Kansas City KO
So, two pre-season friendlies and two clean sheets, even though we couldn't actually score in yesterday's dull 0-0 draw with Sporting Kansas City. But once again the headline news is neither the result, nor the performance, nor the debuts for Sylvain Marveaux and Demba Ba - no, it's the injury sustained by Hatem Ben Arfa.
The Frenchman lasted 35 minutes, hitting the post from behind the goal-line at one point, before being stretchered off with an ankle injury that's since been deemed sufficiently severe as to rule him out of the rest of the tour and necessitate a return to Blighty. There's no indication yet as to the likely length of the lay-off, but, knowing our luck as we do, forgive us for fearing the worst.
Dan Gosling, like Ben Arfa pretty much a permacrock last season, also picked up an injury. It was to the face, though, and after extensive treatment early in the game he was able to continue until replaced by Danny Simpson shortly after the hour mark.
Meanwhile, over in the Netherlands the Youngsters, Crims & Rejects squad recorded a 2-2 draw with amateurs HVV Hollandia. ASBO scored early, as he did against Darlington, but went on to miss a penalty as the Dutch outfit came from behind to take the lead. Good of the Mirror's Simon Bird to remind ASBO of his mocking verdict on the USA v Brazil shoot-out in the Womens' World Cup... Thankfully Ryan Donaldson was on hand towards the end to spare our blushes. ASBO's fellow visa rejects Yohan Cabaye and the Lone Ranger both played a part, as did Xisco and Wayne Routledge, the latter probably not a Newcastle player for too much longer.
The Frenchman lasted 35 minutes, hitting the post from behind the goal-line at one point, before being stretchered off with an ankle injury that's since been deemed sufficiently severe as to rule him out of the rest of the tour and necessitate a return to Blighty. There's no indication yet as to the likely length of the lay-off, but, knowing our luck as we do, forgive us for fearing the worst.
Dan Gosling, like Ben Arfa pretty much a permacrock last season, also picked up an injury. It was to the face, though, and after extensive treatment early in the game he was able to continue until replaced by Danny Simpson shortly after the hour mark.
Meanwhile, over in the Netherlands the Youngsters, Crims & Rejects squad recorded a 2-2 draw with amateurs HVV Hollandia. ASBO scored early, as he did against Darlington, but went on to miss a penalty as the Dutch outfit came from behind to take the lead. Good of the Mirror's Simon Bird to remind ASBO of his mocking verdict on the USA v Brazil shoot-out in the Womens' World Cup... Thankfully Ryan Donaldson was on hand towards the end to spare our blushes. ASBO's fellow visa rejects Yohan Cabaye and the Lone Ranger both played a part, as did Xisco and Wayne Routledge, the latter probably not a Newcastle player for too much longer.
Labels: dan gosling, hatem ben arfa, pre-season
posted by Ben at 11:03 pm
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