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
NY Mag
Jul 19, 2021 at 4:01 AM
Comment #81I should also offer my apologies to tinman for earlier…..I got lost in the red mist. My bad 🙁
lesh
Jul 19, 2021 at 4:18 AM
Comment #82Jail
When I said test trial, I should’ve said test pilot – like the one that the Bowwis and his chums intended to be involved in, to get away with not self isolating – until the public kicked up.
Unused Substitute
Jul 19, 2021 at 5:06 AM
Comment #83After being hit by a 51g impact I’d say Verstappen is decent enough just to foul mouth. F1 just calibrated the Hamilton penalty so as to big him up in front of the locals. To me F1 is nothing but another WWE.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 19, 2021 at 5:19 AM
Comment #84lesh,
Still don’t know what you mean?
Ashingtoon62
Jul 19, 2021 at 6:58 AM
Comment #85Ah right Jail,seems sensible.
I’ve swapped at least 50 player’s in and out of my first draft already lol.
I’m off to the beach now before the roads get clogged,laters..
Not another deJong
Jul 19, 2021 at 7:45 AM
Comment #86What a surprise, Shelvey has an excuse to miss out on all the running in pre-season.
cleveleysbob
Jul 19, 2021 at 7:45 AM
Comment #87Jail, don’t encourage Lesh, he got a free hit yesterday and all his chums piled on and no moderation!
It seems the filters only work against political comments that aren’t pushing the Sad Socialist agenda.
I was desperate to use on a sunny Sunday to complete the alliteration, but thought better of it.
Well done to Jane, the only person who picked up and pointed out the “no politics” line.
Give it a rest Lesh, you’re sounding like an old fiddle, without the “many’s a good tune” option.
cleveleysbob
Jul 19, 2021 at 7:57 AM
Comment #88US, watched the replays several times and think it was 50/50. Just 2 committed racers not wanting give ground to closest competitor.
Lewis was marginally off the perfect line, but Max definitely turned into him slightly which is what caused the impact.
I’m surprised the Stewards didn’t just call it a “racing incident” without any penalties tbh. I think the 10secs was just an attempt to appease Red Bull who were kicking up as they risked losing their entire “team” lead in the constructors league because Perez was at the back.
As it turned out, Perez could have got 2 or 3 points but they they decided to effectively stop Perez getting any driver points by pitting him and switching to red tyres so they could prevent Lewis from getting the fastest lap point. – petty minded action I thought. All opinions of course. 🙂
cleveleysbob
Jul 19, 2021 at 8:04 AM
Comment #89On a football note, it appears Willock is the only game in town for our illustrious management team. Muto is our new striker, Academy players will fill the defensive holes, add Willock hopefully, rinse and repeat for another Season of potential struggle unless they can all “click” and start the Season the way they ended the last one.
Can’t say I expected anything else, MA thinks he’s he’s sold up, so doing minimum.
Hope he’s right. 🙂
cleveleysbob
Jul 19, 2021 at 8:07 AM
Comment #90That’s my catch up of the weekend action completed, breakfast now, back later. 😉
Not another deJong
Jul 19, 2021 at 8:34 AM
Comment #91Every day is a learning day. The word ‘amicable’ is apparently now defined as not allowing someone to do their job and suggesting they find work elsewhere.
lochinvar
Jul 19, 2021 at 8:46 AM
Comment #92Bruce
Newcastle are still “badgering away” trying to bring Joe Willock back to the club, added Bruce.
Please stop, this drivel hurts the ears
Adamn_92
Jul 19, 2021 at 8:51 AM
Comment #93I think one of the most disheartening things with Newcastle during Ashleys time, is that the vast majority of players we get linked with, we immediately jsut think ‘yeah right that’s never happening’. Or if we’re after a player and another team gets linked with him, we immediately think ‘well that’s us out of the running then’. It would be so nice if the takeover happens to be able to actually be excited when linked to players or believe we can sign potential targets, instead of underpaying or losing out to clubs showing more ambition.
lochinvar
Jul 19, 2021 at 8:55 AM
Comment #94Hamilton getting online abuse after the weekend win. Fuelled by Red Bull and Verstappen mouthing off by their posturing and trying to big up their position. Cockpit TV clearly shows him making a deliberate right handed move in towards Hamilton. That was deliberate and dangerous in the eyes of most experts.
Racing authorities should fine them for bringing racing into disrepute. Rafa was fined £60,000 for an innocuous TV comment.
Other energy drinks are available.
DrGloom
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:03 AM
Comment #95F1 need to keep interest and needed Hamilton to get race win points to keep fan interest in the championship, hence 10 sec penalty rather than place penalty .
