YORK CITY 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 1
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Darlow (Elliot HT); Bigirimana, Lascelles, Satka, Ferguson; Abeid, Gouffran; Aarons (Kemen 59), De Jong, Perez; Mitrovic (Suddick 70).
York lost to Harrowgate Town 2-0 at the weekend, but were too good for "Wally with the Brolly" and his team of FIVE full internationals.
Steve McClaren watched from the stands as more than 2,000 Toon fans had to endure a night of nothingness from a side that has yet to impress this pre-season.
And last they lost to a team that were almost relegated from the Football League last season.
Nobody in Newcastle’s inexperienced side felt the need to follow Anthony Straker into the box and although the striker mishit Marvin McCoy’s cross it looped over Karl Darlow and into the net.
The Magpies ought to have known there and then it was not going to be their night when York winger Reece Thompson showed what he was capable of when he was allowed to cut in unmolested and curl a shot inside the far post.
Steve McClaren left his seat from the stands, where he was sat with centre-backs Coloccini and Mike Williamson, to bark some orders before returning.
Former Hartlepool United goalkeeper Scott Flinders had little to do in York’s goal so his man-of-the-match award was a bit on the generous side.
Aarons was the most impressive of the visiting players in the first half – but that meant very little because Newcastle were utter rubbish.
He limped off 14 minutes into the second half, suggesting MORE injury worries for a kid who never seems to be available.
He had headed against the bar late in the first-half from a corner, the closest United came to scoring.
It was the exception which proved the rule as generally Newcastle tried their luck from range, and Siem De Jong’s volley cleared the David Longhurst Stand to jeers.
It would be an expensive night for the League Two sides. Four balls were booted out of the ground in the opening 45 minutes alone, which said a lot about the lack of quality on show.
Flinders was able to drop onto Shane Ferguson’s long-range effort while Perez’s was as wild as De Jong’s.
Aarons and Abeid both gave the ball away sloppily, though without cost. Gael Bigirama did at least play a lovely ball down the line to Aarons but when the ball was dinked across Perez missed it.
Aleksandar Mitrovic did not do a lot in his first 70 minutes as a Newcastle player but then there is not a lot a centre-forward can do without service and in the first half he was on starvation rations.
He had no such excuse in the second. Five minutes in, Perez played him in with a clever ball, only to put his shot wide.
There could be no complaints, either, about the cross Shane Ferguson swung in after 64 minutes - but the Serbian was unable to stretch to it.
Newcastle at least started the second half with a bit more intent, Flinders obliged to tip away Yoan Gouffran’s shot.
Newcastle did at least have the lion’s share of the second half, without really making it count.
They did get a goal, though, and from a corner no less, Perez bundling in the ball at the back post after 76 minutes.
Jamaal Lascelles could have equalised in the 89th minute but his header into the turf bounced over. That said, Femi Ilesanmi had a header saved at the other end seconds later.
What did McClaren learn that was positive? Very little. Loads that were negative - simply that his fringe squad is full of players who will NEVER make it in Premier League.
This Newcastle team boasted FIVE full internationals and tell me one of them that looked it?
There are 33 shopping days until the transfer window closes. With two signings made and one in the pipeline Newcastle have much to do.
Personally I'd look to shift quite a number of these light-weights.
This was York City - the most they have paid for a player EVER was £140,000 and that was twenty years ago.
That's two weeks wages for Mitrovic.
Att: 5,406 (2,048 Newcastle fans)
THE TOON'S GREATEST 100 PLAYERS ... EVER!
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Toons-Greatest-Players-EVER/dp/132629685X
This book is a collection of the 100 Greatest Newcastle United players of all time, as voted for by NewcastleUtd-Mad.co.uk readers and a panel of journalists who contribute to the website. The players are in an order of five-per-chapter, counting down from 100 to Newcastle United's greatest ever player (as viewed by the author), but the whole point of the book is for YOU (the reader) to decide who goes where. The list is not, by any means, definitive. As with all books of this nature, whether it be "Greatest Albums"; "Best Movies Of All Time"; or "Top 100 Pin-Ups Of The Year" ... no two people have exactly the same opinion. There will be controversy over who is on the list, and chances are, more controversy over who is not. Here are the best of the best. I have painted the picture with each player's profile. Where they end up in the league of NUFC's Greatest is up to you. Because YOU have the final word.
Otherwise ... if you want a signed copy (for a birthday, etc) for £9.95 and no postage ... you can meet me before a match and I will bring a copy along.
Get in touch: Kevnumad@fsmail.net
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Fri 10th July (8pm BST)
Gateshead FC 0 Newcastle Utd 1 (Cisse pen)
(First half): Darlow, Janmaat, Haidara, Lascelles, Williamson, Anita, Colback, Gouffran, Cisse, Sissoko, De Jong. (Second half): Woodman, Bigirimana, Satka, Good, Ferguson, Tiote, Obertan, Aarons, Perez, Armstrong, Riviere.
Tue 14th July (8pm CT)
Club Atlas (MEX) 2 Newcastle Utd 1 (Sissoko)
Krul (Darlow 46); Janmaat (Bigirimana 72), Williamson, Lascelles, Haidara (Ferguson 72); Anita, Colback; Sissoko (Obertan 72), de Jong (Perez 72), Gouffran (Aarons 72); Cisse (Armstrong 72).
Sat 18th July (8pm UTC)
Sacramento Republic FC (USA) 0 Newcastle Utd 1 (og)
Krul (Woodman 46), Janmaat, Williamson, Lascelles (Taylor 46), Haïdara, Anita, Colback, Sissoko, Obertan (Aarons 69), de Jong (Perez 69), Cissé (Wijnaldum 69).
Tue 21st July (7.30pm UTC)
Portland Timbers (USA) 4 Newcastle Utd 3 (Wijnaldum, Aarons 2)
Darlow (Woodman 46), Bigirimana, Satka, Ferguson, Aarons; Abeid (Anita 65), Wijnaldum (Janmaat 46), Gouffran (De Jong 76), Sissoko (Obertan 46), Ayoze, Cisse (Armstrong 46).
Sun 26th July (1pm BST)
Sheffield United 2 Newcastle Utd 2 (Wijnaldum, de Jong)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Taylor (Lascelles 69), Haïdara, Anita (Obertan 59), Colback, Sissoko (Abeid 80), Wijnaldum (De Jong 73), Perez (Aarons 45), Cissé (Armstrong 80)
Wed 29th July (7.45pm BST)
York City 2 Newcastle Utd 1 (Perez)
Darlow (Elliot HT); Bigirimana, Lascelles, Satka, Ferguson; Abeid, Gouffran; Aarons (Kemen 59), De Jong, Perez; Mitrovic (Suddick 70)
Sat 1st August (3pm BST)
Borussia Mönchengladbach (GER) at St. James’ Park
PREMIER LEAGUE
Sunday August 9
13:30 Newcastle United v Southampton
Saturday August 15
15:00 Swansea City v Newcastle United
Saturday August 22
12:45 Man Utd v Newcastle United
Saturday August 29
12:45 Newcastle United v Arsenal
Monday September 14
20:00 West Ham United v Newcastle United
Saturday September 19
15:00 Newcastle United v Watford
Saturday September 26
17:30 Newcastle United v Chelsea