Not Marc Guehi for me – He really isn’t worth what Crystal Palace are asking

Ok – first game over, here’s a brutally honest Newcastle United assessment…

Up to the point of the sending off, we looked listless, tired and it looked like we expected to walk it.

Newcastle United half-heartedly applied our press and were slow in everything we did.

Bruno, for me, started way too deep – he and Longstaff needed to swap over – let Longstaff do a “David Batty” and let the two Brazilian boys do what they do.

Not long till Sandro Tonali is back though, which presents a different problem, who plays where?

Fabian Schar should not have reacted (ie stood up) – he should have just stayed down and let that idiot take a booking. The ref should have booked the idiot for the push (which he did) AND then give him a second yellow for unsportsmanlike conduct – still, we all know how it panned out.

It was obvious that we still don’t have any quality or threat in attack down our right wing; Hall had a nightmare (apart from the goal line clearance); and Gordon just didn’t look himself. It also took Tino a while to settle.

However;

Joelinton, Bruno and Burn were absolutely immense;

Krafth also did a great job;

I was impressed with Kelly when he came on;

Longstaff did all of the stuff that you don’t notice and thank god for Nick Pope.

So, in the next two weeks or so, we STILL need a decent right winger; a decent centre back (not Marc Guehi for me – just watched Brentford v Palace – he got skinned for the first goal and should have been sent off for the sliding tackle showing his studs over the ball – in reality, Marc Guehi is not worth what Palace are asking).

I’m also now not sure about a left back. Hall’s stats were really not good and we could do with a quality replacement for Wilson at some point.

In Eddie we trust, but the clock is ticking for the backroom boys to come up with some decent quality signings and to ship some dead wood out, plus the spectre of PSR is still there.

It’s going to be a fun two weeks…

Stats via BBC Sport:

Newcastle 1 Southampton 0 – Saturday 17 August 3pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Schar red card 28, Joelinton 45

Southampton:

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Newcastle 22% (27%) Southampton 78% (73%)

Total shots were Newcastle 3 (3) Southampton 19 (4)

Shots on target were Newcastle 1 (1) Southampton 5 (1)

Corners were Newcastle 3 (3) Southampton 12 (1)

Touches in the box Newcastle 16 (11) Southampton 48 (8)

Pope, Livramento, Schar (Krafth 28), Burn, Hall (Kelly 70), Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton; J Murphy (Krafth 30), Isak, Gordon (Barnes 70)

Subs:

Dubravka, Trippier, Targett, Osula, Almiron, Willock

Attendance: 52,196

(Newcastle 1 Southampton 0 – An absolutely magnificent effort and win by 10 man Newcastle United – Read it HERE)

(Newcastle 1 Southampton 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan / writer reaction – Read it HERE)

Newcastle United schedule to end of October 2024:

Sunday 25 August 2024 – Bournemouth v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Week commencing Monday 26 August 2024 – Carabao Cup round two matches will be played

Friday 30 August 2024 – Summer transfer window closes at 11pm.

Sunday 1 September 2024 – Newcastle v Tottenham (1.30pm) Sky Sports

(The first international break of the season)

Sunday 15 September 2024 – Wolves v Newcastle (4.30 pm) Sky Sports

Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)

Saturday 21 September 2024 – Fulham v Newcastle (3 pm)

Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)

Saturday 28 September 2024 – Newcastle v Man City (12.30 pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 5 October – Everton v Newcastle (5pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 19 October – Newcastle v Brighton (3pm)

Sunday 27 October – Chelsea v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports