Jamaal Lascelles

[Figures 1-0 Football]

Shelvey, maybe. To try keep his head in the game.

[McCormick]

Pity he is shit like.

 

Fuck's sake.

[mighty__mag]

Shelvey is a good player. But I dont think he cares that much. Blanked all us fans at Preston recently.

[Away Day Gadgie]

Love this lad.  Whatever he lacks in talent he more than makes up for in attitude, something people underestimate at times.  He's clearly an intelligent lad and i'm sure he'll improve as the season goes on.

[Anon]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/4176472/jamaal-lascelles-newcastle-are-united/

 

SINGING THE SAME TOON Newcastle star Jamaal Lascelles: We used to have players who didn’t care – now we are United

Toon skipper admits Rafa Benitez' side's team spirit has transformed and vows to not let new signings break it

 

 

The Sun (and the Chron) always get their writing style shown up when posting on here - 5 millions paragraphs each 5 words long. Looks more like a shopping list rather than an article.

[Kanj]

Web article meant to be read on phone tablet or computer. Generally easier to read that way.

[Seymour]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/4176472/jamaal-lascelles-newcastle-are-united/

 

SINGING THE SAME TOON Newcastle star Jamaal Lascelles: We used to have players who didn’t care – now we are United

Toon skipper admits Rafa Benitez' side's team spirit has transformed and vows to not let new signings break it

 

JAMAAL LASCELLES knows how bad eggs can stink out a dressing room – and he will not let it happen at Newcastle again.

 

The centre-half, 23, memorably slammed some of his own Toon team-mates during their doomed last Premier League campaign.

 

After a 3-1 defeat at Southampton in April 2016, Lascelles broke ranks to admit that Newcastle needed “more heart, desire and bigger characters”.

 

The then rookie defender’s public rant made him a fans’ favourite, with boss Rafa Benitez awarding him the club captaincy following relegation.

 

Last season, Newcastle went on to win the Championship under the leadership of Lascelles, who further adhered himself to supporters by playing through a double hernia from Christmas onwards.

 

And the ex-England Under-21 international claims the Toon’s team spirit is now a million miles from what it was in 2015-16 – and he has vowed to not let any new signings break it.

 

Speaking ahead of Newcastle’s Premier League opener with Tottenham, Lascelles told SunSport: “There’s a massive difference.

 

“I’m not going to sit here and slate the players that were here before, but maybe they didn’t have that heart which you needed to have at that time.

 

“I think togetherness and being a team is so important in football and that’s exactly what we are now.

 

“It’s important that we keep that, so whoever we bring in, their attitude has got to be right.

 

“If I see it’s not, I’ll tell them or I’ll pull them to a side and say ‘Listen’.

 

“Players can affect how a team is, but the boys won’t let that happen.

 

“If someone was to come into this team, they’d have to do it the way we do it.”

 

That relegation season was Lascelles’ first at St James’ Park, having signed for Newcastle from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2014, but gone back to the City Ground on loan for a year.

 

He was largely stuck on the bench under Steve McClaren and was left to watch some of his team-mates down tools.

 

And he could not hide his frustration, with cameras picking him up shouting “Nobody gives a f***” as he walked down the tunnel after being sent off in the last minute of a 3-0 defeat at Everton.

 

But it was at St Mary’s where Lascelles really put his head above the parapet and let rip in a post-match TV interview.

 

He recalled: “It just happened. I wasn’t thinking about it.

 

“I was just angry and frustrated, because I’d been on the bench and I’d been watching. I could see what was going on.

 

“At that moment in time, we were holding on for our lives, fighting a relegation battle.

 

“And I just felt like some players weren’t pulling their weight or weren’t even that bothered. I thought some players weren’t giving their all.

 

“OK, they might be more talented than someone but what’s the point of having talent if you are not going to work hard or you don’t care about the club.

 

“After I spoke, there were a few upset people in the dressing room, there were a few arguments.

 

“But I felt like someone needed to say something and I did.

 

“I’m not saying I was a big leader back then, but i don’t think you are a true leader if you are going to shy away and not tell someone.

 

“If you think something needs to be said, then you do say it.”

 

Lascelles was praised for speaking his mind so it was a popular decision when he was handed the captain’s armband, something he hopes to keep hold of this season.

 

And it is clear he takes his role seriously – speaking more like a manager than a skipper when asked about his duties.

 

Lascelles said: “Being made captain was something you wouldn’t dream of.

 

“For a huge manager with a big profile like Rafa to give me the armband is quite phenomenal.

 

“It comes with a lot of added pressure but I feel like I can deal with that.

 

“Every time I train and every game, I’m learning new things.

 

“Like how to get the best out of a player, whether you give them constructive criticism or whether you give them a pat on the back.

 

“Over the last year, I managed to get to know my players even better, so I kind of know how to approach players and get the best out of them.

 

“If someone needs a kick up the backside, then that’s what they need to get.”

 

Lascelles certainly led by example last season when he put off a double hernia operation to play through the pain barrier for half of the campaign.

