Geordie Journos: All the insight from Toyko
Newcastle United writers Dominic Scurr and Jordan Cronin report from Tokyo. Despite disappointment for the team, the lads have had an amazing week - including speaking to fans over there.
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00:00Having Newcastle United in Japan, in Tokyo actually, that's a special occasion.
00:06First impression of Tokyo Jordan, I think you'll agree, I think the shade is no respite.
00:12It is possibly the warmest place I've ever been.
00:15Unstoppable.
00:17He actually, we joke about it but he actually is at the minute.
00:26Welcome back to Jordie Junos on Shots TV.
00:28As you can see, we're here in Japan, where Newcastle United have been for the past week.
00:35They've had two friendly games against Europa, Red Diamonds, a 4-1 win and a 2-0 defeat against
00:41Yokohama F Marinos, where we are now at the Japan National Stadium.
00:47So Jordan, I'll come to you just straight away.
00:49What's been your thoughts on the trip?
00:50Now it's coming to an end, well it's basically, I think it's been a productive trip for Newcastle United.
00:57On the pitch, it's been, I would say, a challenging one, challenging conditions in terms of the humidity and
01:04the heat over here.
01:06It's one of the first things that we mentioned as soon as we stepped off the plane.
01:09It's very, very hot.
01:11And yeah, I felt a bit sorry for Eddie Howe and his players having to go through that.
01:15And I think the conditions, maybe not in the first game, but certainly in the second game, played its part.
01:20I thought the first game Newcastle were comfortable winners, as the scoreline suggested, 4-1.
01:25And then on Saturday, lost 2-0.
01:28And yeah, I thought that the second half in particular, where Eddie Howe made a lot of changes,
01:35it just, yeah, it all came together where it was just one of them nights for Newcastle.
01:39I wouldn't read too much into the result, it's pre-season.
01:42But yeah, in terms of challenging conditions, it really did play its part Saturday against Yokohama.
01:47Yeah, so we'll start by looking back on this trip.
01:51We'll go over our initial thoughts.
01:55So this is what we initially thought when we arrived in Tokyo.
01:58Konnichiwa! We're in Tokyo, Japan.
02:02It's been a long, long 24 hours.
02:04I don't want to sound too full of complaints.
02:08We're here. I'm glad we're here.
02:10But I think the clock's just struck.
02:13We've been awake exactly 24 hours and we're just walking to the hotel now.
02:17So in the Shinjuku city region or world of Tokyo, if you like.
02:24Slightly quieter at the moment.
02:26We're in the shade.
02:27First impression of Tokyo, Japan.
02:29I think you'll agree.
02:30I think the shade is no respite.
02:33It is possibly the warmest place I've ever been.
02:36It's so hot, like so humid.
02:39As soon as we got out of the train station there.
02:41It's just like something I've never experienced before.
02:45You can probably see it on our face, especially mine.
02:47There's literally sweat dripping from my forehead.
02:50Tough for Newcastle then.
02:51I know, that's what I mean.
02:53You've got to go and play in this on Wednesday night and Saturday night.
02:57But then we've got to probably sit in it as well.
02:59There might be a bit of sunshine on us.
03:01I'm glad you brought suncream because I didn't.
03:03So I'll be nicking some of your suncream.
03:05Yeah, I suppose we'll get used to the heat.
03:08But it's finally good to actually be here.
03:10Because as you mentioned there, it's been such a long journey.
03:14So yeah, those were our initial thoughts, as you can see.
03:16It's been very, very hot this week in Tokyo.
03:19But next up was Eddie Howe's press conference on the Tuesday,
03:23where he had quite a bit to say.
03:25From Japan and the Komazawa Olympic Park,
03:28where Newcastle United have been training for the first time this morning.
03:32We saw the likes of Bruno Back, Lloyd Kelly,
03:36Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock all training.
03:39We also spoke to Eddie Howe and Dan Byrne
03:41in a sort of throwback to Champions League press conference, wasn't it?
03:44Yeah, the translation.
03:45Translation, that sort of 30-second awkward silence
03:48where Eddie Howe and Dan Byrne twiddling their thumbs.
03:51But yeah, there was actually plenty to come from it, our thoughts.
