Newcastle 1-1 Strasbourg

&c

Newcastle drew a horribly disjointed preseason to a close with a penalty defeat to a Strasbourg team that had previously lost all six of their preseason games.

Once again, the wisdom of holding this double header has to be questioned with such a thin squad, and will mean we go into the Liverpool opener with Jaissle having never fielded his strongest XI together.

We played ok here in a match of very little spectacle, with Osula, Toure and Bamba all missing presentable chances before Osula poked home at the Leazes end.

However, Strasbourg levelled midway through the second half and, again echoing the travails of last season, we laboured with very little creativity and the visitors looked more likely to win it.

As it was we went to penalties, and despite Ewen Jaouen (who looked composed throughout) saving two, misses from Osula, Ramsey and Bamba saw the visitors lift the prestigious Visit Malta Trophy.

And so now we can look back and take stock of a preseason which has seen Eddie Howe, Sandro Tonali, Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes leave - with more, the likes of Willock and Pope, potentially set to follow - and the emergence of a new strategy.

The youngsters we've brought in have looked a bit of a mixed bag, understandably, with Sean Steur the pick of the bunch.

The lad looks class, but is only 18 and will require patience.

Next up, Toure looks a real exciting prospect and ready to start, pacy and direct and always looking to whip a cross in.

From the little we've seen of Jaouen, he looks assured, but how much game time will he see over Hornicek - who, honestly, has looked a little shaky.

One who certainly looks like he needs time to settle in is Aladji Bamba, who has shown some nice touches but doesn't look ready for the hustle and bustle of the Premier League yet.

The newly arrived Amar Dedic finally adds a second option at the problem right back position and he can hopefully add a bit of steel.

He'll simply have to hit the ground running.

And as for those that remain from last year's bruising campaign, Dan Burn has deservedly been made captain; Wissa looks sharp, and will need to be; Osula looks like he could step up again, or frustrate, but he won't be boring; and Nick Woltemade looks completely ineffective and bereft of confidence.

Has there ever been a player the whole fan base has been so desperate to succeed as Nick Woltemade? Hopefully Jaissle can eke out some of his original promise, though we're yet to see the new man really impose his tactics or style of play on this team.

The wisdom of our preseason schedule - with four games crammed into the last week - seemed bizarre before it started, and even more so now.

Hopefully Jaissle has found it useful, as he's about to find out what St James' Park, and the Premier League, are really like when Liverpool turn up.