Newcastle United signed off in style in their final pre-season game of the summer after hammering Villarreal 4-0 and here are five things we learned from the game
Newcastle United have won the Sela Cup and finished pre-season unbeaten following a 4-0 win against Villarreal at St James’ Park.
Jacob Murphy opened the scoring with a rocket in the sixth minute before a double from home debutant Harvey Barnes, sandwiched either side of a superb individual goal from Joelinton, sealed the win in the second half.
Imagine if Newcastle won a major trophy?
The drought is over. After 54 long years, silverware is back on Tyneside. We joke, of course, but you could not help but think what it would be like if Newcastle won a major trophy following the scenes after this Sela Cup win. It said it all that tens of thousands of supporters stayed behind to applaud players and staff on a victory lap before watching them lift the trophy a few minutes later. Can you imagine the scenes when it happens for real?
Harvey Barnes offers a glimpse of future
Harvey Barnes had played at St James’ Park on a number of occasions before. As recently as May, in fact, but this was different. This was the first time the new arrival had walked out of that tunnel in a Newcastle shirt.
It did not take Barnes too long to make his mark and it was the winger who doubled Newcastle’s advantage on the hour mark with a well-taken finish with his right foot after Joelinton rolled the ball into his team-mate’s path. Barnes was not finished yet – far from it – and it was the 25-year-old who scored Newcastle’s fourth after getting on the end of Callum Wilson’s cross late on and finishing first-time once more. No wonder Barnes was handed a standing ovation when he came off just a few minutes later.
Geordie Adam Sadler, who was Barnes’ first-team coach at Leicester City, previously told ChronicleLive that Newcastle fans would ‘fall in love’ with the new signing ‘very quickly’ and it looks like that has already happened. The Gallowgate even repeatedly chanted: “Harvey Barnes – super Harvey Barnes!”
This felt like anything but a friendly
This game felt like anything but a friendly at one stage in the first half as a whopping six players were booked by referee Anthony Taylor. Dani Parejo took particular exception when Sean Longstaff knocked him over with a late challenge after the half-hour mark and the angry midfielder squared up to the Geordie.
It suddenly started to get a little feisty. Newcastle fans cheered every defensive challenge like it was a competitive fixture and the Gallowgate even taunted: ‘You’re f—— s—!’ when Villarreal corners came to nothing.
Tensions did not exactly cool at half-time, either, with Paul Dummett yellow carded just a minute into the second half after taking down Juan Foyth on the edge of the area.
Further team sheet hints as Jacob Murphy unleashes another rocket
As expected, it was a completely different side to the one that lined up 24 hours previously against Fiorentina, but that was not to say it was weaker. Nick Pope, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff, Joelinton and Callum Wilson were among those key figures from last season who were handed starts.
It said it all about how eager these players were to impress that Jacob Murphy popped up with a superb opener early doors – despite being fielded out of position at right-back. There were just six minutes on the clock when Matt Ritchie’s free-kick was not fully cleared and the ball fell to Murphy, who took a smart second touch to take the ball away from Villarreal’s defenders before unleashing another rocket in front of the Leazes End. Like Hugo Lloris last April, Pepe Reina had no chance.
Although Murphy may have to make do with a place on the bench next week, the team that lines up against Aston Villa looks set to be an even blend of those who featured versus Fiorentina and Villarreal. Perhaps, like in the final friendlies of last summer, units from each exhibition match could ultimately come together e.g. the midfield that lined up against Villarreal and the forwards who started versus Fiorentina.
Howe, for his part, has insisted he has not ‘firmed my decision in my head yet’ as the Newcastle boss wanted to give all of his players the opportunity to get themselves into the starting line-up. That team will formally take shape in the next couple of days.
Newcastle have ideal build-up to Villa
Having played in the Premier League summer series, against Aston Villa, Chelsea and Brighton, Eddie Howe wanted strong European opposition in Fiorentina and Sunday’s opponents Villarreal to finish off Newcastle’s preparations for the new campaign and the Magpies boss got it on home soil.
Unlike some of their rivals, who have stayed overseas longer, Newcastle will have the added bonus of having had no travel in the fortnight leading up to that opening day clash against Aston Villa on Tyneside. That extra training time will certainly be needed given how Newcastle are facing sides who finished seventh (Aston Villa), first (Man City), fifth (Liverpool), sixth (Brighton) and ninth (Brentford) respectively last season in their opening five games. Yet, equally, those teams won’t exactly be relishing taking on Newcastle so early in the campaign.