03:55Plenty of lines and update on England.
03:57Eddie Howe reiterating his commitment to Newcastle United,
04:00no contact with England.
04:01But Jordan, what were your thoughts on the day?
04:03We also got to see Newcastle training as well, very briefly.
04:07Yeah, so I would say on the training,
04:08having previously beaten Germany not long ago,
04:12we've seen a lot more of the training today than we did in Germany.
04:15Because of the running track,
04:16it actually allowed us to get quite close to the players.
04:20So I thought that was really good.
04:21I mean, you don't get to see much more than them running about
04:23and kicking a ball for a couple of seconds or whatever.
04:26But I thought it was really good to see.
04:28It was, as you mentioned there,
04:30in the hour and a half, a full group,
04:32all the exceptionally free players, but they're not notable names.
04:35Yeah, Gareth Cole, Alfie Harrison and Keithel Heffernan.
04:40I think that's how you pronounce it.
04:41Gareth Cole didn't travel.
04:43Sorry.
04:43It was Harrison Ashby who has travelled,
04:47not involved in training this morning,
04:48or at least the 15-minute session.
04:50I'm glad you correct us there.
04:51Yeah, but Gareth Cole was one of them.
04:52That segues us nicely into one of your questions
04:55about the players who didn't travel,
04:57who were unconfirmed why they didn't travel, obviously.
05:01We've got Kieran Trivia, Anthony Gordon,
05:03who we knew weren't travelling due to international and extended break.
05:07But Gareth Cole, Alex Murphy and the other player, Joe White.
05:11It's all up here.
05:14It's all the heat it's getting, we're getting stuff.
05:17Yes, we're sweating.
05:18But yeah, they're not travelling
05:19and we thought could be loan-related potentially,
05:23but Eddie Howe, injuries.
05:24Yeah, all injured.
05:25So they're not here.
05:28I'd imagine probably for Gareth Cole,
05:29it'll be an absolute banger that he goes out on loan.
05:33Eddie Howe already hinted that previously anyway,
05:34but that's not why he's here.
05:37He's swollen to his...
05:38To his knee?
05:39I think it was either his knee or his ankle.
05:41His leg.
05:41Terrible, terrible.
05:43We're not promoting facts here,
05:44but it was either one of the two.
05:46Liam's not here, someone's got to do the waffle.
05:49Yeah, so Joe White I think was a problem with his back, I think.
05:54Yes.
05:54And Alex Murphy...
05:56Hip.
05:57Hip, as you remember that.
05:58I remember it because the woman who was translating
06:01had to ask Eddie Howe all over again, didn't she?
06:04Yeah, my questions caused a few translations.
06:06Eddie Howe wanted a translation.
06:09Eddie Howe was translating my question
06:11and his answer back to this lady.
06:12But yeah, they're not present.
06:14But as I said there, I think it was pretty much a full house
06:17in terms of senior players there, which was good.
06:20Lloyd Kelly, Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock,
06:23obviously they missed the whole game.
06:24They trained.
06:26One of the questions I asked Eddie Howe was,
06:27when will we see them?
06:28And I think we'll probably see them for the second game of the...
06:31Yokohama Marinoski.
06:33Yeah, I like your pronunciation of that one.
06:35But that was my two questions in the press conference
06:38and I had a little bit of a huddle with Eddie Howe,
06:40which I'll come on to.
06:41Much appreciated.
06:42Yeah, it was hard because obviously I had lots of Japanese press
06:44wanting to ask as well, which was fair enough.
06:46It's an open game, fair game,
06:48but it was really tough to get a flow of questions
06:50where I had two questions I was going to ask a third,
06:53which I'll come on to,
06:54but then was cut off by the person that was sort of hosting it
06:56and then went to someone else.
06:57So yeah, it was a different dynamic,
07:00very much a throwback to the Champions League press conference,
07:02as you mentioned.
07:04But in that press conference,
07:05I think I mentioned a couple of my lines there, one of yours.
07:08Questions, Bruno Gimaraes?
07:09Yes, I had a triple hit at Eddie Howe on Bruno.
07:14Just asked how pleased he was to see him back,
07:18and obviously pleased.
