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
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:12 PM
Comment #801Vask
Or…we just rotate mid-game, if it ain’t working…5 subs, remember!
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:14 PM
Comment #802Well Clint,
I like the look of our bench much better than last year.
¡So subs away!
Flurzinho
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:15 PM
Comment #803Do people know anything about our team/squad fitness etc?
Lobby and Willockinho have not played at all in pre-season,they are not fit!
How the eff is Lobby starting against Villa?
Toon Fans Good
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:16 PM
Comment #804Kudus to Brighton
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:18 PM
Comment #805Vask
Pretty amazing really, hey?
These kids woulda been scrapped by xmas under just about any passed coach.
A proper coach, with a dedicated team of coaches, assigned proper tasks that get implemented…
Woo!
Actual football at the Toon!
Who’d a thunk?
😀
Flurzinho
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:18 PM
Comment #806TFG,
ALERT
Seagulls at Seaburn,fill your boots(if you have any boots)!
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:20 PM
Comment #807Flurz
Sean and Joe are pretty close, based on reports…krafth will definitely miss the start, apparently.
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:22 PM
Comment #808Eddie H said he thinks Lobby will feature at the weekend, if he plays and is fit he may well start against Villa, he also may not.
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:22 PM
Comment #809Was Lobby playing earlier in preseason?
Flurzinho
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:23 PM
Comment #810Clint,
Aye mate, but neither have played in pre-season.
Cannot see them being in the team for a good while and it could be very hard to get back in!
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:23 PM
Comment #811Flurz
Also, it’s an Eddie tactic. Keep Sean and Joe on the down low, then no explanation needed for their rotation.
You know what our fans are like, for minutiae and picking at their spots.
😉
Flurzinho
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:24 PM
Comment #812Lobby has not played 1 minute of pre-season!
There is no way in hell he starts against Villa.
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:25 PM
Comment #813Vask
I think he did get a run out in the US!?!
Could be wrong, there’s always a first time…
😀
Toon Fans Good
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:26 PM
Comment #814Flurzinho the only boots I had got stuck up your backside after I gave you the kicks you deserved. Left foot right foot
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:26 PM
Comment #815So is that injury to lobby still the one that he picked up against Everton? It looked a sore one like.
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:26 PM
Comment #816*past coach
Oops!
😀
Flurzinho
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:26 PM
Comment #817Can I be Frank?
Well only if I am Claire!
Lobby and Willockinho have bigger problems than the injuries;
Anderson and Miley!
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:27 PM
Comment #818Clint I seem him in the baseball clips but can’t remember seeing him on the pitch. I was thinking maybe he played Vs Gateshead and had a flare-up.
Raj of Hailsley
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:27 PM
Comment #819So if Lobby plays tomorrow for 75, has an absolute stormer there’s “no way” he starts, I wouldn’t finalise that statement, you might not think he starts.
Flurzinho
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:27 PM
Comment #820@814
No parlo gobshite!
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:28 PM
Comment #821We can literally play numerous mids in games now. Eddie’s even trying out mass subs.
Proper squad development.
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:29 PM
Comment #822Vask
Coulda been ‘heed!
Ta bud!
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:31 PM
Comment #823Still say get shot of dùbravka!
Maybe Eddie’s just putting him in the window?
😉
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:33 PM
Comment #824That midfield today could give many a team in the Premiership a game!
Loads of movement pace passing tackling future looks bright
Flurzinho
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:33 PM
Comment #825Raj,
No one gives a one about what you/think or post!
You believe you are God’s gift to the blog and post nothing apart from your boring life!
“I went for a walk/changed a bulb/listened to a podcast”.
So what next?
A regular bowel movement update?
Have a cup of tea and blow your nose son, see if anything decent comes out of that!
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:33 PM
Comment #826The way we have the kids drilled I see no problems with any of our senior squad members coming off the bench. The only two I would really worry about are Ritchie and Dummet but let’s face it, you aren’t bring on either of those to change a game. More likely to see either at the end of tight games come on to replenish our defensive energy.
Still though, good depth, especially if we end up with Livramento and a possible other.
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:34 PM
Comment #827Vask
The one where we didn’t get a nailed on pen, no card, didn’t even stop the game and dinoboy pushed himn off the field and still wasn’t sanctioned…
That one?
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:35 PM
Comment #828Vask
Those 2 are here for different reasons…
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:35 PM
Comment #829Flurz
The bowel movement updates are only visible to his onlyfams followers.
I should know… 🙁 £5 I paid for that tripe!
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:37 PM
Comment #830Aye Clint
That’s the one. Definitely not the first Geordie to be assaulted on Merseyside I would hazard.
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:38 PM
Comment #831Charlie
Great isn’t it?
What a turnaround!
😉
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:40 PM
Comment #832Just checked
Lobby got 65 mins against the heed.
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:40 PM
Comment #833Wasn’t it Mozart that did the bowel movement in b#
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:41 PM
Comment #834Clint
I think it was in c flat 😉
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:41 PM
Comment #835Vask
Phew!
My overproof, 101% record is preserved!
😀
Vask
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:42 PM
Comment #836…And a half against Rangers.
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:42 PM
Comment #837Same difference!
😀
CLINT FLICK
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:46 PM
Comment #838I have a strange feeling that we may, i know, don’t go all soft and soppy, get a few less bad decisions against us next season…
… it’ll be interesting at least, to watch in pan out…
Flurzinho
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:47 PM
Comment #839Beans “The Magic Fruit”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dV3IECIILU
The Taco Taker
Aug 5, 2023 at 7:50 PM
Comment #840Vask,
Indeed, Ritchie and Dummett are here because EH feels they can offer something, but chances are they won’t be utilised much.
Aside from the stuff we don’t see (leadership behind the scenes etc) I think he kept Ritchie as while his is no world beater he is versatile and can cover several positions so he is useful on a bench and a perfect sub to “manage a game” in the latter stages!!
In Dummetts case I do think the main reason is he is a free hit for the CL squad (again aside from the stuff we don’t see) and he can cover CB and LB.
I also wonder if UEFAs new FFP rules play a part in this, where transfer fees + agent fees + wages cannot exceed 90% of revenue this season. I am not sure if UEFA use amortisation when calculating this but either way Dummett never cost a penny in transfer fees, and amortised or not Ritchies fee is peanuts or zero now.