Newcastle were defeated in Sunday’s first pre-season friendly at York City. A late header from Micheal Duckworth looped over the outstretched arms of 6’7″ Dan Langley to give the hosts a 1-0 win.
The lads weren’t a well-oiled machine today as they didn’t really push into higher gears. Continuing to build fitness levels after a busy training camp was the main goal.
As Isaac Hayden tweeted after the match, the focus is to be ready for West Ham on August 15th.
Huge work load week completed. Nice to get minutes in the bank after a long 4 months since last game. will take a little bit of time, but the focus has to be being 100 percent ready for 4 weeks time. #NUFC pic.twitter.com/5sZbTCME8Y
— Isaac Hayden (@IsaacHayden65) July 18, 2021
Steve Bruce relayed a similar message in his post-match comments. He was disappointed with the result but was happy with the workout. This is what Bruce said about the Sunday’s friendly as published in The Northern Echo:
“Listen, we’re disappointed with the result, of course, but it’s not all about the result.
“We didn’t deserve to lose, but it just shows you if you don’t play with the intensity and the speed and the pace you normally do, then you get frustrating afternoons like we’ve just had. It’s all about fitness levels.
“We’ve had a really big week in terms of the levels of what they got up to, and the kilometers they’ve done, so it’s the first of getting ready for the challenge of four weeks away.
“It was a decent workout, apart from the result.”
Unfortunately, Newcastle did not come away from this match unscathed. Joelinton, who had played well up to that point, was forced off early in the first half with a thigh problem.
He initially tried to play on but Bruce pulled him for Dwight Gayle soon after receiving treatment. Though it doesn’t appear to be a serious injury as Joelinton wanted to carry on. Bruce didn’t seem overly concerned when asked about the injury:
“Well, he wanted to carry on which tells me that it’s not that serious but it’s obviously a concern.
“We’ll not know until we scan him and give the results out in the next couple of days.”
Newcastle currently have two players out injured along with three fit first-team goalkeepers self-isolating due to Karl Darlow’s positive Covid test. Martin Dubravka has had a procedure done on his foot.
He put out a post on his Instagram account showing him in the hospital giving a thumbs up. He simply added ‘Hope to be back soon!’ Martin is expected to be out until the end of August.
The other injured Magpie is Elliot Anderson, who is on rest duty with a hip problem. It’s been a chronic issue for the 18-year-old over the past few months so hopefully, a month of rest will do the trick.
Bruce also announced that Florian Lejeune is headed back to Alaves on a permanent transfer. The Frenchman didn’t travel to York this afternoon. Local lad Kell Watts got a full run-out as he played on the left and then the middle of the back three.
The 21-year-old, who has spent the previous two seasons on various loan spells, was one of the bright spots on the afternoon. When asked about the young defender, Bruce confirmed that he plans on taking a long look at him in pre-season:
“I think it’s important we have a look at him and see what he’s got, he’s had a successful loan spell at Plymouth last season.”
“I thought he did OK today, it was an ideal opportunity to have a good look at him we will do over pre-season.”
In addition to Watts getting a look, circumstances dictated that Dan Langley was in goal for the entire match. Max Thompson was on the bench in what must have been a special moment for the 16-year-old.
Langley played very well making a few good stops. He couldn’t do anything about the goal as it was a superb header from Duckworth. Bruce was pleased with the 20-year-old’s efforts on the day:
“Langley did well the young lad, he made a save in the first half and didn’t have much to do apart from that but it was a great header for the goal.
“He can be very pleased with his debut.”
120 comments so far
toonluvva
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:37 PM
Comment #1That’s the catch with pre-season friendlies against lower league teams.
You are expected to win and if you do it is largely ignored.
But if you lose, then it is tempting to say it was “just a friendly”.
I don’t what Bruceless learnt about todays games – if anything.
toonluvva
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:38 PM
Comment #2* I don’t know what Bruceless learnt about todays games – if anything.
Aces-of-Eights
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:41 PM
Comment #3There you are Tinman try and forget this
https://twitter.com/EURO2020/status/1414349897772371968?s=20
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:42 PM
Comment #4Simon,
No, we’re staying here and getting tested everyday, I’m sharing a room with him but he’s on days, by rights I should be isolated but they’ve got nowhere to put us. We all think it’s going to rip through the place.
NY Mag
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:45 PM
Comment #5Jail,
That’s what you get paid the big bucks for 🙂
lochinvar
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:45 PM
Comment #6Vetstappen bad mouthing Hamilton
Another Vettel in the making.
Aces-of-Eights
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:45 PM
Comment #7Enjoy Tinman
https://twitter.com/UtdAmad/status/1414353606120202241?s=20
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:47 PM
Comment #8NY Mag,
Moi, big bucks, one can only dream 😕
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:51 PM
Comment #9loch,
The Red Bull owner/manager was absolutely scathing in his interview, ”hope he’s proud, hollow victory” etc, not very professional.