07:20He said the quality of the group has increased significantly
07:23and having sort of a bare-bones squad in the previous couple of weeks
07:27to now having the likes of Bruno back, Fabian Scheer,
07:30Martin Dubravka, Miguel Almiron,
07:31just bolsters the squad, raises the quality.
07:33And now we're starting XI for the upcoming friendly games,
07:36starts to look a whole lot stronger with Bruno in it.
07:39Now we head to the big game,
07:42the Saitama Stadium for the 4-1 win against Urawa Red Diamonds.
07:48Here's what me and Jordan had to say.
07:50Good game.
07:51Yeah, I thought it was.
07:52I thought there were some good performances out there.
07:57Go through three players that stood out for me,
07:59we might have another one as well.
08:02Jacob Murphy, a man in form.
08:05Unstoppable.
08:07He actually, we joke about it, but he actually is at the minute.
08:10Look, it's only pre-season, of course,
08:11there's got to be a caveat about that.
08:13He's only had five goals and six assists in his last nine games in all.
08:17Yeah, so as much as he's been impressed in pre-season,
08:20you go back to the last season as well,
08:22when he got several assists, chipped in with goals,
08:27kept Miguel Almiron out of the team,
08:30and then is probably going to do the same at the start of the season
08:37if Newcastle don't go and sign a right winger.
08:41But look, who needs a right winger when you've got Jacob Murphy?
08:45Obviously, I say a top caster,
08:46because it is a position that Newcastle need to strengthen,
08:48but to be fair to Murphy,
08:50we all know Newcastle need to strengthen that position,
08:52but he's making it difficult for his manager, shall we say.
08:57Yeah, yeah.
08:58I asked Eddie Howe, is the right wing position one you're looking to actively strengthen,
09:02which we understand it is.
09:03Eddie Howe typically said,
09:05I wouldn't comment so specifically because I don't want to do a disservice
09:09to the players currently playing in that position,
09:11did say Jacob Murphy is in great form at the moment.
09:15And yeah, he's, I wouldn't say he's answering any questions,
09:18but he's made himself the first choice right winger heading into the new season,
09:23ahead of Miguel Almiron.
09:24I think, I think I've said this before,
09:27and you probably have in the interview as well,
09:29when the club was first taken over,
09:30Jacob Murphy's one of these players that he would probably be first out the door.
09:33I don't think I was the only one that thought that.
09:35He was probably in a similar category to a Javier Manquillo type player,
09:41like, or an Emil Kraft maybe now is.
09:46But Jacob Murphy is slowly just almost crept up.
09:48I mean, is he in Newcastle's strongest 11?
09:53Possibly, but just because of the position he plays.
09:56And if we're being honest, in an ideal world,
09:59you'd have Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes playing either side of Alexander Isak.
10:03So yeah, Jacob Murphy's slowly crept up.
10:05I think I've gone on the record on Jordi Jones.
10:07I think he's a good squad player,
10:09but I think that's probably as far as it goes.
10:13As much as we're singing his praises and how he's been in pre-season,
10:17so big caveat and asterisks.
10:20Yeah, I think he's dealing the hand he's been dealt.
10:23I'm sorry, playing the hand he's been dealt as well as he can.
10:26He's just found a place in the squad.
10:29And I think Jacob Murphy is quite happy to be a squad player.
10:32He loves the tune, doesn't he?
10:34Which is all you can ask for.
10:35But he's probably been a squad player for the last two and a half years or anyhow,
10:39but he's came in for periods of games.
10:42And usually it's coincided with a very good run of form for Newcastle.
10:45So I think, yeah, I see the total value in having him around.
10:50I think he's a top pro, obviously a really popular voice and member of the dressing room.
10:56And I think he's reaping the rewards for a lot of hard work.
10:59Because you go back to the start of Jacob Murphy's journey at Newcastle,
11:03really struggled under Rafa Benitez,
11:07ended up going out on loan in the Sheffield Wednesday in West Bromwich Albion.
11:11And then for him to be playing first-team football for Newcastle
11:15three or four years later is a hell of an achievement.
11:19So, yeah, of course it's only pre-season,
11:22but I do think probably based on the back end of last season as well,
11:24I think he deserves massive praise for the way he's performed.
