Could a move for Charles N’Zogbia be on the cards?

Charles N'Zogbia.

Charles N'Zogbia.
Could Charlie be on his way back to Newcastle?
There have been rumours circulating suggesting that Newcastle could be in the hunt to bring one of their former players back to St James’ Park.

The player in question, as suggested by the headline, is Charles N’Zogbia who left the club in a cloud of controversy and spat dummies back in 2009 after being insulted by Joe Kinnear. Quite how anyone can be insulted by a man who swears at anything and calls you by the wrong name is beyond me. At the time I thought Charlie boy was being petty, but on reflection I guess he had a point.

There were rumours suggesting that Newcastle had a deadline day bid knocked back by Wigan, but recently the speculation has intensified amid rumours that Alan Pardew could be set to reignite his winter interest in the summer. Of course they could just be regurgitated rumours but I guess we’ll only be able to tell that when the transfer window closes.

Regurgitation or not, it does bring about some interesting questions, and also some rather interesting spin-off questions. With Wigan being one of five teams facing the drop there will no doubt be clubs waiting in the wings to swoop on any of those clubs better players should the worst happen and they end up getting relegated.

This isn’t a ‘who would you poach from the relegation teams’ thread. It’s more of a general musing and realisation that many clubs will be looking to cherrypick the better players. It’s already happening at West Ham, it happened with us, and to be fair it happens to most relegated teams, and will no doubt happen to the rest.

If Wigan were to go down would you be happy for N’Zogbia to return? Has he burned his bridges with the Toon Army? Do you think he would upset the team spirit?

I used to be dead set against bringing N’Zogbia back, but I’ve changed my tune recently. Ever since January I’ve been watching him, his performances, his behaviour, and he has impressed me. If Wigan survive it will be mainly down to him as he has scored some very important goals in recent weeks. He hasn’t sulked once and seems to have grown up a lot since he left Newcastle.

Played in his proper position I think he could be a real asset to us again and I’d welcome him back if a move ever transpired and I think he is the sort of player we are missing, but only if he has left his childish and petulant behaviour behind him.

Would you welcome Charles N’Zogbia back at St James’ Park?

About toonsy

A lifelong Newcastle fan and current webmaster of this very 'blog who has the sole aim of creating a place by Newcastle United fans, for Newcastle United fans.

58 thoughts on “Could a move for Charles N’Zogbia be on the cards?

  1. I definitely would. A midfield of Zog, Ben Arfa and Gervinho supplying ammunition to a striker like Sturridge or Gameiro would be the stuff that dreams are made off. 😉

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  2. Moreover as Toonsy suggested,he has not been sulking at Wigan and I think bringing him into the team will only make Ben Arfa more at home by having a fellow national with him…. 💡

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  3. If he’s grown up then his talent would surely be welcome. It’s a big if though. Otherwise he can fook off.

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  4. I used to be very against bringing back old players, UNLESS they have shown growth. And I think that is exactly the case with N’Zogbia. He has shown a lot of maturity at Wigan, and if we do bring him back, lets look at it as his time there as a loan spell, while we were working the books through the “bump in the road” 😆

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  5. I’d definately have him back. He just looks so much more mature these days and he’s turned into one hell of a player.

    Deepak’s right, HBA, Nzog and Gervinho supplying for Gameiro would be a dream line up, so I won’t hold my breath!

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  6. I would have him. At the end of the day, anyone who has a gripe with him falling out with the management only has to look at fellow Frenchman Laurent Robert. He has numerous hissy fits and is hailed as a legend at the club.

    If you are brought in by a manager with a certain personality and you buy into him, then he is replaced with someone like Kinnear/Souness and you don’t get on, I can understand it.

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  7. As long as he has sorted out his attitude and wants to come back then why not he’s a good player. id also have a look at James Mccathy (dunno how its spelt) only young and looks a good player already.

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  8. When he was here – he was a young lad far away from home – no team spirit so he was unhappy.

    He chose to leave – the Insomnia incident being no doubt the straw that broke the camels back.

    Seems to have stepped up a few levels. I don’t think we would bid 10mn now though as we don’t have a deadline day over our heads – but a good player nonetheless

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  9. The only problem is he wants to play centre midfield.
    Can we accomodate him.
    Tiote is an automatic choice.
    Barton wantas to play there, Ireland too, Ben Arfa and top scorer Nolan want to be in the middle to forward areas then there is our best player Vuckic to fit into the equation.

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  10. I agree with Stuart on both counts.

