruce effectively has 8 new signings. Also we were 5th highest scorers when Miggy turned up and set Rondon and perez free. without dubs saves, ie the most in the PL and a lot of luck we’d be 5 points worse off.
Anyone should be able to go into a club and almost instantly stamp their own style from day 1 and sadly despite what he says, this is Bruce’s style, no one elses, just ask villa and Sunderland fans. Bruce isn’t suddenly going to morph into a preogressive attack minded coach, he is what he is.
G
I know it’s probably BS but can you imagine just how fantastic that would be, people would be partying all week long.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:18 AM
Comment #17@Rotonda
Next season is really the test it looks like we are going to lose a good chunk of the squad on freebies currently so will need replaced with similar quality or better which costs money!
Bruce will have a pre season to implement his “attacking” brand of football which he has never shown at any of his 5 or 6 clubs…..
He’s been given a bit of a pass this season because folk think we are still as defensive as Rafa but major improvements will be sought next season I would feel!
There has been positives though:
Done well to get the points he has with no goal scorers
Has played youngsters
Has played full strength teams in the cups
But anyone who watches us knows we can’t keep playing the way we do our luck is going to run out eventually
lesh
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:22 AM
Comment #18Reading our food experts opine on their favourite dishes, has tripe been mentioned?
Jail for Ashley
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:24 AM
Comment #19So four assists and no goals is deemed acceptable. No footin wonder we’re mostly happy with just surviving another season.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:31 AM
Comment #20lesh,
geordietom hasn’t mentioned tripe yet but he speaks enough of it all day everyday, the last thing he needs to be doing is cooking it up.
IrishRob
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:42 AM
Comment #21Lets be real here, Hes probably asking for stupid money, 50k+ a week. He cant expect anymore than 10k a week he was in the reserves last year and his salary atm is only in the hundreds.
I wouldnt see any club offering him more than 20k a week hes too young and he hasn’t done quite enough to demand high wages like that just yet.
Keep progressing and in 2-3 years he can start demanding 40-50k a week. But I get the feeling hes being greedy, that or he doesnt want to play here anymore which is very unlikely.
Either way am I the only one not even remotely concerned about him signing? It will eventually be sorted and he will re-sign.
lesh
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:43 AM
Comment #22What the hell is Ashley playing at? Matty Longstaff could leave for £400k but he could be offered a good contract that’d make him feel wanted and thus sign up. Once signed, he could be sold on for millions. Am I missing something?
Or are they trying to force Matty out knowing that Shaun’ll be pi$$ed and want to be off attracting a massive fee?
It beggars belief yet still Ashley’s cheerleaders see no wrong on what he’s done and is doing to Newcastle United.
Please, if there is a god, find somebody to make the greedy bustard an offer he can’t refuse and get him out.
albert albert
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:44 AM
Comment #23The longstaffs are geordies love the club you just can’t help it , also the would be snapped up by any amount of top teams here and abroad , might be think and letting fatarse and any new owner that theyd gladly renew once the takeover is complete or will be off on free be when there contacts up , yes clutching at straws but that’s what I’d be doing
lesh
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:45 AM
Comment #24Jail for Ashley @20
The cooking up’s done by those that defend Ashley.
lesh
Feb 14, 2020 at 11:47 AM
Comment #25IrishRob
You expect Matty to accept a wage that’s below that paid to new signings who’ve no Prem experience?
welshgeordie9
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:00 PM
Comment #26Jail, why do you always moan.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:06 PM
Comment #27Irishrob,
Let’s be really real here. He’ll know exactly how much other clubs will be offering if his agent is any good. He’s probably asking for that and maybe trying to get his brother a better deal to boot
Jail for Ashley
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:07 PM
Comment #28welshgeordie9,
Why do you always WUM.
IrishRob
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:09 PM
Comment #29Lesh hes 19 years old he was in the reserves last year, hes on something like £700 atm. What has he done apart from score 3 goals. With a full squad he wouldnt even make the bench atm.
Are people gone completely crazy or something, overhyping the hell out of these players. I respect your opinion and its nice to hear it, but I do not agree with it at all.
welshgeordie9
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:10 PM
Comment #30You are one happy soul.
Hail Wor Ashley
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:14 PM
Comment #31If Carroll is still out and the injury not improving that should be the end for him.
Yes he;s done quite well when playing, provided some really good assists, but he still hasn’t been fully fit since he’s been here and that situation only appears to be deteriorating further and looking more unlikely he ever will be.
Great to see him back in the B&W, gave it his all, but body is broken. Did enough to justify his addition.
Bruce should not be considering renewing his deal.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:16 PM
Comment #32Irishrob,
How do you know how much he’s asking for. I wonder how much TAA first big seal at Lpool was?
Hail Wor Ashley
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:16 PM
Comment #33So much for not buying a ST because we’d have all three of Muto, Gayle and Carroll back by Arsenal, eh?
Now it’s looking like none of them will be fit. Something tells me Bruce already knew that, say whatever it takes to get through the next week, hope people forget what you previously said – straight out of the poltician’s playbook.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:19 PM
Comment #34HWA,
That’s how the regime you give your full backing operate.
The Wife
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:26 PM
Comment #35Happy Valentines Day everyone. May the blog hearts flow freely today. 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:27 PM
Comment #36They’ll be shite scared off giving Lobby a better deal in case he decides he wants to stay. That’s why we very rarely see players given new improved terms.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:29 PM
Comment #37The Wife,
Ha ha, doesn’t seem like a day of love on here 😀
Lindisfarne
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:31 PM
Comment #38Duhh,
Du du, Du du,
Duhh, Duhh
Du du, Du du,
Duhh, Duhh.
Du du, Du du, Du
Duhh, Duhh, Du du,
Duhh, Duhh,
Duuuuuuuuuu, Du.
#CANCAN
Ron Knee
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:36 PM
Comment #39https://twitter.com/ChristianAtsu20/status/1227992166980636672
babeandbp
Feb 14, 2020 at 12:36 PM
Comment #40Davy Longstaff had no qualms about going off to Sweden to further his career and he’s a shrewd cookie, believe me. Ask yourselves this in all honesty; would you advise them to stay at Newcastle (as it stands)? if they were my sons I know what I’d be telling them to do.