11:26Yeah, we've become the Jacob Murphy fan channel, I think, in recent weeks.
11:31But yeah, Jacob Murphy, I wouldn't say he's answered any issues.
11:35Newcastle still very much need to strengthen in the right-wing position.
11:38But something anyhow was asked on transfers once again after the game.
11:43Are Newcastle close to a transfer breakthrough?
11:47So that concludes part one of the Geordie Journals on Shots TV.
11:50We'll see you in part two.
12:06Welcome back to part two of the Geordie Journals on Shots TV from Japan.
12:10We've been looking back on our week here in Tokyo.
12:14As me and Jordan have been saying, a productive week for Newcastle,
12:17ultimately ended in disappointment.
12:19But we've got to connect with Newcastle fans out here in Tokyo.
12:23That was great, Jordan, wasn't it?
12:24Yeah, it was absolutely brilliant.
12:26People from all four corners of the world,
12:28whether that be in Japan itself, Singapore, Dubai,
12:32obviously, of course, England.
12:33It was really good to see so many fans mixing together
12:36and it was quite wholesome, I thought.
12:37So yeah, that was one of my highlights of the trip.
12:39Yeah, and we spoke to a few fans at the fan event today
12:42and there were certainly some interesting stories.
12:45Yeah, they are.
12:46I've been supporting Newcastle since 2012.
12:52And I started to organise some Newcastle United-related events in Tokyo since 2014.
12:59So I've been doing this for about 10 years, actually.
13:04And then finally, we have Newcastle United here.
13:06That's fantastic news.
13:07I've been to Newcastle for three times, so it's not a first time for me.
13:10But yeah, having Newcastle United in Japan, in Tokyo, actually,
13:15that's a special occasion.
13:18Last time Newcastle visited Japan was 1996.
13:21So I was two years old and I didn't know nothing about football.
13:25I'm so glad to sing the tune, being here.
13:29Fans from all four corners of the world, what do you think of that?
13:32I think it's great that people from all over the world support Newcastle.
13:36It's to be encouraged and they're really enthusiastic.
13:39They know all the songs and they've got some brilliant banners for the aware.
13:43Would you come back here after Newcastle and do a tour here again?
13:46Yeah, we'd consider it, yeah.
13:48They support us.
13:49That is the best thing in the world.
13:52I really love the team.
13:55Also, Newcastle is my life.
13:59Why is it your life?
14:00Why did you choose to support Newcastle all the way out here in Japan?
14:03It's like about 10 years ago, I watched a game against Hull City.
14:10The game was so crazy and Alan Pardew had a headbutt.
14:17That is the game I watched first and at that time I already fell in love with this team.
14:24Alan was my hero, that's why I love Newcastle.
14:29In 2020, I've been there but unfortunately the game was cancelled.
14:37Tonight, it will be my first Newcastle United game so I'm so excited.
14:41One of my dreams came true.
14:42So yeah, Alan Pardew headbutt inspired supporting of Newcastle, Jordan.
14:48Yeah, that's the best Newcastle United supporting story I think I've ever heard.
14:53Certainly beats us, born in Newcastle.
14:55Yeah, yeah.
14:56Boring, isn't it?
14:57I actually remember that and laughing at my TV at the time when I'd seen Alan Pardew do that.
15:02So yeah, a fan in Japan was inspired by that Alan Pardew headbutt.
15:06He loves the chaos, loves the drama.
15:08Yeah, it just goes to show just tiny little things that just spark the attention of people.
15:13So yeah, that was great to see.
15:14But then after that, it was straight to the Japan National Stadium
15:19where Newcastle unfortunately ended the trip with a defeat.
15:24But Eddie Howe had plenty to say afterwards.
15:27So here's what me and Jordan had to say after that from basically right here.
15:32We've been there tonight watching Newcastle United.
15:35Unfortunately, the trip ended with a 2-0 defeat against Yokohama?
15:40Yokohama?
15:41F Marinos.
15:43Marinos.
15:44Terrible pronunciation.
15:45Marinos.
15:46I was waiting for you to do that.
15:47But yeah, my pronunciation, you know that by now.
