Obertan deal confirmed?

toonsy

Five-year deal for Obertan?
Newcastle look to be signing Manchester United utility man Gabriel Obertan if the gossip lines are to be believed.

The 22-year-old former Bordeaux man will complete his move to Newcastle early next week and will put pen to paper on a five-year deal with NUFC having to pay somewhere in the region of £3 million for the services of the once highly-rated Frenchman, meaning that Manchester United will have recouped what they paid for him two seasons ago.

Whether or not there is any truth in this remains to be seen however as the only hints we have are a bit in the Daily Mail, a bit of gossip on Twitter, plus people putting 2+2 together from the other day when Alan Pardew said that he’d been speaking to Alex Ferguson. Will the sums be correct? Time will tell…

I read a comment from DJG about Manchester United “rejects” and how he wasn’t generally overly enthused about them, and I tend to agree with that assessment. Alex Ferguson rarely makes errors of judgement when releasing players, but it does happen. The problem is that for every Diego Forlan or Phil Neville there is an Alan Smith or Nicky **** to counterbalance the argument. Again like DJG though, I feel that Obertan would be a decent shout for us.

Once upon a time, back in France, Obertan was very highly-rated and was tipped for big things. He was a fast, tricky winger who excited people and his skills ensured that he represented his home country at every youth level right up to (and including) the U21 level. Then he moved to Manchester United aged just 20 and things kind of fell apart for the lad. No longer was he getting regular first-team football.

He is a talent, but I also think he suffered from the pressure of playing for Manchester United a bit, Perhaps a week in, week out role at Newcastle will help him get back on track? Like or not, he would get a week in, week out role at Newcastle, especially when you consider that he can play right-wing, centre-midfield and as a striker.

So what next? Well I guess I better find the obligatory YouTube video. I did track one down that was just full of skills, flicks and tricks which was good to watch but in fairness it isn’t representative of what Obertan would be doing for the full 90 minutes. However I did find this one which shows a bit more of what he is about.

Good move? Bad move? Time will tell. I was rather shocked to see a comment suggesting that this signing (if it happens) was purely out of desperation. Hello? Are we not kind of desperate? Has there not been mass hysteria over our lack of transfer activity? Will this solve it? Probably not…

However there is nothing to suggest that he can’t be a good signing for us. Playing for Manchester United and playing for Newcastle United are two different things if you take the emotion out of it, and at least Obertan has time on his side unlike our previous signings from Old Trafford!

As ever though, we’ll have to see if anything official becomes of this.

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.

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133 thoughts on “Obertan deal confirmed?”

  1. I think he could be a good signing! Dennis Wise would certainly take him from his youtube videos. Pace, flair and an eye for goal and only 22. Got to be worth 3 million when you consider we have just got £2 mil for routledge. As you say though, time will tell.

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  2. Excellent sıgnıng ımo ıf ıt happens. he played class ın the france england u21 game at Nottıngham. Next thıng I knew he was at Man Utd. He rarely played wıth the good players too, ı bet ıts hard to play well alongsıde shıte lıke Bebe.

    And for 3m. ıtd be daft not too

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  3. I hope this works out to be true… Just to get Bobby to flash his **** in a shop window 😯

    In all seriousness he does have pedigree, so he may turn out to be a good signing.. Remember players like Malouda took some time to blossom so heres hoping it will be the case with this fella..

    By the way, congrats on the impending bub, Toonsy!
    When he/she arrives you will join what I affectionately call ” the ranks of the living dead” (you will know what I mean a few months into parenthood 😀 )

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  5. I’ll admit I thought he was useless but so was Rossi at Manu and look at him now… The YouTube video looks good though! 😆

    I don’t see how he can be worse than routledge and he will get on with the French buddies

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  6. Personally I’ll be very happy if we got Obertan. I had no idea that Man Utd even signed him. When I’ve seen him play I just thought he was another of their kids (but in the non-kid looking way, kind of like a young Boris Karloff). But I thought he’s looked terrific, and capable of goals too.

    To those negative, droning Toon fans…just STFU!

    The only downside is it would be yet another mf/wide mf. Despite all the anxiety and despondency lately, I feel that we have the best mf for many years, especially if Benny gets and stays fit.

