We expect our Sporting Director Dan Ashworth to continue giving new and improved contracts to players who have been mainly responsible for the incredible progress made at the club since the club was bought in early October 2021 and new manager Eddie Howe was hired about 4 weeks later.
In that season and the following season, we moved from second bottom place – 5 points from safety – to last season finishing in 4th place and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
Simply amazing progress.
Wait a minute – while I get my breath back.
π
The two likely candidates to get new improved deals are 27-year-old Joelinton and local lad Sean Longstaff.
Joelinton may have even been a laughing stock before Eddie Howe arrived because he was never the striker we expected and needed at the club.
But Eddie Howe quickly saw that he could be a powerful midfielder and the Brazilian seemed to understand how to play the position, almost instantly.
It was in a match against Norwich, on Tuesday night, 30th November shortly after Eddie Howe became our manager, that Ciaran Clark got himself rightly sent off after only 9 minutes, for a (daft) foul on their striker Pukko.
Howe rearranged the side and put Joelinton in midfield and after 61 minutes Callum Wilson scored from the penalty spot.
It looked like we could even win the game, but Pukko equalized after 81 minutes and we finally drew the game 1-1.
But that was essentially with 10 men so even then it looked like what Eddie Howe had done in a short 3 weeks, was already paying dividends.
So in short, Joelinton, who is very popular with our fans, deserves a new improved contract.
And we have missed Joelinton’s physical prowess this season when he’s been injured, and of course, now he is a full Brazilian International.
Sean Longstaff is a much better player than I gave him credit for and when Eddie Howe pointed out he does all the drudge work and reads the game so well, fans began to see that we are a better team with him starting games.
In our first 4 games, we lost three and then Longstaff started at home to Brentford on 16th September, after we had lost 3 PL games in a row.
We won that game narrowly by a score of 1-0 and then beat Sheffield United 8-0 in the next game away.
But that winning (and clean sheet) run ended last time out with a 2-2 draw at the Hammers.
Longstaff has made a huge difference to the team since he returned, and the 25-year-old North Shields-born player clearly deserves a new and improved deal.
We look forward to another two of our star players – Joelinton and Sean Longstaff – getting new dealsΒ – very soon.
What do you think about this?
Comments are always welcome.
120 comments so far
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 15, 2023 at 4:41 PM
Comment #1Firsts being given away today ?
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 15, 2023 at 4:41 PM
Comment #2π
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 15, 2023 at 4:42 PM
Comment #3Glad to see the ones that have been through the thick of it getting something back.
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 15, 2023 at 4:58 PM
Comment #4Switzarland v Belarus on FS1 here in the US about to start…as Jane mentioned…Schar starting this one.
jane
Oct 15, 2023 at 5:01 PM
Comment #5all over in the cricket
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/66854581
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 15, 2023 at 5:03 PM
Comment #6FS2 actually and no commentators so just get to watch the football π
Toon Irish
Oct 15, 2023 at 5:06 PM
Comment #7Hi all been in turkey the last week . haven’t been on this at all.but just seen aloud of articles have been posted.does this mean this fabulous blog is sticking around.
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 15, 2023 at 5:07 PM
Comment #8they found the commentators audio fader….well it was nice while it lasted π
Uncertain Toon
Oct 15, 2023 at 5:15 PM
Comment #9How is this Barca release clause for Bruno common knowledge?
You know, the secret clause π
More chance of there being a Santa Claus as opposed to a release clause probably!
coming home
Oct 15, 2023 at 5:41 PM
Comment #10Uncertain
Are you saying there’s no Santa Claus ?
RUNAWAY777
Oct 15, 2023 at 5:42 PM
Comment #11Jail
To be honest I really don’t belive what reporters say but guess we’ll never know till someone coming calling bud.
Davas
Oct 15, 2023 at 5:43 PM
Comment #12From earlier
“Poet Of Prudhoe Park
Oct 15, 2023 at 1:47 PM
Comment #8
Davas
No Croatia or Ukrsine in Englands group Iβm afraid”
Ukraine are
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/european-championship/table
RUNAWAY777
Oct 15, 2023 at 5:45 PM
Comment #13England response Is good after Fiji drew level come on England stay strong now.
Wor B
Oct 15, 2023 at 5:58 PM
Comment #14Over an hour and no new thread!
You ok Ed?
