Newcastle move for (another) French midfielder.

Newcastle interested in Matuidi?
Newcastle are set to launch a bid for Saint-Eteinne midfielder Blaise Matuidi, if reports on The Journal are to be believed.

The Journal also ‘understands’ that Newcastle are set to bid for Switzerland midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta and are on the verge of concluding deals for West Ham’s Demba Ba and Swansea City left-back Neil Taylor and claim that the pair will be announced by Newcastle by the end of the week. Another Friday announcement perhaps?

We’ll see on that.

As I said in the last article, NUFC must now show some transfer intent to allay growing concerns amongst the Toon faithful. The loss of Nolan will only be countered by real action in the transfer market, but even then it’s no guarantee that a player will work out, as we well know.

So what about the two bits of speculation? Well we covered Tranquillo Barnetta yesterday briefly, but what about the other one? I wouldn’t want to be all blasé about Blaise Matuidi, so let’s take a look at him.

The instant comparison is Cheik Tiote. They are very similar types of player and are a similar age to start with, and they both have a habit of picking up yellow cards. Of course now I’ve mentioned that people will start to worry about the future of Tiote. Rightly or wrongly? Hmm.

Matuidi currently plays for Saint-Etienne and has made 132 appearances for the club. He has been watched by Arsenal on numerous occasions and has been linked with a move to them for some time which, for whatever reason, has never materialised.

He is a player that would come only for first-team football, which will either cast doubts over the future of Cheik Tiote or signal a change in formation and how we play the game. One thing is for sure, if it is the latter and we end up a defensive central midfield pairing of Tiote and Matuidi I wouldn’t fancy playing against them. They wouldn’t give much change, put it that way.

We’ll see what happens of course as nothing is guaranteed. I’d like to hope that the club are going to pull something out the bag, but I understand that we don’t exactly have a fantastic history of that. Still, I am the eternal optimist!

Or as mad as a march hare. You decide :mrgreen:

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.

75 thoughts on “Newcastle move for (another) French midfielder.

  1. Would love matuidi lined up alongside Tiote in the middle to really give freedom to the attacking players, but I can’t see the club dishing out £10+mil for another cm.

      (Quote)

  2. Nice little hypernation there toonsy! 😆

    I dont know how realistic that is to be honest he seems like a good little player but with so many centre mids we have been linked with in the last few days….scott brown craig gardener it wouldnt suprise me if we dont get one at all!

    I can see us getting barnetta and N’zog rather than getting another CM as then pardew could move barton into the middle….if he stays!

      (Quote)

  3. I would love this as it would suggest pard’s reads this and has listened to me going on about the 4-2-3-1 formation! Tiote and Matuidi would play together and would provide a great platform for the attack.

    I suggested Tiote for skipper yesterday, mainly as Bartons going unfortunately.

    Toonsy you on mate?

      (Quote)

  4. Please concentrate on the positives & I for one can’t wait to see an exciting young team win a cup & finish 6th & my tenner is on it already.

    We are in a better place than over half of the Prem so:

    Onward & upward

      (Quote)

  5. Unlikely because of the required price 13m euros and the interest of Arsenal. If however it came off it would be a perfect fit as Matuidi is predominantly left footed an would provide the balance we need. At the beginning of the window I suggested Ozan Ipek for this role.

    I do not see this a competition for places with Tiote, but a midfield of Matuidi, tiote and Cabaya with an attack oh HBA, Jonas & a striker would be a major improvement on our starting 11.

      (Quote)

  6. He wont be a replacment for Tiote i’m sure about that. If we had a midfield three of Tiote Cabaye Matuidi….It would be amazing. 👿

    Sky sports are saying we’ve won the race for Ba 😉

      (Quote)

  7. 😯 I agree with Batty believe nowt till the’re signed sealed and holding up their Shirt. As for all the MF’s we are being linked with, I will feel a lot better when we get a top notch no9 in

      (Quote)

  8. a midfield three of;

    Cabaye Tiote Matuidi, Matuidi likes to get forward a lot more than Cheik and get into the box from time to time, them three would compliment each other really well.

      (Quote)

  9. Joey7Barton Joseph Barton
    Just about to talk on talksport with Micky Quinn. Tune in now! can any 1 get a link ❓

      (Quote)

  10. I think it’s b.s.

    Why have another Tiote who’s expecting a starting position. Post 1 above says “Would love matuidi lined up alongside Tiote in the middle to really give freedom to the attacking players”. What attacking players? Why play two defensive CMs?

    Unless AP has plans to lose Tiote I don’t see the point; Guthrie has already shown he’s good stand-in when needed and more versatile.

    Point the money elsewhere. Strikers, full-backs, wingers, please.