15:49It's not the best.
15:50But what was your thoughts on it, Dom?
15:52Because I've seen a bit of reaction on Twitter and I think there was a few people disappointed.
15:56You don't want to lose in pre-season.
15:58But the one thing I would say, the heat here tonight has played a massive part.
16:03Jordan, I'm scared for my health right now.
16:05I don't want to worry my mum, my fiancé, Liam.
16:10Three most important people in my life.
16:12I don't want to ruin it.
16:13What about me?
16:14Your fault.
16:16I'm kidding.
16:17So yeah, I've been struggling.
16:20So the lads who've been having to play,
16:22Sean Longstaff had to play 90 minutes after being brought in from the cold.
16:25I spoke to him after the game.
16:27Honestly, some struggle.
16:29And you can see why Newcastle struggled tonight on the pitch as well.
16:33Not to make excuses for them.
16:34They weren't good enough in most senses of the word.
16:39They huffed and puffed.
16:41They tried.
16:42I thought they started the game reasonably brightly.
16:44But once they went behind, there was no real question that they were going to get back in the game.
16:50I didn't feel confident they would.
16:53Especially when they brought off their big hit as if you like and started bringing on the young lads.
16:58One positive I will take.
17:00Bruno back.
17:01Bruno is captain.
17:02Pulling the strings.
17:04We said last pre-season, Bruno had a slow start to pre-season.
17:10You can't read too much in it really.
17:11He had about five wins.
17:13Yeah, as Liam would say.
17:15But yeah, he looked fresh.
17:17I think he was, certainly from Newcastle's perspective, my man of the match.
17:22I think he was head and shoulders above anyone on that pitch, to be honest.
17:25And that includes the home side players as well.
17:27Even though they won, I thought everything in that first half came through him.
17:31He was at the heart of everything.
17:32I know we say that pretty much every game with Bruno.
17:35But Newcastle's best chances came from Bruno putting the ball in behind.
17:38He was constantly looking for Isaac and Barnes.
17:41Almiron as well.
17:42And there was a lot of balls he did get in behind,
17:44but just didn't quite have that finishing touch in that first half.
17:48But yeah, you put Bruno on the team, although last night he just looked immediately better.
17:53I just thought the first half Newcastle just didn't have the shooting boots at all.
17:56I actually thought they were probably the better team.
17:58Yeah.
17:59But obviously fell behind.
18:01And then, as I say, the second half was I think seven changes at half-time.
18:06You then had Lewis Hall coming off midway through.
18:08I think Joe Linton did as well.
18:10You then got Ben Parkinson leading the line from 45 minutes onwards.
18:14So I think the heat, as we've mentioned, hot and humid.
18:20I was sweating watching it, to be honest.
18:22And I would hate to think how the players felt playing in it.
18:24I think that played a part in, as I say, with the changes.
18:28I just think it all disrupted Newcastle's momentum.
18:31And it was just one of them typical pre-season games where it just fizzled out.
18:35Will Osula, who I will come on to first.
18:38That deal, as we understand, is agreed with Sheffield United.
18:44Expect him to probably finalise his move next week.
18:49The signing itself, I think it's fine.
18:54The thing I would say about Osula is he's young, he's clearly got potential,
18:58and Newcastle need a third striker.
19:00I think it would probably indicate that Calum Wilson is going to stay, to be honest.
19:02And to have a young, up-and-coming striker learning off two very good strikers,
19:07as much as Calum Wilson has got, he's an exceptional player.
19:10I can see the logic in it.
19:13So I'm in favour of that deal.
19:15Newcastle need a third man.
19:17I think he won't come in demanding to play games,
19:20especially when they've got Europe next season.
19:21So rotation levels, you'd think, will be less.
19:24So it's just a player there, a third body,
19:26who will come in and play and learn off very good players.
19:30He has to be a third body because Newcastle haven't replaced, still,
19:34as we see all the time, Chris Wood.
19:36And he should be seen as a Chris Wood replacement.
19:39He cannot be the Calum Wilson replacement.
19:41He hasn't scored a Premier League goal.
19:43He is only 20.
19:44Bags of potential.
19:45Sounds like Paul Mitchell really likes him as well.
