An almost second Newcastle 11 side managed to come away with a 2-1 win in the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey against Brighton last night, with both goals coming from the so impressive 20 year-old Elliot Anderson, who was born in Whitley Bay: he looks to be a star of the future.
This lad can score goals and surely on the evidence of this American tour, he must be pushing to start games this season?
Comparisons have been made with Paul Gascoigne, which of course are complimentary, but this tour has shown we have youngsters coming through who will only get better this season under the guidance of our star coach Eddie Howe.
Anthony Gordon, Elliot Anderson, and 17 year-old Jamie Miley will be pushing hard this coming season and it shows just how good Eddie Howe is at coaching young footballers.
Here are the highlights from NBC Sports.
Newcastle didn’t play well in the first half and another sloppy goal conceded, but it’s never say die for this Newcastle side.
And they continue to be praised by football pundits for the way they play the game – going forward and attacking all the time.
Love it!
Next up for Newcastle are two friendly games in quick succession starting next Saturday as part of the inaugural ‘Sela Cup, presented by VisitMalta’.
Italian club Fiorentina, French club Nice, and Spanish club Villarreal are the other clubs particiating in the mini-tournament.
It’s been a good preseason for Newcatsle, but we still need a couple of first-team players brought in so we are well equipped to play in four competitions this year, the Premier League, the two local cups, and the Champions League.
It should be another exciting and positive season for Newcastle fans.
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Comments are always welcome on this site.
1,742 comments so far
Vask
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:12 PM
Comment #41EGB
I was thinking that re: maxi. I remember Niafron mentioning to french journos talking about it a few months back.
Hope to see him in the crowd when he retires from football. They all get the toon bug (unless they have the wrong characteristics).
Raj of Hailsley
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:20 PM
Comment #42“Our defence is no longer good enough”
So just six weeks after it was the second best in the league it is now not good enough. There are some foo#in geniuses on this blog.
Uncertain Toon
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:22 PM
Comment #43Don’t mean to sound contrary Mary, but we finished 4th last year with these defensive slouches đ
Never been a fan of stats, but when you look out our touches in the opposition box, shots, hitting the woodwork etc last season, surely a better conversion rate would have had us within touching distance of the top.
A stronger more versatile midfield once Tonali beds in and Barnes up and running attacking wise should increase the end product. Better crosses and more accurate passes going in to the box can only increase our chances of scoring.
Obviously it goes without saying if a quick defender becomes available at the right price they’ll most likely do the deal and I hope they do. We certainly can’t afford to have more than 1 of our current starting back 4 unavailable
Soton are taking the piss with the Livramento deal
Raj of Hailsley
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:22 PM
Comment #44Or joint best even.
Uncertain Toon
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:23 PM
Comment #45Aah, wor Jail has said the same in less words đ
Uncertain Toon
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:31 PM
Comment #46Having said that, can’t see many EPL teams 4 man defences operating at the same level if they have more than 1 of their starting 4 unavailable!!!
HobokenToon
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:36 PM
Comment #47As for Bruno, I expect things to work out, but I also think the brain trust has the capacity to be ruthless. As others have said he’s already the highest paid player. What happens when Isak goes on a tear? If his asks and become unsustainable to accommodate, and another “big club” swoops in at attractive price…anyone is expendable. There’s lots that can be done with say 125 million quid, especially with the folks who are running the show at present.
Uncertain Toon
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:38 PM
Comment #48We’ll be discussing defenders a lot going forward no doubt. Then Dan and Eddie will go and buy an attacking midfielder overnight – BOOM!!! đ
Novocastrian66
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:41 PM
Comment #49The most important asset a defender has is the ability to read the game. Pace is a bonus.
The only goal, in pre-season, where we got done for pace was against Chelsea.
I reckon if Pope was playin, he would have been out sharper than Dubravka.
I thought should have tracked the run too.
We shouldn’t be obsessed with pacey defenders.