      (Quote)

  11. Dan – I’m no expert on these three, but wouldn’t it be like a three-man version of the ****-up that is Lampard and Gerrard for England, where they’re all fighting over the same bit of turf?

    Where’s the width? Who’s going to be constantly going forward?

    I just don’t see it; you only get 10 outfield players; you can’t afford two the same.

      (Quote)

  12. Whumpie, Cabaye would be on the right of the three with Tiote the main sitter with Matuidi on the left of it (with him being left footed) and him and Cabaye can obviously get forward. With Benny and Barnetta roaming around a big pacey striker I think it could work well.

      (Quote)

  13. Raffo – hello, what’s up mate? Yeah I’m about. My laptop might nit be for much longer, but I am 😉

      (Quote)

  14. Whumpie

    By having Tiote and Matuidi for example holding, then we can have Cabaye slightly further forward. For example, Jonas and Fergie can play further forward in free roles but provide width with a target man up front. It will give a bit more cover at the back but fluidity further forward

      (Quote)

  15. It just sounds incredibly narrow; all those players tend to work around the middle of the pitch from what I can gather. I don’t know – it just sounds like it’ll look a bit like my kid’s team at school – 10 players buzzing around a ball like a swarm of bees 😛

      (Quote)

  16. JG 😆 sorry mate took a while to catch on as my phone doesnt have comment No’s, dont listen to that baldy ***** Richie, I am 6.2 6.3 with my hair spiked thats why Richie is jealous he has no hair. 😉

      (Quote)

  17. So what’s Barton saying?
    I have to admit that while I’m worried about losing the soul of the team, I’m also sick of hearing about players who don’t seem able to grasp the reality and accept the club cannot justify paying them £2.5m a year when they can’t outrun the mascot.
    Wet Spam may be up for offering that, but that’s because their need is greater… and because their manager’s a ****.

      (Quote)

  18. Whumpie, it’s like what Lille played this season, the midfield three has everything you want would from it and then width can be provided but Benny/Barnetta/Erding with also the full backs pushing on.

    It would be like our chelsea played a few year back, obviously on a lower scale.

      (Quote)

  19. Basically he wants longevity as his gfriend is pregnant.

    I think he should get a deal personally, as I rate him higher than Nolan. I would hope the club sit down again at some point.

    Is there any way to contact the club or AP in a way that gets a response?

      (Quote)

  20. raffo
    Posted June 16, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    “Is there any way to contact the club or AP in a way that gets a response?”

    😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

      (Quote)

  21. Dan – Also, the ideal thing with having the right – left footed combo in as a holding 2, is that they can drop into the full back position easily to cover if the full backs get caught up top.

    I think it gives so much flexibility, and obviously Barca Real Manure and a host of others play that way

      (Quote)

  22. Well the journal was right about ba then maybe the others could come off 😀 😀

      (Quote)

  23. Raffo – Nah, I missed a load of comments yesterday as my battery died on my phone. I”ll have a mooch. I hope it’s a good comment 😈

      (Quote)

  24. Raffo, exactly, that midfield three would allow the front to have license to do what ever, whether that be in a ridged 4-3-3 as out and out wingers or coming inside and drifting.

    The great thing is as well, we are only one player off that midfield 😉

      (Quote)

  25. Dave…..aye but ya have your hair spiked like Jedward so that doesn’t really count…..but aye I’m jealous 😆

      (Quote)

  26. Basically about the posibility of getting something similar to the facebook chat icon that shows whos online etc. just so we know if its busy and whos on etc.

      (Quote)

  27. I agree about this lad;
    Barca work by passing no more than 5metres away from each other and retain posession so well

    If we had cabaye tiote and matuidi which are all great technical players we could have the freedom to play barnetta N’Zog on the wings or HBA which a big man upfront.

    Its doesnt seem that unreal to suggest we could become a faster more attractive playing team with both balance width and defensive acumen…how about this for a line up;

    Krul

    Simpson, Colo, Saylor, Izzaguirre

    Tiote, Matuidi

    Cabaye

    HBA/Barnetta N,Zog/Jonas

    Ba/Erdinc/Best

      (Quote)

  28. Raffo – Ah yeah, got it. About the online thingy? Hard to do to be honest mate as you don’t have to be logged in to comment. I always advise people to log in so the latest comments pop up, but it’s not essential. If you don;t log in it just means that until you post you may not get the most recent comments due to the caching that goes on to keep the site running fast.

    I’ll have a look though. There might be something I can do.

      (Quote)

  29. Spot on Liam 😉

    If we had that midfield three we would have one of the best midfields in the league!