    To me, we’re just about okay in attack but the lb position is the one that’s the most dodgy. If we really can’t find an obvious replacement for Jose then I just hope we don’t play a ride sided player at lb. Far better to play naturally left footed youngsters there, even if initially they’re exposed. Dummet, Kadar, Ferguson etc. Standing next to each other, Enrique would look like Ferguson’s probabation officer but I just can’t stand to see us play someone like Raylor or Perch at lb. Don’t fr#$%^@g do it!!

    Other than that, hope we do get Obertan asap.

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  7. Why is it Man Utd will end up getting what they paid for him back? Any other club wouldn’t! Bastards! 👿

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  8. What are the chances that Obertan may be playing as a striker with Ba?
    Just a thought 😕

    Would he be any good in this position?? Remember Henry was a winger before he became a striker……..

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  9. Hey Moreno, are you and STEVEP the same person??
    Both of you are really cheerful 😆

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  10. Think you hit the nail on the head Toonsy, a player going to man u might be a bit over awred, they are one of if not the biggest clubs in the world, with other massive players for each position, sometimes just to hard to push through. Must have had something about him to be signed by them. If he does sign for us, could work out well, let’s hope so anyway.

    Congrats to you and the Mrs, great news there!!

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  11. If the price is 3M, that means we pretty much swapped one RM (Rout) plus 1M for a younger, higher rated RM. Good business

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  12. Going by the man u fans are saying he would be à good signing and fits into Pardew’s game plan .Attacking fast and skillful ,this Guy down the right marveaux down the left Tiote ,cabaye in the middle with hba behind à striker Ba or Sammy Ameobi (who is bit quicker than his brother) i have à feelig that we are going to be entertained this season ,just Hope the results are good 

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  15. can anybody tell me if i could watch todays freindly hope u can would like to watch the boys in action

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  16. is the game on radio today? any links?….i recon “.”…………..krul…………..
    tavernier…sailor..col..Enrique.
    Guitierez..cabaye..gosling..marv
    ..ba…..Strolla

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  17. Never rated him but hope he proves me wrong. A winger not quite cutting it at manure coming to nufc… Gillespie anyone. Still worried that a player has left and then one arrives which does noting to disprove our one out one in policy!

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  18. thats what i want to know john would love to see at least one of our games put all the other games on but not ours

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  19. Good business to me. Though I wish we were adding to weak areas.

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  21. I think obertan would be a good signing , tho i agree the ex man utd player is always a worry , if sir alex thought in any shape way of form could contribute to the man utd casue over next few seasons obertan would be staying. But maybe he is becoming senial in his old age 🙂

    And congrats toonsy on the news , welcome to the club , and as Aussie Mag says your never going to feel as tired in yourlife!!!! And if the the Mrs ask’s for a 2nd just say no 🙂 Mind yourself and the two most important people now toonsy!

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  22. Don’t get the tiredness part? It’s no different to how I feel nowadays anyway. It’s not possible to be more tired 😆

    Hammy/NUFC – It kind of has to be one on and one out at the minute. We still have a big squad but the problem is that we have too many “squad” (****) players within it. As long as the one in is better than the one out it will work, and I think it’s safe to say that Obertan is better that Routledge. FFS my right ******** is better than Routledge 😆

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  23. i cant quite believe we have replaced Routledge with Obertan who is far superior in all areas. And 3/4 years younger. Cracking business. People suggesting otherwise are mad. i think all of our signings are better than who has left us. I think as a fan thats all we can ask for….

    1 out 3 positions filled….

    Next Shane Long please. How funny that CWARR didnt see this coming?
    mind you, you treat an a*shole like a mushroom dont yeah.

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  25. toonsy says:
    August 6, 2011 at 09:47
    Don’t get the tiredness part? It’s no different to how I feel nowadays anyway. It’s not possible to be more tired

    I remember I thought like that once 🙂

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  26. Johno – Mate I know for a fact that I won’t have to do much. Tge mrs gas been wanting this for so long now that I know she will want to do everything 😉

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  28. TOONSY 🙄 wait till her hormones kick in ant she is telling you too f@ck off every 5 mins 😆 😆

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  29. I think he would be an excellent signing and I can see barton going the other way as part of the deal. I also think if gosling & cabaye then tiote may have problems getting back in the starting 11 esp as he picks up a yellow nearly every game ! Anyone wanting to put a quid on Sammy scoring the winner today 🙂

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  31. With the sudden influx in French talent coming to the Toon and English talent leaving, anyone know how we fare up in the “Home Grown” Player rule?

