Newcastle fans have two games to watch this weekend as Newcastle play in the Sela Cup featuring
Newcastle United, Fiorentina, Nice, and Villarreal at St. James’Park – the final two friendlies before we kick off the season at home to Aston Villa next weekend.
The games take place tomorrow and Sunday.
Saturday 5th August: 07:30 OGC Nice vs Villarreal CF 10:30 Newcastle vs ACF Fiorentina Sunday 6 August 2023 08:00 ACF Fiorentina vs OGC Nice 11:00 Newcastle vs Villarreal CF
We should add that Newcastle United Women play West Bromwich Albion Women at St. James’ Park on Saturday, 5th August KO 6:00pm as part of the two-day Sela Cup.
Here is Eddie Howe’s full press conference that has just ended this morning for these games.
Comments welcome.
848 comments so far
Pottsclock
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:21 PM
Comment #721Murphy has done really well considering he’s on the right side of defence rather than the left. Not put a foot wrong.
cleveleysbob
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:22 PM
Comment #722Finished 2-0
Could have been 6.
The Taco Taker
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:22 PM
Comment #723Ruddy,
Murphy hasn’t looked out of place at all. As I said before kick-off I think he will feature a little bit this season. Anderson was excellent and Miley had a good game too but was taken on before the end. Just finished 2-0.
IrishRob
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:23 PM
Comment #724Yay a clean sheet, haven’t seen one of those in a while.
ilovetoon8788
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:24 PM
Comment #725Anderson is the only youth player ready for premier league. Incredible future.
The rest have a long long way to go. Nowhere near good enough to be involved with the first team.
Anderson will be the break out star this season and I expect him to be a starter halfway through the season.
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:24 PM
Comment #726IRob
Time to change your bedding?
north east lincs toon
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:26 PM
Comment #727What channel is villareal game on anyone?
IITianToon
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:28 PM
Comment #728Thoughts on the players:
Defence — Barely troubled. Special shoutout to Alex Murphy.. seamless fit. Loved that one moment he strid forward with the ball.. has that in his locker!
Tonali — Will be great.. still getting somewhat to grips with pace and intensity of our game. But so calm and has super vision.
Miley — Again, what a sumptuous performance in midfield. Feel like even at 17, he does have another higher gear to get to.
Anderson — My man of the match. Full of running, quality, and most impressively, strength! Could be his breakout season.
Gordon — Again very promising the positions he gets into, just needs to work on his final ball and shooting. Could have had a hattrick today.
Miggy — Good to see his goalscoring eye has persisted. Likely will start vs Villa,
Isak — Seems a bit subdued and crowded out in the center, seemed to be able to recreate his Everton run at will on the left wing. Still great to see him get his goal.
Overall most excited to see Anderson and Miley’s growth this term, and Gordon and Isak hopefully getting into goalscoring mode.
Bruno and Joelinton have to maintain peak performance.. the young guns are waiting to grab their opportunity.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:29 PM
Comment #729TTT
Appreciate the updates mate, reading the other comments it seems as if young Murphy, Miley and Anderson did their first team chances no harm whatsoever. If we get a tune out of Gordon this season I reckon he sparks off and scores/assists c.15 in total this season as he’s come back a man possessed this season.
All very promising signs
Uncertain Toon
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:31 PM
Comment #730Ruddy,
You’ll need to take your missus Haggis hunting up one of the munro’s mate.
I could never find them 3 legged animals that run round and round the hills đ
I’ve watched a few folk googling for the 3 legged haggis after my wind-up to foreigners!
cleveleysbob
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:31 PM
Comment #731Good run out, more pluses than minuses, just a bit ring rusty.
Donât think they had a shot on target.
Gordon couldâve had 3 – 1 hit post, 1 ballooned over, 1 at keeper.
Isak couldâve had 3 – got one
Miggy couldâve had 3 – got one
All in all satisfactory.
Hibbit
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:33 PM
Comment #732you guys trying to get the blog shut down and Ed into bother with all that idle chatter,don’t you think he has enough on his plate at the moment,
nowt but a bunch of thoughtless selfish gets,
Bills Son Is Back
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:34 PM
Comment #733Only watched the last 30 minutes…
They had a load of possession but never had a shot, typical of Italian sides.
Isak made two brilliant runs down the left wing, not for the first time in a game, and it makes you think where his best position is. For certain, Eddie’s tactic last season of bringing Wilson on and Isak going out wide will feature again.
As others have said, Murphy looked very calm on the ball and positionally sound.
That turn from deep and run of Anderson’s near the end was class. You can see in his body language that he knows he has nothing to fear playing at a high level. After Gazza he’s head and shoulders the best young local player I’ve seen in my 60 years as a supporter. No way will he fizzle out like other promising young uns have in the past/ He’s the real deal and will get way better again this season.
