Do we really have a chance of re-signing Charles N’Zogbia?

N'Zogbia wants Toon return.
It seems as though Charles N’Zogbia really is keen on a return to St James’ Park, if you give credit to the words of a source close to Charlie boy.

Yes it may only be a source on this occasion, but there have been several caveats dropped by N’Zogbia and his entourage in recent months, and all of them point towards the fact that Charles would welcome a move back to the North East.

Yohan Cabaye credited N’Zogbia with saying rather nice words about Newcastle which had a hand in the Former Lille midfielder moving to St James’ Park. Several ‘tweets’ from the player have also told the story of his affection for the club he signed for back in 2004. Then there is the source…..

“Charles would be delighted to come back and complete a move to Newcastle,” said Heinz. “It’s not all about money for Charles, and despite what people people have said it is very much about football for him. He knows what a massive club Newcastle United are now.”

Interesting, but it doesn’t really mean anything does it? I mean what are the chances of us re-signing our former wingman?

Personally I think there is little chance of a return of the Zog. There are several reasons for this, which I will of course go through, before you guys can have your say.

Dave Whelan

The Wigan supremo and our supremo don’t get on after our sports magnate reported their sports magnate to the Office of Fair Trading for fixing the price of football shirts. That was the start, but there has been various bits of tittle-tattle since, mainly from the direction of Whelan to be fair.

As a result of this I would imagine that Newcastle would be pretty low on the list of clubs that he would like to deal with. In the case of N’Zogbia there is likely to be other interest in the player and I’m sure Whelan would do his best to nudge Charles in the direction of another club.

Transfer fee

The transfer fee could prove to be a stumbling block. It’s been said that there are different prices for different clubs who are interested in N’Zogbia. Play in the Champions League and you can have him that bit cheaper than a club who aren’t playing in the Champions League.

It’s a bit **** if I’m honest, but it’s their right to charge what they like. After all, he is their player and can be for another season if they like. He has one year remaining on his deal which will weaken the bargaining hand of Wigan somewhat and will ensure that there will be plenty of clubs sniffing around.

Squad position

In case it has escaped the minds of people, we’ve just signed a left winger in the form of Sylvain Marveaux. Look, really look, deep down, and ask yourself if we really have room for another. In fact that is probably the right way of putting it….. Do you think the management would see it as the “good value” we keep hearing about?

N’Zogbia would require Premier League wages. He’s been there and proved he can do it in this league which will no doubt add a premium to his wages. Alan Pardew would be very keen to have him in the squad, but would the accountants?

Currently we have Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa, Sylvain Marveaux, Joey Barton and Wayne Routledge 😆 who can play on the wing. Jonas and Ben Arfa can play on both flanks and I don’t know enough about Marveaux so whether he can or not. Of course Ben Arfa is being touted for the No10 role, but he can also be used on the wing.

Can you see the club parting with the wage a fee required when we already have a few players who can do a job on either wing? Personally, I can’t.

So there are just a few reasons why I don’t think we’ll see N’Zogbia back at Newcastle. I’d love to have him back as I think he has matured and improved a hell of a lot since he left for the more ambitious Wigan Athletic and, as I say, I’m pretty sure Alan Pardew would like to have a player of his quality to call upon, but I just can’t see it.

The player may want it, but there are an awful lot of obstacles and sticking points to consider first. A return of the Zog?

I’m not putting money on it!

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.

129 thoughts on “Do we really have a chance of re-signing Charles N’Zogbia?

  1. @toonsy

    Good to hear a bit of realism brought to the table. 😉

    I know we’ve allegedly made bids in the past for him but how sincere they were is anyone’s guess.

    Zog is definitely leaving Wigan, both the club and player have said so.
    Wigan are going to create a bidding war which will be left as long as possible in the window and there is no way the Toon will get involved.

    I say, No Chance.