    As I’ve said before he was young and French which usually brings with it arrogance and petulance. He fell out with Kinnear, I’m guessing he’s not alone there, he was played out of position as the waste of space that was Duff played left wing. My grandmother would throw a hissy fit if Duff got picked ahead of her. Did he actually say he wanted to go to a bigger club?, I thought he said he wanted to go to a club with more ambition, if so then you can’t really argue with him there either. Sure he went to Wigan but he was desperate to get away from the Toon by that point because of JK and since then I can’t remember any bad press about him. I’d be surprised if we don’t make a move for him but as usual whether we have any chance of getting him depends on if fatman will splash the cash and just as importantly which other clubs will be in for him.

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  11. As a few have said I dont think he was treated very well, and yeah he was a stroopy kid but he seems to have grown up a lot.
    So I would take him back but I dont know if the players would welcome him back.

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  12. I would love to have him back,but I hope our new signings will be finalized rather quickly after the window opens or else we will be in for a rather long and frustrating summer.I’m afraid this will happen. 🙄

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  13. he would be a tremendous asset to the club but whether we’re quick enough is another matter. It’s rumoured that the mackems are in for him too.

    Speaking of mackems, I see that the Olymipic torch is to visit Middlesbrough, Durham and Newcastle but not Sunderland. Of coursse they’re a bit pipped at what they see as a snub to the ‘biggest city in the north-east’ (it’s not a proper city though is it!) and have raised the matter in the House of Commons.

    Avoiding Sunderland’s understandable as the organisers just want to make sure it actualy gets to London!

    😆 😈 👿

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  14. A front midfield of Jonas. HBA, and Zog would be terrific! I think I would welcome him back for the same reasons: he hasn’t sulked at wigan, we actually have a positive team spirit, and he’d be a cracking player to have!

    We’ll be fighting quite a few clubs for his signature though if they get relegated, especially since their owner would hate the thought of giving us his best player

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  15. He’s certainly a talent but I would question his temperament . He left a bitter taste in my mouth by the way he left.

    If he did sign, only a huge apology to the fans would do for me.

    But here we go again. I go back to my original line. He’s a talent and talent attract clubs. I seriously think he could attract clubs who pay more than us and as we all know, money talks.

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  16. At Wigan he is arguably there best player, which no doubt helps massage his enormous ego, and probably has a lot to do with his improved performances.

    At the Toon he would be one of many, and would no doubt spend a reasonable amount of time on the bench, so I doubt we would see the same level of performance from him – except perhaps when it came to sulking.

    And for those reasons – I’m out.

    Of course I’ll get behind the petulant French brat should AP decide to take a punt with him. 😉

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  17. I do have the same fear as arrowhead that Ashley/Llambias will offer something insultingly low like they always do and before there’s time for a second round of negotiations, another club will pick him up. I guess that’s really bobby’s fear as well, that we just won’t offer enough cash.

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  18. ANDREW – Your right to have thosefears. Its recorded in the court case that they say one thing and do another. Theyll tell AP they bid x and will probably bid y.

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  19. AndrewT @20

    Yup, that’s the danger while other clubs’llhave their targets nicely tied down to join early close season!

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  20. TC, I think that he would get very regular playing time on the wings if he came here. I feel Pardew wants to get Barton back in center midfield, where he belongs, so there is going to be room for him to push for a starting place.
    Granted, he won’t automatically be our best player. (that role will hopefully go to HBA) but he will be one of our better players for sure.

    Also, as said by others, having a fellow French international in the squad would have to be an extra morale booster. It might give them time to form a frightening understanding with one another for the france national team too, and he would probably see that.

    I would want him to formerly apologize to the fans on the day he signed for us though

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  21. I’m not happy with Barton on the wing. Not good enough for me. His natural position is centre Mid.

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  22. we offerd 12 mill in january decca and ashley will probs go back to wigan and offer a half pack of custard creams 😆

    would love him back like

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  23. Andrew – aye, furry muff. But he says he wants to play in the middle, and we all know what happens when poor little Charlie doesn’t get his own way.

    *cue spitting of dummy, toys out of pram, etc etc.

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  24. @hitman

    I would take that bid for zog in January with a pinch of salt.

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  25. The same serving suggestion that comes with most of your comments then, Bobby? 😉

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  26. there will be loads of false bids going in this summer,so it looks like the club tried to get players in,no doubt we will loose a few of owa better players if decent bids come in.this is the ashley way.

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  27. People who say they wouldn’t have him back are bitter.

    He’s a quality player who would improve us loads, why he moved to Wigan I don’t know but he’s improvred since he’s been there. I don’t really blame him for leaving under Kinnear, not many players would have wanted to play for that idiot.

    If Wigan go down we could get him on the cheap so fingers crossed Stoke beat them on Sunday.

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  28. off topic, what you guys think of Man Utd potentially being disciplined if they play a weak team against Blackpool?