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  33. He may not be the signing I was anticipating. I’d much rather prefer Barnetta. But I think we should put it into perspective, NUFC have wasted far more money on total **** over the years. Whether we buy him outright or just get him on loan, this is a decent signing. He obviously must have something about him to be involved with France team throughout youth and to be bought by Man United, not many players would get in the Man U starting 11 these days and another French guy would probably be good and he does have a bit of premier league experience and some champions league so he’s at least half proven even if he hasnt had the opportunity to flourish or develop as well as he should have. Routledge or Obertan?? I think everybody knows the answer to that one already. How Wayne Routledge actually is a professional footballer who cant cross, shoot or do much other than run with the ball and lose it is beyond me. Im gonna tell my kids to just be fast or very tall and good at heading, seems to be the only way to become a footballer these days.

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  34. @sunlounger. We’ve got plenty. Homegrown can mean people who’ve trained with the club or came through the academy after is it 3 or 5 years im not too sure but Krul would be homegrown, danny simpson, shola, sailor, ferguson, sameobi, guthrie, gosling, williamson, harper…I think u only need 8 in your squad.

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  35. “A home-grown player will be defined as one who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the Season during which he turns 21).‬‪”

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  36. Got to give the lad a chance. Must have something about him.
    It just shows we are shopping in the lkes of Aldi and Lidl and should stick to shopping there instead of dreaming we can shop in Harrods.

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  37. Krul, Harps, Best, Simpson, RTaylor, STaylor, Guthrie, Shola

    Still it’s close. Not sure if players under 21 count since they don’t need to be on the 25 man squad list

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  39. I have seen this guy on a regular basis; he flatters for few minutes and then disappears. He might do better if he gets more games, but at the present time I’d say he has been a flop at ManU.

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  40. From what I have read on Man Utd boards he just lacks confidence when it comes to the big stage. That’s why they’d all prefer a loan.

    I think it’s a mint signing, people were drooling over him a couple of years ago, you don’t lose all that talent straight away. 3 Mill is an absolute bargain and I hope that doesnt mean we get the 35MILLION fans ramming the cheapness down our throats.

    Seen a few great points on here as well, it’s at the very least like we’ve paid 1M for a younger, more talented Routledge and at the most we have a player that might fulfill the potential Man Utd once saw.
    Also like someone said, Forlan, Rossi, Veron and almost Berbatov struggled their, doesnt mean to say they cant perform elsewhere.

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  41. @ Toonsy
    Don’t get the tiredness part? It’s no different to how I feel nowadays anyway. It’s not possible to be more tired.

    I am suitably amused, lol. Boy are you in for a shock. Congrats BTW.

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  42. Haven’t seen much of Obertan, but judging by the Youtube vid he looks really good, tremendous all round awareness, two good feet, fast and direct, and can also finish well. I hope it comes off, cos to swap Routledge+1 million for this guy is a tremendous piece of business.

    I wouldn’t call him a Man U flop either, FFS Man U are one of the best teams in europe, no one walks into there first team. Look at Nani, he doesn’t play as many games as he would like, but he aint no flop. Get real toon fans.

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  44. RW, LW, AM, ST.
    pace, skill, eye for a pass, decent shot, can cross a ball (handy for a winger that… ) premiership experience and only 22.

    Decent signing in my opinion, I would be very happy (if not suprised) if we signed this lad for just 3million. Well worth the money!

    Give him a run of games, and I think he can prove the doubters wrong.

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  46. Very, very well said @42. my thoughts exactly, i mean Berbatov couldnt even make there bench for the CL final so it says it all really.

    My man u mates are gutted about it. He’s quick and strong and skillful and has a better end product than Routledge / Jonas

    I read Moreno comment about how Man U will get their money back, so they should he’s only 22 and has been in good form pre season so come on, i mean we made a profit on Routledge ffs.
    I think Swansea want their eyes back aswell!

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  47. Oblong@45…thanks mate. You new on here ? Welcome anyway bud…

    Toonarmy87@46. I watched Man Utd 3rd team cuff Schalkes full strength team including Raul and Huntelaar in the Champs League quarters last season, and would have any of those red devils in our first team… FFS several clubs have Manure loaness playing leading roles in there sides, look at the makkems last season..

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  48. If Sir Alex reckons Obertan is any good, the best we could probably hope for is a loan deal. What have Manure to gain by selling him, unless they reckon he has no chance of developing ? ….Ditto Ranger…why sell him on when we can loan him out…?