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  2. I’m really curious to see how the squad numbers for the new season look…. 😉

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  3. BSNr9 agree with your comments on Zog…bidding war, makes sense, and he aint gonna come to the toon… 🙁

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  4. @MM

    They’ll put them on the back of the shirts as per usual. I quite like them in gold. 😆

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  5. We desperately need a right winger, unless he sees Jonas swapping. But I can only assume Jonas prefers the left and if so he will never get any crosses in from the right if that’s the case.

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  6. @JJ
    From Toonsys realism to JJ’s fantasy. 😕

    Sturridge- less chance than Zog and that is zilch.

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  7. Hope we don’t bring him back…. It’s amazing how a few goals this year makes everyone forget about his ***** attitude (Oh sorry he has really matured now) 😯

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  8. Bobby – Jonas always used to play on the right for Mallorca. Its his preferred position.

    Same as Benny. Granted he prefers it behind a striker, but previously, for Marseille, he played on the right cutting in. It makes my eyes bleed when I see people pit him on the left in their formations 🙁

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  9. I think marveaux was brought in as cover and competition. He can play across the attacking front. He has an injury history but is a good addition in a free. Don’t think the club will rely on him to be the starter, and the fact that he was a free means there is no pressure to start him.
    If he wins a spot, good, but I don’t think his addition will affect any new transfer that will be looked to as one for the starting XI

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  10. Wigan cam start a bidding war all they want, but if zoggy’s heart is set on nufc it won’t matter. He will refuse to go to any other club and Wigan will be forced to sell him to us or risk losing him on a free.

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  11. rather have a team that would roll there sleaves up when we in hole you have bunch of yes men dont bode well when ya need some1 to step up to the plate

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  12. @Toonsy

    I wasnt aware of that about Jonas playing on the right. He might be a different proposition if he gets to play his natural role. He’s got bags of ability but uses it in the wrong areas for me. I wish he would make runs in the box cos he’s always getting brought down.

    @JG
    I’m surprised to hear your views on Marveaux. You’re probably the first person to say he’ll just be cover, unless I’ve missed others saying it.
    I don’t know enough about him to comment but others on here rave on about him as if he’s great.

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  13. So according to that Journo we’re replacing Nolan and Barton with players who actually do what their manager tells them.

    And that’s a bad thing cos why for what now?

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  14. I just can’t see us taking him back, not for twice what fatty sold him for. There are plenty more poissons dans la mer anyway.

    ….I wouldn’t ‘lose any sleep’ if he didn’t come back to us.
    😆

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  15. Bobby – I think we’ve found you a new passenger for the bullshit bus!

    Quick get him picked up!!! 😆

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  16. Bobby Shinton number 9 agree about jonas think he would win a fair few penaltys meself

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  17. @JG
    Do you really think that Zog would hold out for us? 😕

    It matters not one jot what transfer bid comes in, if a club is offering better terms than us, which is highly likely, he’ll not look twice at our rent free house, company car and £35-£45k a week.

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  18. Bobby@18

    …yeah, Spidey started off on the right for us, then got switched over to the left when his partnership with Jose started to show promise. I don’t think even he knew if he was right or left-footed. Maybe he just can’t cross with his left??

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  19. Bobby – I’m just thinking conventionally here. Jonas may get in the wrong positions because he’s not utterly confident in his left foot. His right foot is his preferred. Look at his goals scored for us.

    v Bristol City – Cutting in from the left. Finished with right foot.
    v Barnsley – That 30-yarder, with his right foot.
    v Man City – That belter, with his right foot.
    v Wolves – Curling from the edge of the area, with his right foot.

    I’ve excluded the one that went in off his **** 😉

    Play him on the right and I think we’ll see a better Jonas. I also think we’ll see a better midfield as Barton (if he is still here) will be able to move back in the middle, and I think we’ll see a benefit at the back as Simpson won’t have large gaping holes left in front of him by Barton moving inside all the time plau the work ethic of Jonas to help him out.

