Newcastle United drew 2-2 with Espanyol on Friday evening at St James’ Park in the opening game of the Sela Cup. United continued the general uptick in preseason form with a hardworking performance against a decent La Liga outfit.
In a match that showed flashes of quality, goals from Matt Targett and Jacob Murphy were cancelled out by Kike García and Edu Expósito(a fine effort from range), but the highlight was a fine save from debutant Aaron Ramsdale in goal.
Here are 4 things I liked (and 1 thing I didn’t) from the match:
**Liked: Aaron Ramsdale calming (some) nerves**
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The obvious penalty save aside; the number 32 would’ve calmed a few nerves amongst the Newcastle faithful as the self-confessed concentration-averse goalkeeper put in a composed display.
The highlight was the aforementioned penalty save, as he went low down to his right to save what was admittedly a poorly struck penalty. Ramsdale made a couple of other decent saves and wasn’t at fault for either goal conceded on the night.
It was a fine opening act from the former Southampton man, and his ability and coolness with the ball at his feet gives the lads another pass to use from the back.
**Liked: Bruno and Miley’s combinations**
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Bruno and Lewis Miley, but especially the youngster on this occasion, combined really well (with Miley grabbing an assist from a well-dug-out cross) and offered a lot of encouragement on the eve of the new season.
Miley is going to need to rediscover his form from his breakout season this time around as he will be playing a lot of minutes, especially with the make-up of the squad as it stands at the moment.
But the two of them in tandem, you could really see the patterns and shapes they have worked on in training, as there were some fluid interchanges, sharp passing, and a couple of through balls that would’ve come off on another day.
A quick mention too for Lewis Hall, who effectively swapped positions with Matt Targett on occasion to play in midfield during his 45 mins on the pitch. Midfield was his original position in the Chelsea academy, so he could be drafted in if we need him this season, and he will do a job.
**Didn’t like: Confirmation from Eddie that Isak is essentially on strike**
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The really bad news emanating from SJP on the night was Eddie Howe’s confirmation that Isak is basically the one who is refusing to train with the squad and is essentially on strike. Eddie said:
_“We’ve had discussions & it’s clear at the moment we can’t have him involved with the group. I don’t know how long that will be for. It’s clear I can’t involve him with the team at the moment._
_“He is training later than the rest of the squad. There have been discussions since the tour. I don’t think disciplinary action has happened. He is here, so of course he has a future at Newcastle.
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_“From our perspective, we would love to have him back with the team, but the situation has to be right for that to happen._ _He’s fit, he doesn’t have a fitness issue.”_
Whilst we all had our suspicions, and following on from Eddie’s strong words on earning the right to train with the squad, Isak (and his agent) are clearly the ones directing the Swede’s unprofessional behaviour.
Surely it’s time for disciplinary action from the club? The whole situation is rotten and it just needs to be sorted out. Although, with this confirmation, I’m really not against signing two strikers and letting Isak rot in the reserves. He’s really let us down.
**Liked: Seung-soo Park shines on SJP debut**
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Have Newcastle unearthed a real gem? Not the next Heung-min Son, as the man said himself, but the first Seung-soo Park? From his two-minute cameo on his first appearance to his sixty-three minutes on Friday night, he has been a shining light through this pre-season.
Has the lad done enough to stay in and around the squad this season? United are very strong on the left-wing, with Gordon and Barnes, but with Gordon probably having to be pressed into a striker role in the early weeks of the season, the South Korean (on the evidence we’ve seen so far) must be kept in the squad.
He brings a lot of positivity with his direct running and trickery, and it’s about time that United are (finally) the ones to find a real player from an obscure league on the other side of the world and have them be a world beater. I know it’s early, and I certainly won’t be heaping pressure on him, but with the dirge this summer has been, he’s put a smile on my face as a young lad really stepping up and taking his chance.
**Liked: Sven Botman to play against Atlético Madrid**
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Another huge piece of positive news coming out of SJP was Eddie Howe confirming that Sven Botman has come through training unscathed and will play against Atlético Madrid on Saturday.
Botman is such a huge player for us and elevates our back line to another level – we were imperious, with the joint best defensive record in the league his first season in Black and White, but he’s just been blighted by injury since via some amateurish medical decisions that would give Dr Nick from The Simpsons conniptions.
It’s stating the obvious, but if Botman can finally shake off this series of injuries and rediscover his top form, United will be all the better for it. And it would just be great to get another slither of good news with seven days to go before the league kicks off all over again.
Espanyol were a decent workout, but Atlético Madrid will be another step up on Saturday.
HWTL