NY Mag
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:54 PM
Comment #10Jail,
I’m only joshing with you……I’m sure we both have the same dream.
beermonkey
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:54 PM
Comment #11i see bruce has opened the excuse play book early he needs to buy part 2 as we could start a new blog game
bruces excuse bingo
i never seem to enjoy pre season friendlies we always seem miles off the pace
but whats more frustrating is there is no ambition in our preseason matches
nothing for the fans let alone the players to get excited about
simon376
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:55 PM
Comment #12Jail
Just hope you are ok. Mate of mine went to a pub with 5 others to watch game last week, 3 tested positive including him Wednesday, he wasnt well at all until Friday, still not great but quite a bit better now, 2 jabs as well. No idea if pub you mentioned, but spreading round. Looks like as you said, will go straight through the rig
AnyToon in Indiana
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:55 PM
Comment #13Lejeune knows Rafa is now a foregone conclusion, Andy was the mole, yes it was a pre-season workout but how can Bruce say we did not deserve to lose when we still can’t control the game, make runs, show no spark, and can’t the ball into the box. From my posts earlier after the game, Watts was decent, Frasier looked better on the left side when he and Ritchie actually worked the ball well together a few times, Gayle is still pointless…literally, Hendricks looked among his level, and Bruces new hat will only fend off a few stray brussel spouts and will be hopeless against a full size cabbage.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:55 PM
Comment #14Aces-of-Eights,
One can only wonder what medieval cesspit you hail from 😕
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:57 PM
Comment #15AnyToon in Indiana,
You think AC was the mewl 😳
simon376
Jul 18, 2021 at 8:57 PM
Comment #16Know Red Bull manager will be upset, but on replays looked to me like Hamilton was driven into and hit, both as bad as each other in my eyes
NY Mag
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:04 PM
Comment #17And that’s one of the reasons why we get called deluded 🙁
TheTinman
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:11 PM
Comment #18Red Bull did not shower themselves in glory. I like Max and glad it’s a close season. Want Hamilton to win in a real battle to cement his legacy.
Max pulls that kind of aggressive move and worse every race for the last few years. He’s a hypocrite to call out Lewis.
beermonkey
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:13 PM
Comment #19anytoon
rafa is everton manager
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:14 PM
Comment #20Cheers Simon,
I’m double jabbed, reasonably fit so fancy my chances if I do test positive in a few days. Different place to discuss this of course but in a nutshell I think we just have to get on with it from now on.
Optimistic prime
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:17 PM
Comment #21For me it was nothing more than a racing incident, Hamilton shouldn’t have been penalised.
He was far enough up the inside to deserve room, Verstappen didn’t want to give a inch knowing he’d lose the lead through the corner so cut across expecting Hamilton to yield.
Hamilton pulled the exact same move on LeClerc with 3 laps left, he got the space which gave him the lead and forced the Ferrari wide.
Harsh 10 second penalty.
Verstappen was never giving up the lead without a fight as he knew the track suited the Merc.
TheTinman
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:18 PM
Comment #22Bruce is that thick that instead of taking training he has had the team sit and stare at piles of soil waiting to catch the mewwwwl.
TheTinman
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:19 PM
Comment #23Didn’t Hamilton go past Norris on the same corner as well? Think he was trying to prove a point 😆
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:20 PM
Comment #24The Tinman,
It boils my pi$$ him talking about the ‘big clubs’
He must know by now that winds us up.
NY Mag
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:21 PM
Comment #25Tinman,
I’m assuming you are a currently serving PL manager?
You can put your CV on the line if you want…..
TheTinman
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:22 PM
Comment #26Jail, its clear as day he is a Man Utd fan and thinks we’re out of their league
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:24 PM
Comment #27Lower league teams often are a tough call for the EPL clubs, they up their game and we go onto the pitch thinking its going to be easy.
We would have beaten them, if their GK hadn’t had a blinder, so no need to worry yet.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:26 PM
Comment #28EGB,
Lower leagues, they’re non league mate, carpet fitters and plumbers.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:27 PM
Comment #29If anyone has recorded the cricket look away now!
Good win in the cricket for England as well!
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:28 PM
Comment #30Oops I meant to leave a large gap there, sorry!
Nicky the ball tosser
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:30 PM
Comment #31I don’t quite understand why Lejeune isn’t liked by Bruce, relative to Clark, Schar, Lascelles and Fede. Pace I guess, but really Bruce pretty obviously doesn’t rate him too highly.
I do. I like him, and Kell Watts will have to go some to be the better option Bruce is looking for this season. I hope he is, but the EPL really is no place for a young centre back, unless they really are fully of the standard.
More of an issue is clearly the attack though. Muto and Gayle, Good Lord! One really has to go, and a far better finisher drafted in. This is a must.
And midfield, crikey! Willock, Gallagher or both, or it’s gonna be a another pointless season with a big chunk of our lives just ebbing, ebbing, away, like sat eyes fixed on sand slipping through an hour glass.
No, no, nooo……..
Romford mag
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:30 PM
Comment #32Spoiler alert 😉
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:31 PM
Comment #33Jail
Not sure if that’s correct, I believe a lot of them are full time professionals and the training and fitness levels are very high nowadays.
York had several ex toon players in their team today..
toonluvva
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:32 PM
Comment #34I wonder if Bruceless is confident that the takeover will go through and he will receive a BrucieBonus payoff.
NY Mag
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:36 PM
Comment #35Surely, any payoff is based on his contract.
Which has nothing to do with any new owners.
Adamn_92
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:37 PM
Comment #36Just a complete guess, but lejeune didn’t seem happy when Bruce played him so soon after an injury happened f memory serves me right. Think I remember him being really confused by it. Could have potentially been a bit of a fall out over it?
Adamn_92
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:38 PM
Comment #37https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nufcblog.co.uk/2020/11/04/florian-lejeune-reveals-crazy-steve-bruce-decision-that-cost-him-dearly-at-nufc/amp/
There we go. Gives a good insight into how Bruce deals with injuries too.
NY Mag
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:40 PM
Comment #38Adam,
Could be lots of things….but the fact that Bruce shipped him out and hasn’t talked about him since……speaks volumes.
beermonkey
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:41 PM
Comment #39nicky
from what i recall linguinie had a good season in spain
so i dont see why we cant keep him
maybe its more about clearing wages
we seem to carry alot of dead wood we cant shift till there contracts run out
we have to make some savings somewhere
Aces-of-Eights
Jul 18, 2021 at 9:42 PM
Comment #40Did someone just tug at my trouser pocket?