Cheikh M’Bengue and Franck Tabanou have both been watched numerous times by Mr Ben ahead of a summer in which many fans are expecting the team to be significantly strengthened. However, the fact that both of these players can play left-back will continue to raise doubts over the future of a certain Jose Enrique unfortunately.
Now in fairness we could just be doing things properly and be looking out for replacements BEFORE a player departs, or even IF he departs. It’s a strange concept for NUFC as usually the club are more reactive rather than pro-active when in comes to player acquisition.
We’ve been linked with M’Bengue since January and reportedly had a bid in the region of £4 million turned down not so long back. Toulouse are said to want closer to £6 million for the player though, but at that money I can only see Cheikh arriving if Jose was to leave.
Frank Tabanou is slightly different however as he can play all the way down the left side. The 22-year-old has played understudy for the injured M’Bengue for the majority of this season, but his preferred position is the one that is currently occupied by Jonas Gutierrez.
Tabanou has made 62 appearances for Toulouse and has scored 8 goals along the way so he is hardly prolific. However, after a bit of research, I noticed that four of those eight goals have come when he has been employed as a left-back, which makes things look a lot better.
Being honest I don’t much about either player. I know M’Bengue is said to be a tough-tackling, physical, pacey defender whilst Tababnou is supposed to be quite a technical player with a trick or two up his sleeve. Beyond that though, pass.
I do like the sound of that Tabanou though. I think his versatility would ensure that we’d get more use from him and it would add more numbers to the left side of the pitch as, lets face it, beyond Jonas Gutierrez and Jose Enrique (if he stays) we don’t have much else in the form of a left side. Shane Ferguson is, of course, another option.
So it may be just rumours from the Daily Mail, but we’ve been linked with both of these players for a few weeks now. Time will tell if we are after them or not, or even if Mr Ben was indeed casting his eye over the pair or whether it was someone else who caught his eye.
Rumours – you gotta love ’em!
Who Mr Ben or is it Mr Bean?
lesh(Quote)
Mr Ben is my nickname for Carr. Only people my age and above will get it, but it’s mainly because Carr just pops up here and there like Mr Ben did on TV 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Nobody out of their pits yet?
C’mon, let’s be ‘avin ya – Cheik a leg!
lesh(Quote)
Ah ha! That Mr Ben – very droll Toonsy!
lesh(Quote)
Well if our head scout has watched them both so many times he must really rate them . So lets get them both as team mates they know each others game and we , if Enrique stays would be doubled up down the left side of the field .i know Wishful thinking , still with 35 million in the bank it could happen .
Axel(Quote)
IF Jose stays I’d prefer Tabanou. At that money M’Bengue aint gonna be no backup so Tabanou could be the answer. Cover for Jose plus cover for midfield all rolled into one!
toonsy(Quote)
Lesh – I knew you’d like it 😛
toonsy(Quote)
Whether or not Jose stays? Surely he should be offered a real good deal before he goes on holiday, a take it or leave it so we know where we’re at!
We don’t want weeks of speculation ending with nowt!
Toonsy, how’d the test go?
lesh(Quote)
maybe we are renewing the whole left side with bengue and tabanou, jonas moving to the right side and then sadly enrique going out.
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
Lesh – It’s later on today mate. Got the first part at about 10am and the second part at about 12:30pm. Believe me you’ll all know if I pass!
toonsy(Quote)
but if we get mbengue we need cover for him as it seems he has the same style of tiote. Getting booked that is.
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
oh yea god speed today toonsy 🙂
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
Good luck mate. 🙂
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
I remember Mr Benn very well as it was repeated last year and my 7 yr old loved it. Different costume every episode. only 12 ever made.
Premandup(Quote)
I hope this isn’t just talk from Toulouse trying to bring attention to their players.
JerseyGeordie(Quote)
Mr ben, 😆 😆 😆 😆 even i’ve heard of, used to be my favourite video as a kid.
Good luck with your test, im sure youll p*ss t
Jobey07(Quote)
God knows how many players we will be linked with between now and the transfer window. Speculation is good chit chat.
Toonsy may the force be with you. Good luck.
Think back to the film Speed and if youccan drive like that no problem
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Best of luck Toonsy and we’ll see you driving Stardust/ Ashleys big red bus yet!
Off topic, on a lighter note and a few days old but I couldn’t help a chortle at this:
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/carroll-to-face-late-homoeroticism-test-201104283760/
😆
lesh(Quote)
And.. just to add to the rumour mill – take it as you will as it’s from the runours site:
12 May 2011 10:24:53
Inside Info: Seb Larrson is a done deal, He’s big mates with B’Hams Stu Parnaby (Durham lad), I also know Stu, an he confirmed. Other deals almost done are, Elmander, M’Bengue and Rondo.
Sow deal is also a big possibility however wages are a potential hitch. This is all genuine info.
lesh(Quote)
I’m not believing the Larrson one until Ed writes it! 😉
richietoon(Quote)
I signed a Sow once….she took all my wages too 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Richie 😆 😆 😆
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Lesh why are we after a basketball player??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajon_Rondo
or did you mean Rondon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Salom%C3%B3n_Rond%C3%B3n
😉
Premandup(Quote)
Its irrelevant if Jose leaves or not, we have needed cover for a LB for too long now, so one of them is probablyon their way.
I just hope we tie up some deals early in the t/f window.
Speaking of which does anyone know when it opens and closes??
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
we wait n see who comes in over the summer , must admit havent seen the majority of the players we r linked to! Think its equally important on who goes this summer. We still have a few players on good money who appear to add little to the squad imo.
johno toon(Quote)
BB – I think it’s June 1st it opens officially.
toonsy(Quote)
oh ok and good luck Toonsy. Its only Friday 13th. No worries 😆 😆
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Can confirm t/f window opens 25th May to 31st Aug 2011.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Aye good luck today Toonsy 😀
richietoon(Quote)
I would rather we got this guy than Warnock or Konchesky or some cast-off. He looks like the only one who would be a serious possible replacement to Enrique rather than a step down. There’s huge hype about Baines atm but tbh he isn’t that great a defender and not as big and strong as Enrique or M’Bengue. He’s got a good left foot and good going forward but thats about it, if he goe’s to Arsenal I can’t see him improving their defense. They really need to sign some proper no nonsense centre halves, (but I’m not too bothered about them) 🙂
DJG(Quote)
Premandup, I didn’t say anything about Larsson, Rondo et al…. the comments were lifted from the ‘football rumours’ site.
Must admit, I know we’re looking for someone who can put a ball into the net but wondered whether a basketball player’d quite fit the spec!
🙄
lesh(Quote)
Target man in the crouch, zilik ??spl mould
Premandup(Quote)
lee_ryder Lee Ryder
#nufc to play friendlies with Darlo and Leeds july 15 and 31 respectively
dan4toon(Quote)
M’Bengue seems to be like a LB version of Tiote and Tabanou is a quick and skillful winger. He would probably get more crosses in and be more effective than Jonas. If Enrique go’s and Jonas wants to leave I wouldn’t be too upset if we signed these two or even if Jonas stays and plays on the right or something.
DJG(Quote)
dan4toon
I’l deffo go to Darlo, hope we thrash them 7-0.
DJG(Quote)
DJG, well it was 7-2 last time and that’s when we were a mess 😉
Although to be fair they were an even bigger mess than us at the time 😆
dan4toon(Quote)
‘But, contrary to reports, it is understood that £5m-rated Graham and Bothroyd are no longer under consideration despite the fact both are available at the right price this summer and have been watched by the Magpies.’
From a local rag.
DJG(Quote)