For me, Anderson has to start against Villa.
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:35 PM
Comment #734Have I stumbled across an alternative universe blog where misplaced passes don’t send people in to a rabid frenzy đ
griff
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:35 PM
Comment #735Anderson MOM for me as well.
Was it a deliberate tactic to ask them onto us and then pass through? We were playing keep ball in our final third very often.
The Taco Taker
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:36 PM
Comment #736Ruddy,
np mate, and yeah they all did themselves no harm at all. On pre-season form it is hard for EH not to play Anderson, a good headache for EH. I think Miley will be used this season in the way Anderson was last season. Murphy may well got some minutes in the cups.
The Taco Taker
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:38 PM
Comment #737I see on SSN Onana has already made is first cock-up for Man Utd – chipped from halfway cos he was stood so far outside his own box.
cleveleysbob
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:39 PM
Comment #738Hibbit, I thought the rule was âno linksâ and nobody did unless I missed one in which case my apologies.
Not sure if pre season friendlies are taken much notice of either. A bit different next week.
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:40 PM
Comment #739Bill’s,
I asked the blog the other day but never got a response, if EA starts who do we think misses out, would it be Willock?
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:42 PM
Comment #740Aye Hibbit, nobody posted any links, it even says it’s on DAZN on Nufc.com.
cleveleysbob
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:43 PM
Comment #741I suppose all us thoughtless, selfish gets better not come on tomorrow then. đ
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:44 PM
Comment #742Jail
Willock will miss out anyway. So it’d be either LF, LCM or outside chance of CF.
If we play 433 again.
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:45 PM
Comment #743Cleve’s and jail
I think Hibbit was being Sarky. Berating us for having a pleasant match afternoon.
cleveleysbob
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:46 PM
Comment #744Jail, given Willockâs not had a pre season yet because of his injury, Iâm pretty sure EAâs ahead of him atm.
Longstaff is even more behind, I believe, so thereâs at least 1 position up for grabs.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:47 PM
Comment #745Uncertain Toon
You’ll not catch me out hunting three legged haggis or asking for the bubble in a spirit level or for a long stand or owt like that. Too wiley for that craic đ haha
TTT
Good to see the conveyor belt of young talent with clear routes to the first team seemingly coming to fruition. That’ll create a positive feedback loop whereby it’s easier for us to sign top talented youngsters as we can show a clear pathway for progression to first team football. Really looking forward to this season getting underway.
Has anyone ventured any early hints as to how they’re going to respond to Martoons season predictions? Will be interesting to see them once he launches it. For me, top 6 would more than do for me giving the added competitions and still lacking squad depth (particularly in defence) should we suffer injuries.
Bills Son Is Back
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:47 PM
Comment #746On the ref…
As a Toon fanatic and Morpeth lad Michael Oliver will have been chuffed refereeing at SJP. I doubt he’s done it before and could only ref a Toon game in a friendly.
He’s by far and away the best ref in the Prem and the only Prem ref ever to stick by his decision after a VAR review. You’ll never see him overreacting or trying to get attention in games like some refs present and past.
He was also the youngest ever Prem ref at just 25 back in 2010.
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:47 PM
Comment #747Vask,
Aye, I mean if he became a regular starter, I suppose that gets back to the ‘nobody misses out, it’s a squad game’
Things are really looking up.
cleveleysbob
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:49 PM
Comment #748Vask, Iâd like to think youâre correct on that, but if so, maybe he shouldâve used a wee smiley, just to give us a clue.
I personally thought it was a robust dressing down of us miscreants. đ
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:49 PM
Comment #749Vask,
CF would miss out?
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:49 PM
Comment #750So refreshing having to think hard about who our starting 11 will be come match day 1. You think you’ve got it and then you think “ah no, but I’ve missed such and such out”
Can’t remember a time where it was such a conundrum except mebbies in the days of ****bingo. Even then we lacked such quality in depth.
Ronway
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:49 PM
Comment #751Newcastle United 2 ACF Fiorentina 0
Referee:Michael Oliver
Goals either side of half time from Miguel AlmirĂłn and Alexander Isak meant Newcastle United made a winning start to the Sela Cup weekend on Saturday afternoon.
AlmirĂłn fired home after Isak had played him in before the break at St. James’ Park before the Swedish forward made sure of the victory with a well-placed header in the closing stages as Eddie Howe’s side – who play Villarreal in their second and final game of the tournament on Sunday – maintained their unbeaten record in pre-season.
