Newcastle's Squad Wasn't Strong, But They Had Lu Yang

St. James' Park.

The stands were packed.

Because Newcastle was playing a friendly against the Shanghai Port players today.

A very high proportion of the fans in attendance were Asian.

However, somewhat regrettably, Newcastle's new signings this year, Ancarelli and Plasedes, had not appeared at the stadium.

Chiesa, Sober, Mandzukovic, Sasso, Tavares, Deyas, and the others had not come either.

Some of them had not even returned to England yet and were still in vacation mode.

But what pleased the fans immensely was that Lu Yang and Sophia had appeared in the stands with their two children.

Moric and Tia were beside them as well, and Tia's pregnancy was already showing.

Thinking about the timing, no one could really blame Moric for getting injured.

The final stretch of last season had been for the club to push up the standings, not for Moric to push his wife.

Before the match, Lu Yang had also given an interview and taken part in the pre-match ceremony.

He had thoroughly satisfied the fans who came today.

That way, Newcastle would not lose face.

Because it was not just this match. In all of Newcastle's friendlies this season, which also served as warm-up matches, the players mentioned above would almost certainly not be appearing together.

They were simply too tired.

Some were old, some were young. Newcastle had to take their rest into consideration.

As a result, Newcastle would face considerable pressure in their first few matches of the new season.

Because Lu Yang intended to use those matches as the real warm-up games.

This one, meanwhile... was purely a friendly.

There were several players on the pitch whom even Lu Yang did not recognize.

They were all youth academy players who had come drawn by Newcastle's reputation. Most were from England's youth academies,