Joe Willock refound his scoring touch in early November. He hadn’t found the back of the net before the month despite playing a starring role in Eddie Howe’s midfield starting 11 of the first 13 league matches.
The midfielder came to life in front of the net once the calender ticked over to the 11th month with consecutive strikes at Southampton and then at home against Chelsea. His goal against the Blues was the match winner sealing a sixth straight win.
For his November exploits, Willock has won the FUN88 Player of the Month as Newcastle’s brightest star.
? Your FUN88 Player of the Month for November…
Congratulations, @Joewillock! ?
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 30, 2022
Here is some of what Joe said about being the Player of the Month for November:
“I’m hugely grateful for the recognition from our fans, so to be voted as the Player of the Month is something that I really appreciate and it means a lot to me,” said Willock.
“It’s always great to score goals and get on the scoresheet but for me the goal against Chelsea was very special. It got us the three points against a strong side. It was a big game for us before the World Cup break and to go into this period on the back of good results.
“Getting the win at home at Chelsea was huge – it keeps the spirits high amongst the team, the fans and the city and November was a really good month for us as a team. You have the break now with a few games in this period and we are already looking forward to getting back to it and getting back onto the pitch and hopefully carrying on where we left off.”
Newcatle are ramping back up for the second-half of the season. The training camp to Riyadh is just a handful of days away. The preparations for the season’s return will kick into high gear in Saudi Arabia.
For the first match back – the Carabao Cup tie against Bournemouth – the Magpies will be greeted by a sold-out St. James’ Park.
Another full house at St. James' Park! ?
Tickets for #NUFC's Carabao Cup fourth round tie against AFC Bournemouth are now sold out.
Thank you, as always, for your terrific support! ????
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 30, 2022
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111 comments so far
Regan
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:17 PM
Comment #1😳
Munster Mag
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:23 PM
Comment #2Loitering Regan, loitering 🙂
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:25 PM
Comment #3I read that interview with him in the Guardian, seems like a really decent down to earth guy.
Toon fans bad
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:32 PM
Comment #4I thought Ward was in wrong place for the Rasford free-kick and maybe could have done better with his 2nd. Pickford would have probably kept both them out. Shy bairns get nowt though so well done Rashford. He has to start next game, tails up, smile on his face.
The Kane cross and Foden goal was pure quality I thought, came from a press which made forced a mistake. Carved them open in an instant, great goal.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:35 PM
Comment #5Tunisia will take out France.
Pottsclock
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:39 PM
Comment #6Adamn_92, which other English defensive midfielder would you have picked for the England squad if not Phillips? When I saw the England squad my reaction to Phillips was the same as yours – but then I couldn’t chose a decent alternative. It’s a specialist role
Regan
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:39 PM
Comment #7Lurking munster. Lurking..
😆
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:40 PM
Comment #8Tfb,
Luckily we faced the early season Ward who had less fantasy points than keepers who had played twenty minutes all season.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:43 PM
Comment #9The pool of English players is getting smaller and smaller which makes Southgate’s job even more impressive, imo.
Adamn_92
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:46 PM
Comment #10Potts
I don’t think we need to play with 2 defensive midfielders personally. So Rice and Henderson would be fine, as well as Bellingham who can play there if needed.
Other central midfielders who have played this season who could have taken Phillips spot though:
Ward-Prowse, Longstaff, Loftus-Cheek, Willock, Harrison Reed and Drewsbury-Hall.
They’ve either all played more than Phillips so deserve a spot more and some have been in decent form this season.
I just think choosing a player because they played well before for England, but barely kicked a ball this season in the build up to a World Cup, is pretty weird.
Adamn_92
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:49 PM
Comment #11Like Longstaff for example. He’s been playing superbly in a midfield which sits 3rd in the premier league. When does he get a chance if not now? If someone like Phillips can just stroll on off the bench for Man City 4 times and makes the squad. What message does that send?
Keep working hard kid but I can’t guarantee you’ll get in, as this guy who isn’t playing I happen to trust more, so hard luck. It’s just bizarre.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:53 PM
Comment #12Would be great to see Kuol come on and save the day against Denmark.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:55 PM
Comment #13Adamn_92,
Maybe Longstaff’s time will come, there’s no way he was even in contention this year after 15 good games.
Regan
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:55 PM
Comment #14Australia v Denmark should be interesting..
A draw would see the Aussies through..
Adamn_92
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:57 PM
Comment #15Raj
I’m not sure. I’d argue 15 good games going into a tournament is more deserving than 4 sub appearances. I know that’s probably not an opinion most will agree with. But I’d much rather take a player who’s playing regularly and in good form. As opposed to someone who’s barely played but done ok last tournament.
Regan
Nov 30, 2022 at 2:57 PM
Comment #16Jail got there first..
Let’s hope the lad gets on..
