Newcastle started tonight's Europa Cup win against Brugge with an outfield average age of only 23. The future is bright. Three of the lineup were 21 or under: Shane Ferguson (21), Sammy Ameobi (20) and Gael Bigirimana (19).
Newcastle won the game with a brilliantly worked Gabriel Obertan goal two minutes into the second half, but it is the performances of the three youngest players that I am going to focus on here.
- Obertan secures Magpies win
- Pardew delighted with young guns
Shane Ferguson
Fergie started the game at left back though I firmly believe he is a natural winger. He consistently delivers excellent crosses and is ready for more Premier League action, especially at St James' Park. He delivered one of those crosses onto the head of Papiss Cisse early on in the second half. Cisse headed the ball downwards but straight at the goalkeeper. He should have scored and given the young Ulsterman yet another assist this season.
Shane also took on a lot of the set-piece duties. Like his senior teammates, many of these were very poor -- especially the free kick that he sent well over the bar halfway through the second half. A couple of his corners were good though -- he picked out Cisse from a first half corner but again Cisse was found wanting.
Ferguson played 80 minutes before being replaced by Yohan Cabaye
Rating: 7/10
Sammy Ameobi
Sammy showed a great deal of promise tonight as well as occasional glimpses that he still has a lot to learn, though time is obviously on his side. Breaking down the right hand side 24 minutes into the game Sammy ran at the defence. He beat his first man with ease, megged the second and was then hauled down. Brilliant skill.
Six minutes later, he ran at Brugge down the right flank again. He skipped between players and shot wide of the near post. Great run but a poor Shola-esque finish!
Sammy's best moment came with his creation of our goal. Thirty yards from his own goal, he flicked the ball to Shola, Shola flicked it back to him and Sammy's flick over another midfielder was the pick of the lot. He controlled the ball, drove forwards and slipped it out right to Obertan, who drilled the ball into the far corner. Fantastic goal with absolute brilliance from Sammy Ameobi.
Sammy was replaced on 72 making way for Lord Coloccini of Tyneside
Rating: 8/10
Gael Bigirimana
Cheick Tiote says he's Bigi's dad and they are certainly difficult to tell apart at times. Bigirimana displayed a good range of passes early on as he yet again impressed the Newcastle public with his abilities. Tiote and Bigirimana rotated between the deeper and more advanced roles. In my opinion, Bigi is better suited to the more forward-thinking role when playing in this particular partnership.
Bigi was turned inside out in the 63rd minute and the cross to the back post should have seen an equaliser for Brugge, but somehow Carlos Bacca managed to miss a half-open goal, heading into the ground and over the bar in true Carl Cort style (Bradford away). This was during Brugge's best period of the game. They were finding more and more gaps in the midfield.
Tiote-junior showed it was more than just a physical resemblance he shares with his team mate when he was booked in the 82nd minute after a couple of needless rash fouls.
All on all Gael Bigirimana was OK tonight. He has a huge future in the game.
Rating: 6.5/10
Overall, this game was pleasing. No apparent injuries (though I did note Davide Santon rub at his hamstring 83 minutes in) and another clean sheet with a very young side. Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen are the only two teams who are yet to concede a goal in the group stage so far.
The win edges Newcastle closer to the second round. A similar result over in Belgium two weeks from now might just do the job.
@MarcSDuffy