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  49. Decent replacement for routledge…nothing more. He does seem very very raw from what i’vr seen..but quick and strong so can develop from there if hes only 22.

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  50. The way I look at obertan is he improves the squad and maybe he will improve th team. He ain’t messi ( why arent we going for Messi , come on Ash splash the cash….) but he is an improvement on Routledge. Building a squad / team takes time. Some players we sign wont work out some will , btu we need to give Obertan time if he does sign for us. Has the potential and the tools to be a good player for us.

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  52. not too sure really why people aren’t happy with this deal? Personally I’m chuffed. He’s clearly a far better player than Routledge and all my mates who support UTD (essentially, that means all my mates) are pissed off he’s leaving on a permanent deal. Very highly regarded in France but lost his way a bit after being dubbed the Ronaldo replacement by a lot of Manure fans. I’m certainly not complaining! Young, hungry and with a big point to prove. Welcome to the French revolution Gabriel!

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  55. I am not getting if he cannae get a game at manure he is no good.
    Manure reserves would be a good mid table premier league side.

    The unwashed sign Brown and O’shea and are pulling themselves silly with joy. Two washed up players. We sign or attempt to sign a lad with untapped potential and there are doubters

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  57. I think obertan is well worth a gambe and I for one don’t mind taking a chance on man u cast off’s or chelsea arsenals or citehs for that matter ,we need to strengthen the squad.Congratulations Toonsy,like a lot of people I had to laugh when you said you couldn’t feel anymore tired.My 2 daughters didn’t sleep for 4 years till they went to school ,up 4/5 times a night at least,now that is tiredness,but they where worth it.Remember they use sleep deprevation as a torture in some countries 🙂 good luck

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  58. Big Dave…they better watch oot for Toonsy when he’s driving his bus when he’s cream crackered…. 😆

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  59. What’s the line up today?
    I couldn’t make head nor tail what pardew was saying at the press conference on thursday. My understanding of his rambles was it wouldn’t be the side that is facing Arsenal next week. With the exception of Tiote why not?

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  60. Moreno

    Time you got yourself back to Engalnd mate.

    You sound more like a pishing moaning sweaty sock every day.

    Cheer up! 😀

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  61. Dave – 😀

    I’ll be fine once the match kicks off on Saturday. On the positive side, just put my footy coupons on today. Nowt better than watching the scores come in with a few quid on it 😀

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  64. Just reading about Scholes testimonial and reminded me the Ferguson wanted to include Scholes in the deal for Andy Cole but Keegan insisted on Gillespie. Fergie got lucky there

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  65. Going to the match today, can`t wait. for those who can`t get try this after 2:00pm UK time,
    footballstreaming.info/streams/todayslinks/
    Won`t be up before then, you should then get a few options.
    All league games are shown on here for future ref.
    Obertan—no brainer, what`s to lose for £1 mill outlay and prob £20k ish a week?

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  68. ToonChicken…I would say of all of the people involved Scholes got REALLY lucky ! 😯

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  69. Well, he could turn out to be another Sibierski…. i.e. whoooooo????, then all of a sudden, a good servant and a tidy player for the club who chipped in with important goals and assists. Deserves a chance.

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  70. BigDave…them wheelies take some doing…don’t know how toonsy manages it like… 😆

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  71. Wotz wor team for today anybody ?

    Bit peeved about the Tiote situation to be honest, someone needs a good slapping somewhere if you ask me.

    Regarding JB tweeting. I honestly believe that the clubs cannae do too much about it. Gonna be the next big earth shattering move in football following the Bosman stuff from years back…Probably will end up being negotiated into the contracts for all future deals…no twatting allowed…

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  72. good signing IMHO opinion whenever ive seen him he looks like ronaldo when he first came here lots of stepovers and flicks and not much end product, If the club can knock a bit of that out of his game then he’ll be a decent player.

    Cover for both wings and can play off the front makes sense, Just desperately need cover across the back and another striker please…

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  73. No room for Obertan at Man U with Ashley Young’s arrival. Very difficult to make an impression with Giggs, Valencia and Nani ahead of you, I think he can be a good signing for us.

    On the other side I think the workhorses at Man U get an easy ride, looking for Wes Brown and John O’Shea to show their true colours this season avg players that looked good in a good team, much like our own Smudger.

    Think we’re nearly there with our squad this season, may have to show a lot of patience for the first half of the season, top 10 should be achievable.

    Any1 going to today’s game?

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