“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
That is Jamaal Lascelles’ assessment of Newcastle United’s decision to venture to Carton House for the third pre-season in succession.
If any supporter or pundit doubted why the Magpies have once again merely hopped over the Irish Sea for a week-long training camp, rather than headed off on a long-haul trip, the players certainly share Rafa Benitez’s logic in returning to a facility which has served United so well before.
The name ‘Carton House’ may not mean much to most Tyneside residents, but those in the sporting world recognise that this resort in near Maynooth in the Republic of Ireland is a world-class sporting campus.
Other Premier League clubs, such as Burnley, have been here before to utilise Ireland rugby union side’s base. And given that the Irish are the Six Nations Grand Slam champions, and that the British and Irish Lions also underwent a training camp here before their historic 1-1 series draw in New Zealand last year, it is immediately obvious that Newcastle are back in excellent surroundings.
For DeAndre Yedlin, this is the second time he has even been here this summer - never mind the fourth time in three years - after the USA national side trained at Carton House before their post-season friendly defeat to the Republic of Ireland last month.
Seemingly the familiarity is part of the attraction for the players and the manager; they know exactly what they are going to get here, and they know the focus is on the football and nothing else.
“For me, this is ideal. I don’t really like flying as it is so I don’t want to do a long flight,” captain Lascelles told ChronicleLive.
“It’s an hour flight, the weather’s quite good, it’s familiar and we are able to do what we know we need to do. The facilities are good and the hotel is good.
“What more could you need? Keep it simple, that’s what the manager’s done.”
While Manchester United and Chelsea will fly halfway around the world in order to satisfy their supporters in Asia and the Americas - and, of course, to make money from lucrative pre-season tours - Benitez’s only thought is on ensuring his side are ready to take on Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, August 11, in Newcastle’s first game of 2018/19.
During the summer of 2015, Steve McClaren’s Magpies flew across the USA during pre-season, and the then-United ‘head coach’ lamented the lack of time he could spend with his players on the training ground.
Instead of working on tactics, set-piece situations and combinations, Newcastle were constantly flying from state to state.
Lascelles, for one, hated that experience. For him, the more sedate surroundings in Maynooth are far more conducive to success.
“Three years ago we went to America for pre-season - and it was a nightmare to be honest,” Lascelles added.
“We did two weeks there, and I didn’t think that was great preparation. This is perfect.”
Benitez prefers being able to keep his players together in one location for a week-long training block, and he likes them to stay in familiar surroundings.
It is easy to see why the players enjoy spending time at Carton House, even if they are deprived of access to the buzz of nightlife in a big city in this secluded countryside location.
As soon as you pull on to the drive, one of the two pristine golf courses - which themselves attract businesspeople for a weekend with the clubs - dominate the horizon.
Then, as you make your way down the half-mile-long drive, the hotel itself comes into view. The historic mansion boasts a gym, an 18-metre swimming pool, a spa, tennis courts - as well as the professional training pitches which Newcastle have been utilising.
Meals have also been provided by the hotel’s award-winning catering, but with every item of food chosen by the team’s chef, who has journeyed out with the squad to ensure they receive the right nutrition in order to maximise their time out on the training pitch.
“Pre-season training is crucial if you want to succeed during the campaign,” Ayoze Perez explained.
“We have been here before, we know it well, and it has helped with our preparation before. It is doing so again, too.”
The double training sessions have largely revolved around tactical work, with Benitez keen for his side to develop an understanding before the Premier League season begins.
Some periods in the gym have also been interspersed within those, while fitness work has obviously taken place too - and Liam Buckley, the manager of St Patrick’s Athletic, who Newcastle face in their first pre-season friendly on Tuesday evening, was even invited to Sunday-morning training as Benitez once again showed his desire to pass on his vast knowledge to other coaches.
The squad in Ireland includes youngsters Sean Longstaff, Cal Roberts, Victor Fernandez and Josef Yarney, who are all relishing the opportunity they have been handed - and their contributions so far have been duly noted by the manager.
Benitez has put his players through double training sessions every day bar Sunday, when the players were given the afternoon off to watch the World Cup final. Frenchman Florian Lejeune was able to celebrate his nation’s historic success with his United team-mates in the players’ dining room, where the match was played on a big screen.
During their downtime, the players have also been sharing stories of their summer holidays and practising their golf swing out on the courses.
“It’s been good to get all the boys down here and really take training up a notch,” Jacob Murphy said of the pre-season camp.
“It’s where I first joined this club last year, so it brings back great memories for me too.”
There Murphy is referring to when he was unveiled as a Magpie 12 months previously, with Newcastle having agreed an initial £10million deal with Norwich City for the winger.
Kenedy rejoined on loan during United’s first day back at Carton House last week, but unfortunately a big-money signing has not been announced in Ireland this year - and Benitez will be frustrated that he has not been provided with reinforcements this week.
The Spaniard must instead try to extract the maximum from the group he already has in order to ensure United build on their 10th-placed finish last term.
As Lascelles noted: “We’ve been here each of the past two pre-seasons and we’ve had good campaigns after them - hopefully that’s a good sign of what’s to come in 2018/19.”
Carton House has never let Benitez and this Newcastle squad down before - and it’s easy to see why they just keep coming back for more.