 

He eventually had surgery immediately after Newcastle clinched promotion with a win over Preston at the end of April.

 

And Lascelles explained: “It was around Christmas time that I first felt something and it was pretty bad.

 

“I was in pain every step, every training session. I used to get injections in my butt cheek before every game to try and mask the pain.

 

“In terms of running and getting around the pitch, I was probably playing at about 50 per cent.

 

“I knew I was struggling and at times I wasn’t doing myself any justice.

 

“But at the same time I couldn’t sit there and watch the team play.

 

“When there is a massive prize on the line, getting promoted and getting Newcastle back in the Premier League, you’d pretty much do anything for that, wouldn’t you?

 

“I’m not really a fan of players who get little niggles and come off when they probably could play if they grit their teeth.”

 

Lascelles admits he now feels “like a different person” following his operation and thinks he will be able to “offer more for the team” this season.

 

And he is also backing Newcastle to shine on their Premier League return.

 

Lascelles added: “We haven’t really spoken about our aim, but personally I think it should be to try and get in the top ten.

 

“I don’t see why we can’t. I think we will do well.”

He didnt say it pissed at a wedding though so not really too impressed tbh

[Yorkie]

Really like Lascelles. Really hope he improves.

[Tiotes Witch Doctor]

I hope that his injury problems that he describes are the reason why he was poor for a lot of his games in the second half of the season, it would surely make sense, because he was a beast in the first half of the season, I can't help but think Rafa will start with Clark and Lejeune from what we've seen, but this guy is definitely the future at the back.

[Heron]

Love this lad.  Whatever he lacks in talent he more than makes up for in attitude, something people underestimate at times.  He's clearly an intelligent lad and i'm sure he'll improve as the season goes on.

[U2]

He is miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiles away from match fitness

[Guest]

Hope we don't just throw him back in. Let him ease his way back to fitness, think CB is our strongest position anyway in terms of alternatives.

[morla84]

Captain again ??

[Shearergol]

Captain again ??

 

Surprised. Although we haven't exactly added a new leader.

[Chicane]

Really want the guy to do well

[xLiaaamx]

Considering he's clearly the leader of the group, and he played through injury for months, It was never going to be taken off him. Why would it? Captain doesn't mean best player. He's done nothing to deserve losing it.

[afar]

He's making an excellent point, which a lot of these pundits and even our own fans are overlooking. This is a much more together group of players than we had in our previous PL campaign, where we have to remember we only just went down. They respect and play for their manager, something that was not evident when we had the likes of Pardew, Carver and McClaren running the show, that has a big bearing on how we will perform as a team.

[louistoon]

He's making an excellent point, which a lot of these pundits and even our own fans are overlooking. This is a much more together group of players than we had in our previous PL campaign, where we have to remember we only just went down. They respect and play for their manager, something that was not evident when we had the likes of Pardew, Carver and McClaren running the show, that has a big bearing on how we will perform as a team.

 

I think thats what should edge it. Our team is a unit this year. We have lost players like Wijnaldum, Townsend and Sissoko, but we'll be playing as a unit this year. Plus i think our defence and central midfield is better than last time. It will be difficult though as I think all three promoted teams will give it more of a go than any of the relegated teams did this season.

[Greg]

Good quote from Rafa. "He has the mentality and passion you are looking for and helps the new players settle and tries to push when needed, sometimes he will be on the pitch, sometimes he will not be playing but is someone I can trust in terms of how he behaves, works and pushes the others".

[Dokko]

Good quote from Rafa. "He has the mentality and passion you are looking for and helps the new players settle and tries to push when needed, sometimes he will be on the pitch, sometimes he will not be playing but is someone I can trust in terms of how he behaves, works and pushes the others".

 

Or you could have Colo....

[ponsaelius]

He got unfair criticism last season, in light of the fact that he played 47 matches while enduring injury problems.

 

Don't think he's a worldbeater, but he has attributes and age on his side.

[Ikon]

He got unfair criticism last season, in light of the fact that he played 47 matches while enduring injury problems.

 

Don't think he's a worldbeater, but he has attributes and age on his side.

 

It wasn't unfair at all. As justified as any other player doing badly. Made quite many silly mistakes during different periods of the season. Hopefully he'll learn from them.

[ponsaelius]

Nah, I do think it got a bit intense and over the top at one stage on social media. Perhaps not at the time, but certainly with the hindsight knowledge that he was playing through the pain barrier.

[Ikon]

The absolutely weakest part of his game is his poor technique. He really can't pass a ball. Makes a big difference having two CB's decent with the ball at their feet who can move the ball faster and with more accuracy, it gives the player who receives it that extra second on the ball.

[ponsaelius]

Agreed. I think he has physical attributes, leadership qualities and his reading of the game can develop - but is a poor footballer, and that will probably limit his ceiling.

 

That said I would never have predicted Harry Maguire to become a £17 million player so domestic defenders can surprise you in their development. Maguire's actually good on the ball so he's a bad comparative example in terms of skillset, but the point still stands.