Botman is no slouch but his acceleration isn’t great.
cleveleysbob
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:42 PM
Comment #50Iâm watching the full 90 atm and itâs clearly not the same game that was being commented on last night. đ
I may elaborate a bit more later, but initial thoughts are, we started game with 4 x dadâs army players and a few 2nd 11 guys + 2 promising youngsters. Only 3 of the line up could be called certain starters Pope, Bruno and Barnes.
With this makeshift line up we held up a promising Brighton 11 for 49minutes and even then it was only bad luck that Pope deflected the cross away from Dummets path. We continued to match them and even created the better chances through most of the match so far.
Our youngsters have now come on in place of Dadâs Army. đ
clinath@ed
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:43 PM
Comment #51Raj of Hailsley
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:20 PM
Comment #42
âOur defence is no longer good enoughâ
So just six weeks after it was the second best in the league it is now not good enough. There are some foo#in geniuses on this blog.
Hahahahahaha spot on Davey.
Raj of Hailsley
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:43 PM
Comment #52Hoboken Toon,
That’s why FFP is anything but fair, there are only around eight clubs in Europe who are allowed to pay Haaland/Saka/Bellingham type wages, so the top players will almost always end up at those clubs, that is not fair if you can afford to pay those wages.
Ty21
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:48 PM
Comment #53Howe already said they are working on more signings, that’s where ASM’s transfer fees will be going to. Doubt Howe would sold ASM if he was not convinced that the fees will bring in at least 2 players.
CLINT FLICK
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:49 PM
Comment #54Munster
Bit of a dis on Miley saying he’s slow, mate.
He’s controlled, deliberate, thought out!
Toon_Barmy
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:50 PM
Comment #55Raj @ #42 you’re bang on to correct them there pal. My only concern is we are 1/2 injuries off a much weaker back line. Other top 6 teams could cope better with 1/2 injuries imo
Vask
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:50 PM
Comment #56Aye Ty,
He said it wasn’t a one in one out deal with maxi/Barnes but the maxi deal allows us to conduct the rest of our summer business.
CLINT FLICK
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:51 PM
Comment #57Uncertain @43
Certainly!
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Spot bollock, mate!
Novocastrian66
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:54 PM
Comment #58CB; That’s a fair assessment. I thought Ashby and Targety played well.Anderson was excellent. Bruno got kicked all over and received no protection from the ref.
Wilson grafted hard.
The youngsters all played well.
I was pleased we beat them as they were very aggressive. Their passing was largely pointless.
Raj of Hailsley
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:56 PM
Comment #59There is absolutely no doubt that we need to strengthen the defence, the article in The Mag about how our defence was hardly injured or rested at all last year says it all. We are one injury away from having Lascelles or Manquillo in for a period of time. Eddie H, without saying the positions has said as much.
CLINT FLICK
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:57 PM
Comment #60Aye
Bha will live and die by passing out from the back. Cool.
De Zerbi obviously is implementing that, not unlike our ‘Geordie press’, across the squad.
jimiley
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:57 PM
Comment #61Our defence was the best when we played deep.
Compare the first half of season for goals conceded as opposed to the second half when we pushed higher up the pitch.
We were exposed for pace at the back when we attacked more.
Munster Mag
Jul 29, 2023 at 4:59 PM
Comment #62Er Clint, I was joking….??
Munster Mag
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Comment #63Jmiley, you’re wasting your breath mate
CLINT FLICK
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:00 PM
Comment #64Joint top D, means, not necessarily our primary concern…
But hey, the clamour for DM etc why?
Ok, but best D for ‘EVER’ in Toon & we need better defenders?
Vask
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:02 PM
Comment #65I like the way Brighton are run. They’re transfer policy is good. However, I think it is flawed in that, although you can coach up these promising youngsters and have them execute a game plan, there is a lack of clinical finishing. Then when you get a young player that develops that clinical edge he gets shipped out to rot on spurs’ bench or whatever.
De zerbi has an interesting system though and I’m interested to see how he gets on over thext ten years or so.
CLINT FLICK
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:02 PM
Comment #66Munster
Cool mate, my bad!
Forgive me!