      (Quote)

  30. Hell yes, them 2 in sat in front of the back 4 would be scary. Brick wall is the way forward if we play 4-2-3-1. 2 decent wingers and a fast pacey striker to go with Ba would be mint!

      (Quote)

  31. i said that nolan will not be going to west ham…welll how wrong i was…welll the money they are paying him..and length of contract proves why british players are money mad..2 drop down a league says what sort of player he is..gone their in a shot…joker..

      (Quote)

  32. If we had that line-up we’d break the home-grown player rule into tiny bits. And we’d have a field full of petulent foreigners.

    Sorry; perhaps I just need more coffee, but I just think this ‘brave new toon’ looks like a load of foreigners with no leadership and two Brits who will rapidly get pissed off.

    This ‘all abroad’ approach has its limits. I’d rather see three or four of these continental types plus more from the academy, even at the cost of out-and-out ability.

      (Quote)

  33. Have to say my initial reaction to the whole Nolangate was what the hell is going on however i agree with lots of other Nufc fans in that we can no longer be held to ransom by ageing players. i beleive by buying younger hungrier players we will move on and become a much better and financially secure side in the future. I would love to see joey sign but unfortunatley at his own choice he has burnt his bridges . BA would be a good signing all the hammers boys i have spoken with tell me he is the real deal. fingers crossed on some good news soon . anything from coozy this morning
    ?

      (Quote)

  34. Asim – Exactly, I just dont get him taking the first offer. Crazy. If it is for the length of contract then fair play, but I think it would be risky to give that length to that age

      (Quote)

  35. I really hope Barton can stay (can’t believe I’m typing that) because he can keep the core going, along with Saylor, Colo and Harps and others. Nolan was much harder to accommodate, but I don’t want to lose both.

      (Quote)

  36. Whumpie, yeah I do agree with you on that, Joey staying with Harps, Colo, Saylor and I hate to say it but Shola, maybe even Krul too.

    That’s a decent core of a squad in which will help the foreign lads settle.

      (Quote)

  37. raffo,

    A lock in with Ash and Dekka?

    Bet Troy was round with the cowies 😉

    Is Troy about to give us the lowdown on the lock in at SJP last night?

      (Quote)

  38. Nah Sholla is the prime one we should try and get shot of. Keep Barton with anything we get for him

      (Quote)

  39. the competition for places will be a good thing and can only benefit us everyone having to play for there place over the last few years too many people have had it easy. and it looks like we have signed ba hes apparently on his way for a medical according to sky sports

      (Quote)

  40. Moreno Managed to find my way on to the blog . (Andy .I) looking to add some sensible stuff to this already great blog .

      (Quote)

  41. Alreet mate!

    Good effort, you always have a good opinion on what’s going down at SJP mate 😉

    Good to see you on.

    I am a bit worried about Ba meself mate, reckon he is a bit of a mercenary…..but then again if that’s the case then the club won’t take him on. We turned Gervinho down so the Gooners can have our scraps

      (Quote)

  42. Lobacka 😀
    Ed may well have a mental breakdown now 😕
    We think this is bad news indeed for the famous Newcastle united.

      (Quote)

  43. Moreno yeah mate Gervhino is off to the gooners the wifes grandad is a scout at the **** so i hear what is going on there but unfortunatly nout about the toon !!

      (Quote)

  44. Apparantly we met him at SJP mate and we weren’t impressed.

    Didn’t have the right attitude and drive to play for us.

    By all accounts…we turned him down!

    Don’t get Arsenal….they buy another player who is a flair striker/winger when they actually need a Vieira type in, a Tony Adams/martin Keown style defender to organise and a good striker.

      (Quote)

  45. Raffo, a don’t know haha, your a regular on here.

    Should get one of Matuidi if/when he signs 😉

      (Quote)

  46. Well mate i have heard that they are pretty concerned about his apparent lack of fitness and generally being on the **** too much.. however its always going to be hard to get a real honest answer on that .

      (Quote)

  47. Nah carroll wont be unhappy hes on a fat wage! wouldnt it be hilarious if we got him back on loan??!! 😆 😆 😆

      (Quote)

  48. The **** will hit the fan when when Judas reports back to pre-season training.

    Wouldn’t be surprised if he chopped his greasy mane off just to lose a few pounds.

      (Quote)

  49. I saw pictures on twitter of him with Wayne Rooney…

    Actually that makes me wonder who’s hair Wazza has transplanted on his bald spot…

      (Quote)

  50. Who i this guy, never heard of him ??? One thing is certain, if we’re targeting him he must be on less wages than Barton or Nolan, because Ashley wont even give them good contracts !

      (Quote)

  51. still need the big strikers. if we rely onBa we could be gutted if his knee goes first game of the new season.

      (Quote)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *