Rights, back, right?
The friendly competitions keep coming, if you can call it friendly with the Sela Cup on the line and get the nature of the opposition.
Without respecting anyone involved in previous seasons, this was a great visitor for this incarnation of the preseason in St James’ Park.
Enleto Madrid, a BonaFide European Great Pistool, recent Spanish champions, UCL finalists and a club that has developed a connection with this incarnation of Newcastle United.
So we don’t forget that Eddie Howe was welcomed in Atleti by Diego Simeone on his Sabbatical Post-Bournemouth. The legend is that what Eddie observed at this time was the beginning of the dark arts that Newcastle has used so effectively over the past four years, so that a few characters were upset in a way that Uncle Diego would make very proud.
However, the role of Atletico in our Renaissance did not end there. A few months later, with Eddie now in situ with St James’ they sent us Kieran Trippier, who turned the story of the dressing room, in a few free kicks against Everton and Villa hit us out of the drop zone, and the rest is history.
So it was honest to say that this was like an old friend, as well as a potential opponent in the coming European adventure (a two in eight chance to pull them out of pot two). Despite this, this would not be a fearful affair, because the typical blood and thunder approach of the visitors was compensated by the fact that Joelinton was in our team.
There are some problems in the middle that you may have missed, which means that Anthony Gordon was used there today and will probably (hopefully) stay there in Villa Park. He was diligent and lively, because he has all been for the season, but the chance of a premium was. Apart from a few classic Joelinton Fluffy Headers (bar with target holes, right to goalkeeper, etc.), the only effort of comment was a smart free kick from Trippier, which became hard and low instead of going for the stamp. However, he was not fooled and the peace arrives scoreless.
You would forgive you think I was a bit bored (again), but today I actually found a Canny Little event. The sold -out crowd on a summer day looked great, everywhere black and white with the usual healthy mattering of children and an atmosphere of innocence and optimism with wide eyes that will beat this place well before the clocks fall back.
On the field, Elanga offered a few moments of excitement, creating room in space with some shameful skills and operated it with an equally outrageous pace. However, we need someone at the end of those balls in it (EW, I almost called him there) and the hope must be that a fully filled starting XI will have a few shots on goal in their locker next weekend.
However, this weekend would end in disappointment, because we would finally lose our two -year grip on the coveted Sela Cup. Botman went off during the break, as planned with his minutes that were still managed, leaving a few Alex Murphy and Jamal Lascelles with an atmosphere of non-very-al-dan,-I went there, but non-anmore. This new combination was a bit torn on the countertop, because the long pass of Almada Baena seemed to have sent too wide from the sad pope, but his smart ball again opposite the rear pole by Alvarez.
Minutes later Alfie Harrison was considerably in the minority when he stood in line to replace Ashby, accompanied by a whole replacement XI that came from the opposition bench. These were not your typical stiff stiff, it must be said, because one of them was a world cup winner/leading goal scorer Antoine Griezmann, who came to score grounds on his favorite football manager, who held the pass of Sorloth to end Pope.
While the game saved, United may have allowed their thoughts to turn to the imminent Premier League. Disappointing, if a late rally to be equal, a penalty shoot would have meant that I would have really enjoyed it.
Instead, this low season had one last anxiety trap for us, while head of striking Hope Gordon collapsed in a lot. He eventually walked off without help, but alarm bells ringed while he went straight through the tunnel. Both Howe and the player have arranged the nerves a bit with reports of a bang on the ankle, much preference over the problems with soft tissue.
Most people made a peline for the outputs at full -time, but I got stuck for the novelty to see another team lift the old Sela. It can add a bit of credibility to future editions to have one of Europe’s illustrious names on the base (if they do something like that) and one in the eyes for critics who make that unfounded accusations that just invite someone here to be defeated every year, so that we can give ourselves a cup. Who laughs now?
This preseason has of course been a smile.
Knockbacks, unrest in the camp and not registering a victory after that early BCD victory against the National League Carlisle. Sean Longstaff scored in this and it feels like ages since he left. However, results are not everything for warm -ups, and I would exchange all Sela Cups in the world for an opening victory at Villa. Optimism also breaks through, because deserving sources suggest that both Malick Thiaw and Yoane Wissa can be on that bus to Brumm, apparently with breakthroughs for the coming week. I am now on my way for a quick vacation to forget all these things for Villa and whoever it is, we play the next one.
This will definitely be a good season. The mags on.
Final score:
Newcastle 0 Atletico Madrid 2
Goals:
Newcastle:
Atletico Madrid:
Alvarez 50, Griezmann 63
Presence:
51,584
Newcastle Team V Atletico Madrid:
Pope, Ashby (Alfie Harrison 61), Lascelles, Botman (Alex Murphy 46), Livramento, Trippier (Shahar 87), Joelinton, Tonali, Eleanga, Gordon (Neave 84), Barnes
Unused Subs:
Ruddy, Gillespie, Charlton, Kulol, Show
Newcastle United Pre-season Friendly schedule 2025/26
Saturday July 12 – Newcastle 4 Carlisle 0 (behind closed doors)
Saturday, July 19 – Celtic 4 Newcastle 0
Sunday July 27 – Arsenal 3 Newcastle 2
Wednesday, July 30 – Team K-League All Stars 1 Newcastle 0
Sunday 3 August Spurs 1 Newcastle 1
Friday, August 8 – – Newcastle 2 Espanyol 2
Saturday, August 9 – – Newcastle 0 Atletico Madrid 2
You can follow the author on Bluesky @bigjimwinsalot.bsky.social
#good #season #Tijd