Fans of Newcastle United have been reacting on social media to news that Sean Longstaff has won the North East Football Writers’ Association’s 2019 Young Player of the Year award.
Having made his Premier League debut during last year’s 4-0 Boxing Day defeat to Liverpool, the 22-year-old went onto make another eight Premier League appearances for Newcastle in 2018/19, averaging a 6.86 WhoScored match rating.
This season, the £19.8 million-rated central midfielder has made 24 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal, in Newcastle’s FA Cup victory over Oxford, and providing one assist, in a 3-1 defeat to newly-promoted Norwich City back in August.
Despite having only made a total of 29 Premier League appearances and with Newcastle sitting in 14th in the table, Longstaff was recently voted as the North East Football Writers’ Association’s 2019 Young Player of the Year.
In reaction to the news, Newcastle fans have taken to social media, with many stating their belief that the 22-year-old is not necessarily deserving of the award.
? Sean Longstaff collects his 2019 Young Player of the Year award at this evening’s North East Football Writers’ Association annual dinner.
Congratulations, @seanlongstaff97! #NUFC pic.twitter.com/68JuUjTkBp
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) February 23, 2020
Shame the Man Utd link has gone to his head he’s been awful this season
— Jake Ternent (@TheGeordieLion) February 23, 2020
He has promise but under this manager he is going backwards.
— Lan Fenwick (@FenwickLan) February 24, 2020
There was me thinking he was collecting his ‘never looked the same since coming back from injury’ or ‘holds ball for longest time’ award ?
— Scott (@ScottBentleyy) February 23, 2020
You didn’t win it on yesterday’s performance that’s for sure.. I’m not one to hate on our player’s but he’s way off the pace recently.. Everybody can have a bad game but its one to many! needs a big big improvement to be a success within the club and within the Premier league..
— Niall (@niallgallag) February 23, 2020
May aswel give it bck for being 2020’s worst
— David Robson (@dagvidjunior) February 24, 2020
Poor kid hasn’t kicked a ball straight since rafa left #nufc
— Michael O’Brien (@micknufc85) February 23, 2020
matty’s better
— ryan (@lildelphine) February 23, 2020
What do we think?
Sean Longstaff’s stats are not particularly award-worthy, with the 22-year-old averaging a WhoScored match rating of 6.51 over his two seasons at Newcastle, and considering he only made 21 appearances in 2019, it seems to be the opinion of Newcastle fans that the award could easily have gone elsewhere.