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  20. @TC
    The reality train is filling up fella.

    You’ll be onboard once your fantasies have been well and truly quashed by fat Mick.

    Don’t worry, I’ve saved you a place in the cattle carriage. 😆

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  21. Bobby- that’s because like every unknown international with a decent highlight reel on YouTube gets thought of as class right away because of the excitement of a new face. It’s always been that way and always will be.
    I have never seen him play, but logic would tell you that, give his previous stats in a lesser league, and injury history the club would most likely not have brought him in if it involved a fee.

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  22. They’re all squad players. If you sign somebody to be back up then you are admitting that they aren’t good enough to start. Why would anybody pay good money for somebody they have no faith in?

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  23. Booby says: @Toonsy
    I wasnt aware of that about Jonas playing on the right.

    Recording the time and date as we speak: Posted June 23, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    Bobby actually admits he didn’t know something!!!! 😯 😯

    Well this is a very momentous day! 😆

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  24. @toonsy

    Was it his right **** cheek or left **** cheek? It’s important to weigh up all issues when discussing his best side. 😆

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  25. @Aussie Mag

    I could be lulling you into a false sense of security before I move into a full tirade of facts. 😆

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  26. I would like Zogs back but I cant see it happening either due to transfer fee. We are fairly well stocked in wingers ( kinda ) and I think 9 mil could be spent in another area which we need ie up front.

    But we wait n see what happens. Hopefully we get a few more in the dorr over next few days but think its just as important on who we sell.

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  27. zog will go to the team pays him the most money dint get why you lot get stary eyed when his name comes up some have very short memories. 😯

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  28. @JG

    Good point. I don’t think they would have considered him if there was a fee involved.

    ****. I wish I had thought of that but instead I distracted by Aussie Mags sarcasm! 😆

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  29. Zogs is a bit late IMO, We need a striker at this moment in time not a winger

    I would have him but id be surprised if the club would now we have Marveax and Jonas wants to stay…

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  30. Bobby Shinton number 9@5….aye gold is good. Is that you speaking, or is that Mrs Shinton offering up the colour scheme comments..?

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  31. Bobby – your bullshit bus keeps going round and round in circles – not been drinking again have ya?

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  32. Brisvegas – As the resident grammer geek, could you tell me if it’s Jonas’ or Jonas’s?

    Also, apparently Craig Hughton has the Brum job according to Sky Sports News. Can the lynch mob that got on Pardew’s back for not getting the name correct please get in touch with them?

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  33. @TC
    Its not a bus it’s a train. You must pay more attention to detail, it makes you look foolish. 😆

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  34. good to see your back to being right about everything Bobby, I was fearing for you there….. 😆

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  35. Other than the injury factor NUFC have a deep and powerful mid-field compared to most teams in the EPL. Now, the striker position needs to be addressed and the back line needs to be shored up as there is a chance of a departure or two and the depth was not there to begin with. And, from a marketing point of view, NUFC need to find a player from Japan/China/Korea to bump up jersey sales.

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  36. If Zog wants a move to us badly he will probably get his wish, won’t matter what Whelan wants, he would just hand in a transfer request etc and get his own way.

    The club bang on about how we will only sign players who want to be here and that so if Charlie does want to come like the Chronicle say I think we have a good chance.

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  37. @MM
    Mrs Shinton bought me my clothes, low crotch jeans with elasticated bottoms and Lycra top. I chose the colours though, lime green top and yellow jeans.

    It sets off my St tropez spray tan and White teeth.

    You jealous? I might be 43 but I look 23. 😉

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  38. toonsy@43

    ….either is correct. Because an apostrophe can be used either to denote possession or abbreviation. Jonas’ shirt or Jonas’s shirt. I’m no English teacher but I think that’s right.

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  39. It’s a good job I hardly post on Wankys blog cos he would think I was taking the **** out of him. 😆

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  40. @MM

    I was speaking to Troy Stavers the other day. He reckons he got a dozen games under his belt before pelting out the shop chased by security.

