Yohan Cabaye in WaterworldIn a match that seemed more suited to swimming trunks and armbands rather than a football kit, Newcastle and Fiorentina braved the atrocious weather in order to win the final friendly of pre-season.
Plumes of water shot up from every foot fall, a wake of rain tracked the ball through it’s journey around the hallowed turf and most annoying of all, the ball had a tendency to stick with each pass. Not the best of days to play football, then.
Contrary to popular belief, rain makes for amazing weather to play football in. You’re constantly moving to keep warm and every tackle gives you a new mark of war as mud tracks along your body and clothes – nothing better on a Sunday afternoon if you ask me. On the other hand, when you’re playing a match against the purple clad Italian giants, a kickaround with your mates doesn’t really seem to come close.
From the kick off Newcastle looked to put the opposition on the back foot and short of a beautiful passing display by the Italians, they never really looked like scoring. There were times when we overcommitted and almost conceded but Tim Krul showed some very safe hands to keep the scoreline level. (more…)
Fiorentina: A stiff test for the lads.Newcastle United have announced a friendly match against Italian Serie A side, Fiorentina. The match will be played at St James’ Park on Saturday, 6th August with kick off at 3PM.
So far, Newcastle had previously announced two friendly games against Darlington at the Darlington Arena (15th July), and Leeds at Elland Road (31st July). Between these fixtures, the club will be on a three match tour of the United States where the Magpies will face Sporting Kansas City (July 20), Orlando City (July 23) and Columbus Crew (July 26).
The Fiorentina game is the first home friendly to be announced, and of course, the side from Florence should provide the stiffest test so far of the Magpies’ pre season fixtures, and should give us a good look at how the new signings fare against quality opposition. Last year, they finished ninth in Italy’s Serie A under Serbian manager, Siniša Mihajlović, and their squad features players such as World Cup winning Italian international, Alberto Gilardino.
The one and only previous meeting between the two sides was in the final of the 1972/3 Anglo Italian Cup in Florence, which Joe Harvey’s Magpie team won 2-1, with a goal from SkySport’s very own David Craig along with a home goal from Fiorentina keeper, Superchi. Here’s hoping for a repeat of that at our place 38 years on! (more…)