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  29. Moreno no doubt they will play a weak team and escape without getting a fine.

    One rule for others and one rule for the so called big four.

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  30. He’ll play a weakened team alright, if Chelsea had still been in the race tho and we’d lost to them would red nose have complained about us not playing Tiote……**** right, the tw@t.

    Did N’zogbia not apologise about his comments shortly before he left?

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  31. It’s the week before the biggest game in world club football.

    As much as I hate them, they should be allowed to field whatever team they see fit – as should everyone else.

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  32. Moreno, The champions league teams have rotated and rested their players all season prior to the big games, why should they be penalised now?
    I dont buy into teams lying down for others, i can remember Liverpool beating Blackburn even though they were in danger of handing Yoonited the title, especially the last home game all teams will be going for it flat out.
    One game doesnt relegate you as we found out.

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  33. TC..I agree, as long as they don’t complain when other teams do the same, you have a squad use it. Every manager should do what’s best for their own team, **** everyone elses

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  34. I agree with both points

    1) They have put in the hard work to win the title with games to spare, they now have a bigger focus and shouldn’t be penalised for their success.

    2) Ferguson is a bloody hypocrite and if it was anyone but him he’d be moaning.

    If you are a Blackpool fan you are praying they rest players and if you are a team around Blackpool in the table you’re going to have a right whinge!

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  35. @simonbirdmirror

    Simon Bird

    Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia, summer target for #lfc #avfc #spurs #safc #nufc and Juventus

    I personally think he will goto Villa when Ashley Young leaves for Liverpool.

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  36. Toonsy – your timing is creepy; I’d been thinking about this conundrum ever since watching the highlights of Wigan’s last game, when Zog bossed it. Again.

    I think Toon Chicken and Toby le Rhone make good points –
    if he only behaves when he’s the only star in the sky, he’s no use to us.
    If he’s not interested in playing on the wing, he’s no use to us.
    If he can’t stomach not always being first choice, he’s no use to us.

    I can’t stand the guy, but what he’s brought to wigan is exactly what we don’t have and I have softened a bit. And if he has matured, even better.

    But those three questions above are biggies. My gut feel is still to find an alternative without the history and baggage. But as TC says – if AP gets him, he’ll get my support.

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  37. I hope Manure do put out a poor team, get fined, lose badly, and Blackpool stay up. They bring a bit of reality and grit to the prem, they play good, watchable footie, and their manager is often the best thing on MOTD!

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  38. Whumpie, I used to agree about hollaway, but he’s become a right boring whinge lately though

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  39. Yep, a bit. I don’t know – there’s just something fundamentally appealing about having them in the prem. They’re everything that’s lacking, and a lot of what I liked most in the CCC. I really want to see them stay up.

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  40. it would be priceless to see CNZ’s face when Pardew asked him to cover at left back. 2 years after he left we STILL havent got that problem sorted

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  41. Ah yes. Blackaz! Great for the premiership!

    It’s handy cos I plan my 2 weeks family holiday around the Toon playing Blackaz away!

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  42. @whumpie

    I’ve been to Blackpool for my 2 weeks family holiday for the past 18 years. It’s great now that we are in the same league.

    The kids love spending the day at the candy floss stores, hitching a ride on the back of the trams with their heelys on, and then we all spend all afternoon in the Tower lounge getting absolutely stonking drunk. It’s then off to the Gypsy boxing ring and I take on all comers!

    2 weeks of that and we are ready for home!

    Class times! Class place! 😆

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  43. ben arfa zog and jonas is brilliant then if we had a 20 goal plus striker infront of tht then its party time I LIKE

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  44. I had my stag party there. I’m told I had a great time, but the candle-wax burns on my knob suggest they may be editing some bits out… 😯

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  45. Army – yes, as long as AP can juggle TWO famously temperamental French attitudes. It is a huge risk, but I can see both sides now. I’m still not sure Zog could handle the step up into a team where he’s no longer ‘special’ – especially when his preferred role is already over subscribed and he’ll be expected to do his bit regardless of where or how the manager needs him to play.

    It just comes down to whether he’s grown up enough. He had a long, long way to go. 🙁

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  46. Hitman, I have no idea what you’re on about. And I think that may be a good thing. 😉

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  47. Used to be dead set against him but would definitely welcome him back now-not for the 12mil we were going for on deadline day, but hopefully wigan will get relegated and we can get him for about 6mil.

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  48. yeah I’d take him back, watching the Wigan – west ham game showed he was the one who dragged the team back from the brink by setting an example – he’s def grown up a bit, he’s even stopped saying arsenal, real Madrid etc want him 🙂

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