    He got away like. 😆

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  41. Rod – Cheers man. I’ll get lynched if I get it wrong 😆

    I think I plumped with Jonas’ anyway.

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  42. im shocked at how many ppl want zog back, that stroppy moody lazy lil git can get his big pay packet elsewhere.

    have we forgetten the season we went down how stroppy and lazy he was with no interest for our cause, he was an utter disgrace, all he did was stood still on the pitch most of the time, we mite aswell had fielded a shrub out there, yes granted the other were useless but atleast they moved around and pretended they were interested, zog cuddnt even be bothered to do that.

    i hope bindippers or the scum get him, so they can waste most their wage packet and fees on this lazy stroppy little git.

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  43. Toonsy, we can easily accommodate Zog, for a start he is proven and has a reported affinity with NUFC.

    Marveoux has not played for nearly a season and is still to adjust to the PL, England and the Toon. I think he will be introduced gradually wheras Zog, for me who is twice the player of Jonas will hit the ground running.

    If we bid 12 mil in jan, then I hope we follow up our interest.

    In truth, I think we will end up at villa to replace young/downing and will it would be very much our loss

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  44. Bobby i’m so surprised that a fan of your standing and knowledge didn’t know that Jonas’s prefered position was on the right. Thats what happens when you’ve got your head stuck in the sand 😆

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  45. As I remember it, Zog was one of the few players putting in an effort the little chances he got to play.
    He had every reason to pack it in last season with Wigan struggling and with him having one year left on his contract in the summer.
    Instead he played a massive part in keeping Wigan up…
    Think ppl need to look at all the evidence before they spout off nonsense…

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  46. Jersey Geordie

    Quite right,

    At that stage, NZogbia was by far one of our best most dangerous players…

    This despite Joke F#$% Kinnear (or whatever his name is) picking the likes of Duff ahead of him, Keegan playing him at left back because Enrique was playing sh#t or injured, and the retarded manager not even knowing what his name was…

    The club was a total mess and I think he had every right to get peed off…

    The only thing he did wrong was say he wanted to move to a bigger club and then go to Wigan… 😉 but he was a good load overall.

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  47. sadly sum ppl watched an alternative reality season on that year we went down. Zog tried for us? really?

    as for his season at wigan, there’s a reason they struggled all the way n only stayed up by teeth of their skin. Cus they cant keep a clean sheet to save their lives. sum dont watch the prem as the ones do will know u wont even count more than one hand on how many times zog tracks back each game. even at the last game that kept them up, yes zog scored, but even in the last ten minutes, the man was standing still upfield waiting for the ball to come to him, when one goal conceded wud have sent them down.

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  48. Toonsy you might smell but Bobby hasn’t smelt it yet maybe when he gets the sand out of his eyes and nose he might smell it.
    Its all well and good knowing a wage cap and what players we will bring in, but if you dont know the players we have how can you plan for the future 😉

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  49. Must admit, I’d be pretty pissed if Damien Duff was playing ahead of me. In fact I’d be pretty pissed if Damien Duff got a game ahead for my local pub team.

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  50. JJ- it’s a pointless battle, some people will just chose a grudge and hold on to it to the grave; see Ashley haters…
    I just want the best possible players at nufc, who also WANT to be at nufc. By all accounts he fits the mould.
    BRINGBACKTHEZOG!!

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  51. yr wrong jersey goerdie,

    he does not want to be at nufc, he wants his big wage packet, which thankfully Ashley wont be giving him lol

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  52. Fraser Forster 1.5 million for him in there dreams es already proved he can do it in that like more like 5 million lmao

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  53. Toonarmylight

    We sold Shay Given at his peak for 7Mil or something ridiculous.

    We won’t get more than 2Mil for Forster…

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  54. Think we will get closer to 5 meself or a straight swap for brown hes already showed them he can do the job there.

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