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coming home
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:05 PM
Comment #67Essex
Spot on mate, Maxi 100% wrote that speech
He has always been the king of social media, its his forte
cleveleysbob
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:06 PM
Comment #68Game over, follow up:
They brought on Felix, Gilmour and Ferguson – 3 x 1st teamers.
We brought on our kids.
Apart from Targett getting âskinnedâ a couple of times by one of their youngsters (he was clearly knackered, playing the full 90 in that heat) they never had a sniff and we were swarming all over them. Young EA showed real strikers strength and awareness for his brace and Murphyâs ball for his 2nd was sublime.
Of course weâre not the finished article and we definitely need some defensive reinforcements, but I think the pre season has been terrific so far. Weâre unbeaten and I think EH has learned a lot about his options, strengths and weaknesses.
Our (poor haha) defence only let in 5 goals in US and 4 of them were with Dubs between the sticks. Dubs and Pope played a game and a half each, the former let in 4, the latter only 1.
Gonna be a decent season I think.
Ashingtoon62
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:08 PM
Comment #69I don’t think we were exposed for pace,second half of the season.
Eddie changed things up after the WC and our mids were mostly on the oppos 18 yd line.
Any ball ower the top and someone running onto it,is going to beat Usain Bolt when he’s facing the wrang way and the ball has just sailed ower his heed.
We definitely need a left back and a centre half but I bet the last thing that’s on Eddies mind is how fast they are ower a hundred metres.
Well maybe the left back.. đ
CLINT FLICK
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:10 PM
Comment #70Cbob
Aye, dĂșbravka is gone, surely?
Karius looks sooo much better!
Ashingtoon62
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:12 PM
Comment #71CH
He’s got a PR team man….
If he did in fact write it from the heart and he bought into the Geordie/Toon psyche.
Then why the foot,did he never put a shift in?
Flurzinho
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:13 PM
Comment #72The way CB’s get out ran is when they are too far up the pitch,don’t forget they have to turn against a forward already moving against them.
Pace in a CB is great, but positional play is more important.
Anymore advice needed send me a message @ 10-4 breaker, breaker!
jimiley
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:13 PM
Comment #73Munster
I know. But I put my two Penneth in and retire to leave it to the regular know alls.
Adamn_92
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:16 PM
Comment #74Yeah, too much gets made about defenders needing pace. How many of the all time great central defenders were known for their pace?
More about reading the game, positional sense and the style your team play. If your team plays with a high line then the risk you take is getting caught out with a ball in behind. Pace or not, you will get caught out a few times.
Our ‘slow’ defence seemed to do absolutely fine all of last season.
coming home
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:19 PM
Comment #75Ash
I follow Maxi on Twitter and he always interacts with fans
I’m convinced he wrote it but if not he endorsed it
Mund
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:22 PM
Comment #76CH
You are spot on mate.
He wasnât called the king of Twitter for nothing.
It was 100% him, he loved it and ripped many mackems.
If you know you know
Raj of Hailsley
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:22 PM
Comment #77It’s a natural occurrence when you score more you tend let a few more in, we weren’t scoring enough goals so tweaked our style of play, as a consequence we leaked a few more goals, nothing at all to do with the defence not being good enough.
Flurzinho
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:27 PM
Comment #78FFS our defence is not slow,do people understand football?
We had the joint best defence in the hardest league in the world last season!
Our first team has not even played together yet.
A midfield of Tonali,Bruno and Big Jo?
Barnes and Miggy on the sides, absolute grafters with goals and assets to match.
In the ACM position?
Willockinho,Gordon,Anderson?
Up top Isak.
Not many are going through that!
Flurzinho
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:28 PM
Comment #79Plus the best keeper in the league!
Mund
Jul 29, 2023 at 5:28 PM
Comment #80Strange fans talking negatively about our defence
We do need pace at the back and I think even Eddie would agree on that but theres nothing wrong with one of the best defences of last season. For a big part of the season we had the best defence bar none.
Aye strange folk trying to disrupt with their poor fishing techniques