To be honest F1 lost my interest years ago , I could have win the championship myself some years as it’s 99% the best car wins rather than driver skill
Munster Mag
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:05 AM
Comment #96F1, jeez no thanks. I hope none of our boys on here have lots of F1 clothes!
DrGloom
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:11 AM
Comment #97Munster, surely you have an all in one racing outfit and drive a car with racing spoilers and go faster stripes, they look the business 😉
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:12 AM
Comment #98On Lejuene If Kane hadn’t have injured him I think we would have been talking about one of our best ever defenders but that injury pretty much robbed us of a quality defender
The way Bruce sets his teams up which means we are under constant pressure and having to do a lot of running Lejuene would just get exposed the slower Spanish league suits him now I would say
DrGloom
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:13 AM
Comment #99Anyway , another day of no news, no signings and no clue from the top… Never been less excited at the start of a season
Bills Son Is Back
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:13 AM
Comment #100Bruce wasn’t and isn’t my choice of manager…
But the slagging off and dissing is way over the top.
First season he was stuck with Jo and no recognised goal scorer + ASM was out for long periods – he finished 13th with no real threat of relegation.
Last season he last Wilson + ASM for a period at the sane time as well, for a run of games and predictably we failed to score and had a lousy run. When bother were back + Willock in we cantered to safety and finished 12th.
The knockers will say he was dead lucky both times.
I say you finish where you deserve to finish. 13th & 12th.
Not what we want…
But a mile away from the absolute shambles and the over slagging that many on here give him.
DrGloom
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:15 AM
Comment #101LCBP – you don’t need to be fast to be a good CB – Maguire , Terry to name but two are / were slow but still managed to play at the top …
DrGloom
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:19 AM
Comment #102Bills – we were pretty much clear of bottom three early until we had a bad run and Fulham got from 10 to 1 point to us before they went on a bad run , to say we were never close to relegation isn’t quite true.
The slagging of Bruce probably does go too far but he’s also slagged the fans off which is never going to end well.
Rotonda heights
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:23 AM
Comment #103EGB
AC was at other PL clubs and hardly troubled the scorers in all that time. Just don’t get your love for the guy. He’s a crock and has been for years, probably ever since we sold him if truth be told.
I don’t mind a big target man if they have some mobility, AC doesn’t and didn’t. Just an outdated hoof ball magnet who lazily gave free kicks away with his elbows too much. SB is a high priest of hoofball and even he can see it was flogging a dead horse playing AC.
Signing AC was a daft PR stunt which was never going to work. Almost as daft as waiting all those years to finally get rid of colback only to get the equally if not more useless hendrick on a long term contract. 2 terrible ”frees” and a 3rd in Fraser, whose attitude absolutely stinks.
On another matter do you know if they actually showed any of the cricket on the beeb live yesterday?
coming home
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:25 AM
Comment #104Bills son
You normally talk a lot of sense but make no mistake Bruce was taking us straight to relegation before Jonesy saved him
cleveleysbob
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:29 AM
Comment #105Like Bills Son, I never wanted Bruce, but as always with the vast majority of fair minded Geordies was prepared to give him “a shot”. Now I wish I’d just shot him! 🙂
It’s not the fact that he scraped us to 13th and 12th (whoopee do), but his constant whining, slagging the fans off, and calling everyone else “Big Teams”. The screaming negativity he pours out gets right on my …… enough now, bad way to start the week, my blood pressure’s high enough without thinking about cabbage. 👿
Bills Son Is Back
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:30 AM
Comment #106DrGloom
First season I said no real threat of relegation.
last season there was.
Coming home…
Partially agree, but Wilson & ASM back + Willock made the really difference IMO.
cleveleysbob
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:33 AM
Comment #107Arbitration starts tomorrow, all agreed, 100%, not more rubbish we’ve been fed? Anyone really know? I mean really? 🙂
Bills Son Is Back
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:34 AM
Comment #108One of Bruce’s biggest mistakes last season was signing Hendrick.
We desperately needed either a DM back up for Hayden on an attacking mid with pace.
Hendrick was neither and no better and arguable worse than what we already had in his position.
He’ll be on big wages as well and almost unsellable.
