SUPER MAC Prized pair of Magpies who have sent the Toon soaring
HOW ALMIRON AND LONGSTAFF ARE BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN UNITED
WHISPER it - but Miguel Almiron and Sean Longstaff have taken this Newcastle United side to another level.
One came in for a club record transfer fee and the other is a local lad out of the academy but they have combined to change the fortunes of this club.
Almiron is such a generous player.
He has not arrived as the great ‘I am’ suggesting that at £21m everything must be about him.
He wants to help others, to fit in with them, not them with him. He works hard and his pace terrifies defenders.
I have actually been excited by him and as an old pro I have not said that too often.
He has turned Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez into better players because they know what he brings to the table.
Once Almiron scores his first goal he will really blossom.
He deserved to get it on his home debut when he broke away and dinked the goalkeeper, only to see the ball smack against the post.
That deserved a goal because of his impishness, his inventiveness. He had time to think on that long lonely run on goal but instead of freezing or getting caught in two minds he did the extravagant thing. That took confidence as well as ability.
Huddersfield captain Tommy Smith had tried to cut Almiron in half and got himself sent off.
It was a hitman’s job. I should know – my pace used to produce the same sort of tackles.
The lad will face a lot of that in the future but it did not faze him.
He continued doing the things he is good at.
As for Longstaff, he has that special thing all great midfielders have – the ability to look unrushed. Time on the ball.
He plays it simple, always looks to have space because of the positions he takes up and supports his front players.
Longstaff has scored in the league and the cup and won the penalty which defeated Manchester City. In other words he gets in the box - something Jonjo Shelvey rarely does.
Shelvey was being touted for England not so long ago. Now he cannot get in the side and it is Longstaff who is being talked about with regard to the Three Lions. When I was manager of Fulham I used to love to give the kids a chance. However, I would take them out after five or six games because mentally they had hit the buffers, let them replenish themselves in the reserves and then bring them back. Longstaff has not needed that. His standards have not dropped an inch. He seems grounded, not at all big-headed, and that will stand him in good stead. The danger is when kids start believing their own publicity.
Suddenly Newcastle are looking a good side. A proper unit, not a bunch of individuals.
Three central defenders is working, the two in front of them are consistent and up front are three players who complement one another.
I have been critical in the past of Isaac Hayden but I must say I am beginning to warm to him.
I need to see more but he is playing with an authority. He has grown into the team and works well with Longstaff.
To think Mo Diame, Ki and Shelvey are all fit but cannot get in because of Longstaff and Hayden. That would have been unthinkable early in the season.
West Ham will be tricky this afternoon but if United go about their business the way they did against Huddersfield and Burnley they will be all right.