Matty Longstaff made his season debut in our 2-0 loss at Southampton two weeks ago. The 20-year-old had been out since pre-season with a pesky thigh injury. He played twice for Chris Hogg’s U23s before finally getting a half an hour against the Saints.
Longstaff was a revelation last October when he bagged a goal on his league debut to sink Manchester United 1-0 at St. James’ Park. He scored again against the Red Devils in a 4-1 defeat on Boxing day.
Appearances were hard to come by for the local lad in 2020. He was handed just 2 league starts and 3 in our FA Cup run after New Years’ Day. He still hit the headlines though with a protracted contract saga that was never resolved until he became a free agent.
He ultimately signed a quick fix two-year deal in late August. However, the clock continued to tick on his Newcastle future before the ink was even dry. This summer we could be back at it again as he enters the final year of his contract.
The hope is Newcastle won’t let it get to that point. The deal in August was to buy time to reach an agreement on a long-term contract with the promising midfielder. However, his injury has not helped matters.
Matty needs an opportunity to show his value in order to get the terms he is likely seeking. Newcastle will also need to see him produce on the pitch to offer a long-term deal with higher wages.
The Chronicle is reporting that Matty has signed up with the Triple S agency and has left Beswick Sports.
Triple S agency was founded by former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd. They tweeted an announcement confirming the news yesterday.
?? We’re delighted to welcome @mattylobby48 to the agency ranks at #TripleSSports pic.twitter.com/Hb5am5qqXY
— Triple S Group (@TripleSSports) November 18, 2020
Hopefully, this change in agents will mean smoother negotiations on a long-term deal for Longstaff. However, we don’t expect any progress on talks to be imminent with Matty just returning from his long lay-off.
Newcastle and Matty must not let the events that played out last season and late into this summer happen again.
154 comments so far
peter5199
Nov 19, 2020 at 12:45 PM
Comment #1Ye Gods, fastest bus in the west
Optimistic prime
Nov 19, 2020 at 12:45 PM
Comment #2Is Agent Bruce his new agent?
peter5199
Nov 19, 2020 at 12:46 PM
Comment #3repost..
OP, good choice of music but, given the last couple of days, may I suggest this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ_zNUmr8fM
Mund
Nov 19, 2020 at 12:49 PM
Comment #4OP this has to be the unofficial theme tune for the blog
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zjedLeVGcfE
Optimistic prime
Nov 19, 2020 at 12:55 PM
Comment #5This is the one, I remember it from a certain sports show as a kid.. last one.
https://youtu.be/DDTvLldOgZs
Mister Tuff
Nov 19, 2020 at 1:08 PM
Comment #6Brucie needs to make sure he is not rushing any of the returning/recovering players back too early. He seems to rush them back a bit too quick causing further problems.
Bills Son Is Back
Nov 19, 2020 at 1:18 PM
Comment #7I’ve said it before, but I don’t get the worry about Matty L staying or going.
Yes, he scored a couple of decent goals but as far as his actual midfield performances he has been almost an irrelevance.
He chases the ball around the way kids play footy but never really gets anywhere near it, and when he does its a quick short nothing pass.
If that gets you £20K a week at 19 good luck to him but, unless he shows massive all round improvement, I can’t see him getting much playing time this season.
Just my opinion.
Mund
Nov 19, 2020 at 1:25 PM
Comment #8Mr Tuff
Bruce still plays them with injuries and scares the life out of me because tall it takes is a Wilson (thank god he isn’t that bad) or a Maxi to have a prolonged period on the injury table and we will be done for.
Munster Mag
Nov 19, 2020 at 1:31 PM
Comment #9Completely agree Billson. If Mattie was Mattieuw, a french bloke we got in as a young fella, most people wouldnt care. Its also been used as a rod to beat the manager, who in fairness has enough rods to be beaten with anyway. Hopefully we will him improve, but I dont really see it so far.
peter5199
Nov 19, 2020 at 1:36 PM
Comment #10Yes, but at least Matty likes scoring against Manure
Mund
Nov 19, 2020 at 1:37 PM
Comment #11BSIB
I don’t think we have saw enough of the young lad to have such an opinion. He is still young but do you blame anyone who doesn’t progress under Bruce? I know I don’t and young lads need game time for development and not getting the minutes we will never see him progress
Kev26
Nov 19, 2020 at 1:42 PM
Comment #12Can never understand the hype around either of the Longstaffe brothers. Neither controls the midfield. Championship at best.
Northumbrian
Nov 19, 2020 at 1:42 PM
Comment #13https://www.business-live.co.uk/retail-consumer/mike-ashleys-frasers-group-mulls-19307954
Ashley opening his wallet??.
Jail for Ashley
Nov 19, 2020 at 1:54 PM
Comment #14BSIB,
“Yes, he scored a couple of decent goals”
I’ve wondered this for awhile now as more and more people are doing it, the commentators do it loads. When did it become fashionable to speak in bullet points
Yes, he scored goals
Yes, he gets forward
Something I’ve never noticed before but is quite common now. Ron Knee might know, perhaps another Americanism.