Big, big, mistake.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:40 AM
Comment #109@DrGloom
I agree you don’t need to be a fast CB to play at the top! But playing under Bruce isn’t the top level 🙂
Terry played in some great teams that provided him protection our defence gets no such respite last season we were one of the busiest in the league that takes its toll which I think could be seen by how many defenders were out injured all season
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:43 AM
Comment #110The Norwich friendly could set the tone for the start of the season mind you
First crowds in ages and they could turn us over quite easily with high energy pressing and attacking play
Just wouldn’t be a good look pre season or not to get turned over by a potential relegation rival
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:48 AM
Comment #111@Bills
As well as Wilson,ASM and Willock coming in
I think Bruce stopping tinkering changing the team and formation every week and going back to 3 at the back with proper wingbacks was just as pivotal
Richie and Murphy gave us that platform to attack teams from both sides was the first time we have been properly balanced on both sides since Rafa left and both of them were involved in creating the chances for Willock especially
Was that down to Jones?Or Bruce? I guess we will find out this season
Rotonda heights
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:49 AM
Comment #112Bills
I think bruce’s first season coming 13th was heavily aided and abetted by having a superb defensive structure put in place by the previous incumbent that didn’t need tweaking. To be fair SB also enjoyed more than a modicum of good fortune too that season.
Second season he had 110M. Didn’t stop him complaining though. He was basically given a choice of leave or have someone do his job for him after something like 2 wins in 20. Thank god for Jones’ arrival or who knows……
SB didn’t have all his best players all of the season but you’d think the way he talked we were the only team to suffer covid and injures. There were times when he did have wilson, asm and fraser available but chose not to play them together. He tried playing ASM as a number 10 and when that failed he was on the verge of dropping him before he got injured.
The surrenders at brentford, Sheff utd etc when we had Wilson et al were absolutely sickening and the worst I’d seen in over 50 years. Even getting willock was by chance. SB originally wanted another DM !!!
Lowering expectations, getting excuses early and bigging up the opposition from Manu to Newport is the bruce way and after 23 years is hardly going to change. At most clubs there is anger either directed at the owner, chairman or coach. At NUFC there is toxicity throughoutwhn everyne knows all the wrong people are all still in situ.
Solano slice
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:52 AM
Comment #113GAA POST non football related
Morning Munster
What a final that was yesterday, I had a bet on limerick to win by 3 points, needless to say I nearly had my ticket ripped up at half time, surely best comeback ever.
Solano slice
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:55 AM
Comment #114Morning bloggers
Arbitration day today apparently definetley maybe.
Hopefully they have a quick scan of papers and we have a result by tea time, no fuss no drama, wham bam thank you mam( Stavely)
Here’s the keys crack on and sign some quality.
Oh no I’m dreaming again
Solano slice
Jul 19, 2021 at 9:59 AM
Comment #115Bruce was probably told he would be on the job six months max takeover approved and a golden handshake on the way out the door.
Bruce is now entering 3rd year of his contract I believe.
I’d say he is looking forward to the takeover more than anyone so he gets his golden handshake, he’s praying he doesn’t get sacked beforehand I would imagine
Solano slice
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:01 AM
Comment #116Although if he’s the last year of his contract he probably won’t be entitled to much of a golden handshake, perhaps a rusty old fist bump on the way out
Munster Mag
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:02 AM
Comment #117Stunning Solano, I was driving ( in tipp 🙂 ) for it, and really didnt think we would get them back by full time, not to mind hammer them.
Never seen anything like it.
Adamn_92
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:23 AM
Comment #118Tend to agree with Rotonda regarding Bruce. His first season he had a well drilled team who were hard to beat and sound defensively. The following season the team was starting to play how Bruce wanted and that was a complete disaster with some of the worst football I’ve ever experienced. Every club suffered with covid and injuries but he made out that we were hit way harder and that was why we done bad. A good manager adapts to situations, they don’t get rescued by a player returning, having another assistant come on board and get lucky by accidentally getting a miracle worker in on loan after not being able to get other targets in before him. All the while he has been disrespectful towards fans, talked down the club and shown awful injury and man management.
If Bruce does ok this season then i’ll be the first to say well done, but he hasn’t done anything to warrant a pat on the back from me to date so far.
Not another deJong
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:26 AM
Comment #119Bills Son Is Back
Your description of Bruces two seasons in charge lacks any positive influence the man himself has made on the finishing positions. I too wince at the foul language that gets thrown his way, but I believe he deserves the negativity. Although I recognise it serves little purpose and will not reflect well on the pitch.
lesh
Jul 19, 2021 at 10:33 AM
Comment #120cleveleysbob
There you go again, commenting without establishing a solid foundation.
Check back and you should see that I was not the first to refer to recent government shenanigans and furthermore, not the only one.
As far as someone commenting, you’ll notice that it was not directed at anyone in particular.
Sorry Bob, but it’s disappointing to see that it’s you who’s crying no moderation – does reading the reality hurt? It appears so.