π
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 15, 2023 at 6:07 PM
Comment #15Canny win in the rugby, shocking in the cricket π
jane
Oct 15, 2023 at 6:19 PM
Comment #16Belarus equalise against Switzerland.
magicmac54
Oct 15, 2023 at 6:25 PM
Comment #17Congratulations to all you English Folk in the Rugby, not feeling envious i promise π π π
jane
Oct 15, 2023 at 6:27 PM
Comment #18what is happening Belarus take the lead.
jane
Oct 15, 2023 at 6:42 PM
Comment #19Belarus leading 1-3 now
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 15, 2023 at 6:45 PM
Comment #20and a third by somewhat poor play by Schar…..
jane
Oct 15, 2023 at 6:46 PM
Comment #21Switzerland pull a goal back in 88th minute.
jane
Oct 15, 2023 at 6:48 PM
Comment #2290th minute 3-3
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 15, 2023 at 6:48 PM
Comment #23wow…. 3-3…can’t keep up
jane
Oct 15, 2023 at 6:48 PM
Comment #24Indiana can you keep with this!
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 15, 2023 at 6:51 PM
Comment #25they should have just about had the 4th there…
Ronway
Oct 15, 2023 at 7:10 PM
Comment #26Don’t leave it hanging there! π
Full time – Swiss 3 – 3 Belarus
Poet Of Prudhoe Park
Oct 15, 2023 at 7:10 PM
Comment #27Oh Ukraine. I wondered who Ukrsine were π
cyprus
Oct 15, 2023 at 7:12 PM
Comment #28Another 4-0 defeat for Cyprus!
Come on Kets, you know what to do. And come back to the blog.
Poet Of Prudhoe Park
Oct 15, 2023 at 7:12 PM
Comment #29Just finished watching the new Indiana Jones movie.
What a load of shite that was. Nothing good to say about it.
Feels nothing like an Indiana Jones movie.
AnyToon in Indiana
Oct 15, 2023 at 7:18 PM
Comment #30Kets finds he still takes less of a beating there π
Davas
Oct 15, 2023 at 7:24 PM
Comment #31Poet
I think you’ll find that Ukrsine is a perfectly legitimate alternate spelling of Ukraine.
My spell checker says so. π
Poet Of Prudhoe Park
Oct 15, 2023 at 7:32 PM
Comment #32Davas
It’s like Russia wanted the letter s to be part of Ukraine.
Poet Of Prudhoe Park
Oct 15, 2023 at 7:43 PM
Comment #33Build your perfect player:
Right foot – Beckham
Left foot – Laurent Robert
Finishing – CR7
Vision – Pirlo
Dribbling – Messi
Speed – Mbappe
Strength – Shearer
Ooooo........it's Nicky the ball tosser
Oct 15, 2023 at 7:47 PM
Comment #34Yeah, Joelinton and Longstaff are two prime examples of good players who weren’t given the opportunity to show their true worth, because of Ashley’s short blanket. Makes you wonder just how many other good players we’ve had in the past, and who’ve come and gone with their capacity untapped or even unrecognised, and withem trophy winning sides, had Ashley just been willing to try and win football matches, which is surely what a football club should be all about, rather than simply stay in the division. What a total dick!
Raj of Hailsley
Oct 15, 2023 at 7:49 PM
Comment #35I was never a fan of Ashley Nicky, not sure if I ever mentioned it before.
Ooooo........it's Nicky the ball tosser
Oct 15, 2023 at 7:56 PM
Comment #36I often think a player with all the best qualities of Scholes, Giggs, Beckham and Keane would be astonishing.
They really were 4 great players, and who must look at the current state of their club and despair. Bayern Munich, they are not.
The Taco Taker
Oct 15, 2023 at 8:21 PM
Comment #37Build your perfect player….NUFC only:
Right foot β Solano
Left foot β Robert
Finishing β Shearer
Vision β Beardsley
Dribbling β Beardsley (but special mention to Maxi and Ben Arfa)
Speed β Gordon (special mention to Martins)
Strength βD. Ferguson
The Taco Taker
Oct 15, 2023 at 8:32 PM
Comment #38More globally:
Right foot β Nolbero Solano
Left foot β Roberto Carlos
Finishing β Thiery Henry
Dribbling β Diego Maradona
Speed β Arjen Robben
Strength β Duncan Ferguson
Two NUFC players still make my list.
The Taco Taker
Oct 15, 2023 at 8:35 PM
Comment #39Oops, I forgot vision on the last post:
– Modric
JohnJ
Oct 15, 2023 at 9:03 PM
Comment #40Well Well Well,
You go away for a couple of hours and it takes all day to catch up!
π π π