DrGloom
Nov 19, 2020 at 1:55 PM
Comment #15I wouldn’t be that worried about any of our players leaving, they simply aren’t that good – we can barely loan them out never mind sell them
Ketsbaia9
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:01 PM
Comment #16We made a big mistake not selling Longstaff to Man Utd for £50m. We could’ve got 5 top quality players for that.
Jail for Ashley
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:01 PM
Comment #17So Leicester spunked £16M on a forward I’ve never even heard of as well as £27M on Slimani and they haven’t gone bust. We tried to buy a forward who didn’t even end up signing and a certain poster keeps using that as a rod to beat our former manager with despite having absolutely no idea what impact he may or may not have had on the team.
Ketsbaia9
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:03 PM
Comment #18We do need nearly a whole new team. I would retain:
Darlow
Dubravka
Fernandez
Schar
Fraser
Almiron
Saint-Maximin
Wilson
Move the rest on.
Jail for Ashley
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:04 PM
Comment #19It wasn’t £50M and there would have been Hell on if we had. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Ketsbaia9
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:04 PM
Comment #20Would keep Yedlin too, so we need at least 13 new players.
Ketsbaia9
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:05 PM
Comment #21https://www.themag.co.uk/2020/01/manchester-united-50m-bid-for-sean-longstaff-shows-up-ridiculous-nature-of-transfer-window-newcastle-united/
DrGloom
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:13 PM
Comment #22Kets, the bid was more paper speculation than anything else ( especially the amount ), Man U had an interest which wasn’t followed up
hibbit
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:27 PM
Comment #23important club statement
https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/club-statement-19112020/
hibbit
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:30 PM
Comment #24Newcastle United has issued the following club statement on Thursday 19 November 2020:
“The Club has previously not commented on the arbitration it is pursuing against the Premier League (‘EPL’) with respect to its conduct relating to the proposed takeover because of the confidentiality clause in the Premier League’s rules.
“However, the Club is aware of public reports which state that, on 17 November, the EPL referred to legal proceedings with the Club (e.g. social media posts referring to the “Club’s own legal case”) in a letter to Newcastle supporters.
“The source of some of the reporting is said to be the EPL. It appears, therefore, that the EPL has leaked the contents of their letter to some of those commenting in the public domain.
“The Club understands that these will be matters of great concern to its fans and therefore considers that, in light of the information disclosed by the EPL, it has no choice but to respond and update its fans in response to this coverage.
“The Club makes no comment on the substance of the arbitration, but it can confirm that it has issued arbitration proceedings against the EPL.
“It is unclear when those proceedings will be resolved, given the approach of the EPL and its lawyers, Bird & Bird. Nevertheless, the Club will continue to use its best efforts to press for a fair, full and timely hearing of its claim.”
Mund
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:31 PM
Comment #25Wow a club statement of that sort I would never of believed it if I didn’t see it with my own eyes
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:31 PM
Comment #26We will never really know how good any of the Longstaffs (or anyone else for that matter) will be under Bruce as apart from Darlow everyone of our players has regressed!!
All I know is with my own eyes I saw a midfield partnership of Longstaff and Hayden which was running games in the league under Rafa’s guidance and I was quite excited to see how that would develop the following season
Longstaff now looks barely championship standard and Hayden is not the same player either
hibbit
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:32 PM
Comment #27there you go that answers a few of the questions that have been rolling round the blog ,
Mund
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:32 PM
Comment #28Well we know Ashley isnt just after compensation then
Novocastrian66
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:32 PM
Comment #29This should be Newcastle United supporters theme tune.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kpC69qIe02E
Mund
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:33 PM
Comment #30Very interesting hibbit
simon376
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:33 PM
Comment #31Hibbit
You just beat me to it, read it couple of mins ago. Very interesting
Mund
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:34 PM
Comment #32Simon I’m in shock we have just read such a statement
Paul141726
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:35 PM
Comment #33I don’t doubt that the club will use its best efforts to find a
result to their claim, but the PL will stall, stall and stall some more.
Will we ever get a fair hearing?
Doubtful, unfortunately.
hibbit
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:35 PM
Comment #34Mund i’m a bit like yourself, definitely not what i was expecting ???
Munster Mag
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:36 PM
Comment #35Tks Hibbitt
Mund
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:36 PM
Comment #36They can’t just blag there way out of it by stalling it doesn’t work like that
Mund
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:37 PM
Comment #37hibbit from all the years of nothing, 0 communication then this!!
I’m shocked to the core but it’s lit the fire brighter for me
Corkypants
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:39 PM
Comment #38I dunno if anyone has seen this yet
https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/club-statement-19112020/
Ketsbaia9
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:40 PM
Comment #39Would like to see Willems, Santon, Mbabu, Merino, Diame, Rondon, Abeid and Thauvin return. I believe they would transform us
Northumbrian
Nov 19, 2020 at 2:42 PM
Comment #40Well I never!!.