The in-form Elliot Anderson, with four goals already in this summer’s preparations for 2023/24, sounded the first warning, skewing high and wide from a Gordon cutback before the latter flashed one wide in what was a promising start for United’s forward line. Bar a Nicolas Gonzalez attempt, which cleared the crossbar, and a few dangerous moments caused by targetman Arthur Cabral, Howe’s side looked to be in control.
Isak’s low drive was parried by Michele Cerofolini and both the Swede and Gordon, on the left-hand side of the Magpies’ attack, were particularly lively. The latter was unlucky not to find the target when his effort from Anderson’s lay-off struck the base of the post midway through the half, but with 38 minutes on the clock they moved in front. It was AlmirĂłn who applied the clinical finish but Isak made the goal with a terrific penetrating run and a cute through ball for the Paraguayan to race on to and slide beyond Cerofolini.
Gonzalez called Martin DĂșbravka into action shortly after with a tame shot and by the end of the first period the Viola were fortunate to not be further behind, as Gordon saw his strike palmed away after a brilliant solo run which took him into the box.
Just after the restart, Sandro Tonali – who was enjoying a quietly assured first outing at St. James’ – whipped a free kick just past the upright at the Gallowgate End, while AlmirĂłn went close soon after, taking the shot on early after breaking away but seeing Fiorentina stopper Cerofolini thrown himself in the way of it.
With just over quarter of an hour remaining, Gordon squandered a great chance to grab his side’s second, blazing Kieran Trippier’s low centre well over the bar from around ten yards out, but with just under ten minutes left the Magpies eventually found another goal. It was a straightforward one for Isak, who found space in a congested penalty area to glance Trippier’s corner into the net and wrap up the victory for the hosts.
Newcastle United: Martin DĂșbravka; Kieran Trippier, Alex Murphy, Sven Botman, Matt Targett; Lewis Miley (Ben Parkinson 80), Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson; Miguel AlmirĂłn (Jay Turner-Cooke 88), Alexander Isak (Michael Ndiweni 88), Anthony Gordon.
Substitutes: Mark Gillespie, Jude Smith, Remi Savage, Charlie McArthur, Jordan Hackett, Nathan Carlyon, Jamie Miley, Lucas De Bolle, James Huntley, Amadou Diallo.
https://www.nufc.co.uk/matches/first-team/2023-24/newcastle-united-v-acf-fiorentina/
Hibbit
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:49 PM
Comment #752that’s not you trying to be funny Bob is it because your not,
Ed’s in trouble and stress like that wont help,
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:50 PM
Comment #753Yeah.
Have you not been following my posts đ
Anderson is our new all time record scorer since about 2029.
Pah. đ
Mister Tuff
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:51 PM
Comment #754“Duuuuuuhhhhh. Well a fort you lads were putting links up against Eds wishes. A divint really kna what they was cos a is a divvy. Duuuhhhh”.
lukes26
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:54 PM
Comment #755im impressed at how much quality there was with only half the starters.
Miley is impressive on the ball…knows exactly what he wants to do. Off the ball he seems a little unsure.
Murphy..i wasnt expecting him to be as good as he appeared. Trippier and targett seemed to struggle more than he did.
Tonali? pure class. Our midfield is up there with Man City and Arsenal now
Anderson vs 40 million Gordon? Anderson all day, every day. Not that Gordon’s bad…Anderson could be our best 3rd option CF if given the chance. he has instincts you see in decent strikers
A Geordie Mongrel
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:55 PM
Comment #756Sounded like a decent game against good opposition. Highlights/footyful to look forward to. đ
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:56 PM
Comment #757See Jail
Luke knahs. đ
Mister Tuff
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:56 PM
Comment #758Good games today . Overiding impression was that there were no slouches and everybody looked sharp and fit.
I’m never sure about Matt Targett – i think better going forward than defending.
Missed big Joe playing -like his aggression.
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:56 PM
Comment #759Hibbit,
I don’t think anyone’s done anything wrong.
This info is available on Nufc:
Overseas TV – Saturday:
DAZN Italy
TVM Sport+ Malta
Overseas TV – Sunday:
beIN Sports Connect / Sports 2 (Australia)
DAZN Italy
DAZN Spain
ESPN+ (USA)
Fox Deportes (USA)
LaLiga TV Bar 2 (Spain)
M+ LALIGA TV3 HD (Spain)
Movistar+ Spain
S Sport+ Turkey
TVM Sport+ Malta
VG+ Norway
(Nice are showing their two games on youtube to viewers in France, but of course don’t play NUFC).
magicmac54
Aug 5, 2023 at 5:56 PM
Comment #760Right lads taking my son out to a restaurant then on to the cinema with a spring in my step after another very solid performance, Have a good one Folks.
HWTL.