19:48So Will Osula, I think, would be an ideal third-choice striker,
19:53not a first-choice striker.
19:54Because it's only going to be up for him, hopefully, 20 years old.
19:58It's no age.
19:59He could play for the under-21s.
20:01He wouldn't take up a place in the squad either.
20:03So, yeah, I think it ticks a lot of boxes.
20:05And Newcastle need that third-choice striker
20:07because there's no point saying,
20:09oh, Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon can play through the middle.
20:12That's not their best positions.
20:14And that should not happen in an ideal world.
20:16But Will Osula playing 20 minutes here and there.
20:19Obviously, the deal is subject to personal terms and a medical,
20:22which are yet to be ratified.
20:25But, yeah, I think an exciting one enough to get the ball rolling
20:30and bolster Newcastle's attacking line.
20:32But I think a really exciting but quite interesting one
20:37that emerged also late in the day, once we'd left the park.
20:41Actually, no, we were still more or less in it, weren't we?
20:44But, yeah, Mark Gay, England, Crystal Palace.
20:48Also very expensive.
20:50Yeah, so that's one thing I would say about this deal.
20:53Newcastle are in talks with Crystal Palace over Gay,
20:57but they'll have to pay top dollar to get him in.
21:02And to Rumad, the price tag down the rounds is ÂŁ65 million.
21:07Obviously, that is a lot of money in a potential stumbling block,
21:13in my opinion, but he is a player I really well like,
21:18has been for a while, I think.
21:21Even when he's kicked around at Chelsea,
21:24there were some links to Mark Gay around that time.
21:27Obviously, his stock hasn't really been higher off the back of Euros,
21:32as we understand as well, as widely reported.
21:35Other clubs are interested, so as much as it's encouraging
21:38that Newcastle have made the first move for Gay,
21:41I do think there may be a few twists and turns
21:44before that deal is agreed.
21:47Will they agree that deal? I think time will tell.
21:50But clearly there is a want to get him in,
21:53and that will probably be dictated by A, finances,
21:57and if the player wants to move to Newcastle,
22:00because other clubs may indeed come in,
22:04and then it's Mark Gay who's got a decision to make.
22:07But for me, I really like the transfer of Newcastle to sign Mark Gay.
22:11Like many fans watching out there, I'd be very, very happy with that.
22:15Yeah, I think it's an ambitious signing,
22:17but he's a player who's spoken highly of St James' Park in the past,
22:20which we were like, well, that's interesting,
22:22it's his favourite ground to play at,
22:24which a lot of players say, to be fair,
22:26well, you've been to St James' Park, most of you, I imagine,
22:29so you'll know what it's like.
22:31Yeah, that concludes our review of our trip to Japan.
22:34It's been a great week, a tiring week, a hard-working week,
22:38but it's coming to a close now.
22:41By the time you're watching this, we're probably on our way home,
22:44on a plane home, so, yeah.
22:46Jordan, what's your final thoughts on how the week's gone?
22:50Well, it's been a pleasure spending it with you, Dom.
22:52Thank you. I'm surprised we haven't fallen, though.
22:54If Liam was here, I'm sure we would have.
22:56Yeah, we would have, yeah.
22:58But I think it's been really, really good.
23:00Coming to Tokyo, the biggest city in the world,
23:02has been an incredible experience.
23:05We went up to one of the government towers yesterday
23:08and we've seen the city for miles and miles,
23:11and it just didn't end.
23:13The people here have been really friendly, polite,
23:18and the casting night as well has been very accommodating,
23:21with access to eHow, players being able to see training as well.
23:25So, a really good week.
23:27But, of course, now that's over and it's back to England,
23:29where I know it's summer, but it's probably going to be cold,
23:32and maybe I won't complain about the cold.
23:34I wouldn't welcome that cold.
23:35But CELA weekend next up, before the Premier League season kicks off.
23:38So, the pre-season preparations are nearly over,
23:40and I'm counting down the days until the Premier League season
23:43finally gets underway.
23:44And in our next video, we may well be reflecting on the CELA weekend,
23:47or at least looking forward to the opening game
23:50of the Premier League season against Southampton
23:52on August 17th.
23:55We'll see you there.