A number of Newcastle United fans have been left feeling hopeful on social media after a training ground bust up between Matt Ritchie and Jamaal Lascelles was reported.
The Daily Mail have claimed that the first team pair came to blows over a disagreement about manager Rafael Benitez’s tactics ahead of the game against Chelsea, a match which saw Lascelles miss out with what the club state to be an ankle injury.
However, the behind-the-scenes report has had some of the Toon Army feeling positive on Twitter, with a couple crediting the players’ passion while others have drawn back to another reported bust-up involving Lascelles and Mohamed Diame, with hopes Ritchie can improve his form as the midfielder did after the fight.
This is Futbol has rounded up a selection of the supporters’ tweets:
https://twitter.com/nickcahill9/status/1034610096301469697
Both passionate about Newcastle United, both give ? both on and off the pitch. It's only natural in an all male environment that bust ups like this happen, if it actually did!! Stop trying to make it a sensational story, typical Daily Mail reporting, only good for toilet paper.
— Toonfan (@ataylor1892) August 28, 2018
Good. After the last one involving Lascelles and Diame we actually started to play well and win.
— Nathan? (@Draaaapes) August 28, 2018
Passion isn’t a bad thing. A better squad with no passion got us relegated. Ex pro’s always talk of bust ups – it’s part of wanting to win I guess?
— Matt Upton (@mattjupton) August 28, 2018
The last time Lascelles chinned someone he turned Mo Diame into Patrick Viera. Hoping Matt Ritchie will turn out v City like Ronaldinho. In fact if Big J wants to come and give me a smack round the head, he's more than welcome #NUFC
— Taylor Payne (@TaylorandPayne) August 29, 2018
Last time Lascelles scrapped with a player Diame turned into a world beater, so I’m looking forward to Matt Ritchie lifting the Ballon D’Or this season.
— This Dave (@ThisDave) August 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/Robobriain/status/1034703163599872001
Opinion
The Toon Army would be forgiven for buying into the doom and gloom that seems to be surrounding their club – primarily as a result of Mike Ashley’s ownership – but this lot have shown that they also see the positives when problems raise their heads. As some of them say, the fight shows that both players are full of passion and desire to make the team a success and that when you have such competitive spirits working day in, day out with each other, things are going to overflow every once in a while. As for turning Ritchie into a Ballon D’Or winner, if it does spark him into the creative presence he has prove he can be on his day then no one will be complaining about this heated clash, and perhaps manager Rafael Benitez should consider putting a boxing ring at Newcastle’s training ground so it happens more often.