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:02 PM
Comment #17Seen a few more comments about whether Southgate selects on form. What I don’t understand is that Southgate says something like “form has to come into it” and people take that to mean that the only relevant thing is how well the player has played for his CLUB in the last 10 or 20 matches. Since when did Southgate say that the ONLY thing relevant would be a player’s club form? It’s just one of multiple factors.
If Southgate didn’t take Maguire (despite his experience & leadership skills), should he have taken an uncapped 30 year old who has never even played European football?
If Southgate didn’t take Phillips due to an injury, who should he have taken instead?
And people are calling for Kane to be dropped despite 12 goals in 15 PL appearances and he’s got 3 assists so far this tournament!
England fans are insane…
Adamn_92
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:03 PM
Comment #18It’s just opinions init
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:03 PM
Comment #19Longstaff’s chance may well come if he continues this form. But it was highly unlikely that an uncapped 25 year old would get in the World Cup squad unless there were several injuries.
Pottsclock
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:15 PM
Comment #20Adamn_92, but the names you listed are not specialist defensive midfielders in fact some are attacking midfielders. That’s exactly the same issue that I had when thinking of options.
Also, I am not suggesting he play Rice and Phillips together – though sadly he may do if we get to play France. But I think we need someone who can adequately cover that role should Rice get injured or suspended without the need to change the system or change the roles of others in the team.
I actually think it’s a difficult problem. Southgate himself admitted as much when the squad was announced.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:20 PM
Comment #21Regan,
I’m not sure what happens if the Tunisians win as well mind.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:22 PM
Comment #22Adam – I looked at the major teams yesterday for players in the WC squad with fewer than 5 caps. There are only 2 of 25 years old or older, a 25 year old Brazilian centre back who moved to Juventus from Torino for €41m this summer and made his Brazil debut in September and a 29 year old German striker who is on fire in the Bundesliga. The chance of an uncapped 25 midfielder being selected is very slim. He didn’t deserve to get picked ahead of others simply because he’s playing fairly well this season.
Regan
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:26 PM
Comment #23If Tunisia win and Australia and Denmark draw.. Tunisia go through..
A long shot.. but it’s been that type of tournament..
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:27 PM
Comment #24Oh,
Did the Tunisia goal get ruled out.
Regan
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:32 PM
Comment #25Still 0..0..
Adamn_92
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:37 PM
Comment #26I’m going to stick to my opinions on this one.
Majority likely won’t agree. But i would personally favour and pick regular playing time and form over other factors when picking a squad for an upcoming tournament.
Nothing will change my mind on that, just a personal feeling/view.
Scythe
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:41 PM
Comment #27Jail
Here’s the article about what Kieffer Moore said about knocking England out of the World Cup. It’s just a case of an Englishman playing for another country trying to prove his loyalty to their fans.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63691007
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:43 PM
Comment #28Adam – everyone is entitled to an opinion (even an incorrect one) but you’re really sticking to your guns when pretty much every international manager ever disagrees with you? What would be the point in selecting Sean Longstaff on the basis of a few decent games this season when a superior player (Phillips) is fit and available? Even more so because they don’t even play the same role in a team.
Scythe
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:43 PM
Comment #29Khazri versus the French B team could go either way so far…
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:46 PM
Comment #30Is anyone actually getting upset about Moore saying he wants to do well for his international team? Good on him for being a bit bullish about it, didn’t work out so well though… 😉
Adamn_92
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:47 PM
Comment #31Yes I’m going to stick to my guns 🙂
check the toastie
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:48 PM
Comment #32I like Phillips, shame he has been injured as he may have replaced Rice. Team looked much more progressive when he came on to replace the crab. Within two minutes he had pressed higher up the pitch and plopped a super ball over the top for Rashford.
Something Rice has never done in his career. A total Crabb.
Good performance second half. First half was pish.
Regan
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:48 PM
Comment #33I find moore’s comments a bit strange..
He was born in Torquay..
😆
check the toastie
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:49 PM
Comment #34And Wales where truly terrible. But credit to the players in the team, particularly Stones, Henderson and Bellingham
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:52 PM
Comment #35Regan – Born in Torquay but plays for Wales. If he didn’t support Wales and want to beat England, there’d be something wrong with him.
niafron
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:52 PM
Comment #36Must say wasn’t the most glorious first half in France history…
What a strange line up by the way.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:53 PM
Comment #37France are already through aren’t they? Resting a few players for the next round I assume…
Regan
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:55 PM
Comment #38Exactly..
But he plays in the premier league..
I think the lad may get grief on the terraces for those comments about England..
We’ll see..
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:58 PM
Comment #39Regan – he may well get some grief and may well expect to. As long as it’s good banter then I’m sure he won’t mind and it just makes football a bit more interesting.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 30, 2022 at 3:58 PM
Comment #40Adamn
You’re right mate…tds is wrong!