Rarely, if ever, do I read a critical analysis of his contribution to the team.
There’s no doubt that he’s our best player for that position. A creative midfielder whose main responsibility is to play in front of the defensive midfielder and be the main link from defence to attack. But how does he compare to other midfielders from the top teams in the Premier League?
Here are some comparative stats;
| Played | Goals | Assists | Shots | |
| Yohan Cabaye | 22 | 2 | 5 | 31 |
| David Silva | 25 | 5 | 13 | 62 |
| Frank Lampard | 22 | 10 | 5 | 43 |
| Luka Modric | 20 | 3 | 6 | 57 |
| Mikel Arteta | 23 | 5 | 1 | 34 |
| Charlie Adam | 20 | 2 | 6 | 47 |
| Kieran Richardson | 24 | 2 | 4 | 30 |
The above includes the top midfielders from the top teams but I’ve included Kieran Richardson from the Mackems, who surprisingly is on par with our so called magical maestro.
I appreciate statistics don’t tell the full story, but they should be taken into account when they cover the most important aspects of a players role.
In my opinion, attacking midfielders should be largely judged on the above criteria. Strikers careers live or die on goal stats and quite rightly so.
We can all see the effort and commitment shown by Cabaye, the constant demand for the ball to his feet, his tidy passing and the eye for a long precise pass, but does this deceive us into believing he’s more effective than he actually is?
Your thoughts?
Written by Troy Stavers.
@Shamrock: 145: Thanks for contributing to my point. People argue he is defensive, we are leaking goals his contribution there is not good enough. We know we are not creating chances for our forwards, his contribution there is not good enough as well. If he is ’rounded’ the same applies we are still leaking goals and not creating for our forwards.
For you to pull out his tackling stats is evidence of the desperate measures many of you are resorting to, to maintain his status as class.
Yes we are doing well but rewards are handed out at the end of the campaign not in February.
Michael12(Quote)
Shamrock @ 145 – Well said matey 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
@Solanostrumpet: post: 147: I think we need to establish what Cabaye is DM, CM or AM because it seems everytime evidence to suggest he is not as good as you make him out to be you change him from DM to CM then to AM.
If he is a:
DM – We all agree we are leaking goals!
CM – We all agree we are being over run in midfield. We saw this as recently against wolves.
AM – We all agree he has not scored enough goals nor is creating chances for our strikers.
Fact! There are no more excuses. Which ever way you define him as a DM, CM or AM he is not doing such a fantastic job as you make out.
Michael12(Quote)
@DJG
You say;
Troy- This is why most of us don’t write.
Jokin? This is water off a ducks back. 😆
Just because the blinkered are blinded by their lack of football knowledge has no effect on me.
😆
I’ve told them the problems that should be staring them in their faces but they refuse to see anything wrong with our midfield maestro. 😯
I state again. Stop making excuses for his lack of attacking ability. 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I do think Cabaye could be better with better players around him. For example as soon as Marv came on they linked up and he scored.
DJG(Quote)
Michael, nice. Breeze over valid points and then re-post the same point again as if it somehow makes your pathetic, weak argument seem stronger. No point in taking this discussion any further with you as you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. No point of reference to back up your statements either. No wonder I come on here less and less these days, people used to speak sense and look at things from a balanced point of view. Now there are too many WUM’s talking drivel looking for a reaction.
I spoke about defensive stats because you said he is ineffective, How is that desparation? Surely, it is a valid point of reference to base an opinion on as opposed to muttering utter nonsense?
Yes we are doing well and we wont be finished as low as 12th or 13th like we did last season so that’s called progress mate.
Being pessimistic for the sake of it is just as bad as having your head in the clouds all your life. Makes for a lack of common sense and a weak argument.
Shamrock(Quote)
anyone else think that van der weil of ajax would be a great signing to play rwb if we wanted to play 4-3-3?
VDW-S.Taylor-Colocinni-Santon
—————–Tiote—————–
——-Cabaye——–Gutierrez—–
–Ben Arfa—-Cisse——–Ba—–
Opinions?
andymag(Quote)
@Michael
Don’t let them get to you fella! We’ve got them all on the ropes! 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@154
“Just because the blinkered are blinded by their lack of football knowledge has no effect on me.” Haha yes, because this article and your subsequent comments have been so insightful. 😐
Anyone would think people describe him as the next Messi, but people don’t. Most of us, with the obvious ‘ineptitude’ simply describe him as the best we’ve got and we celebrate that.
Cabaye is a box-to-box midfielder. His responsibilities extend to both attacking and defending and in my opinion he does a decent job at both. However since this article only highlights his attacking abilities. You’re absolutely right Troy, no he’s not as good as most of the above mentioned players. Congratulations.
David(Quote)
don’t know if its been mentioned yet but the reason that cabaye is “flattering to decieve” is cus of our style of play, he’s been instructed as has the majority of our midfield to hoof it up to the attackers, that isn’t the french way of playing and isn’t a decent way of playing either, if HBA was to start (in the formation I posted) we would get the game moving on the ground only making the ball airborne when its a smart diagonal pass that would benefit the attack, its down to pardew to make the team play it along the ground, both ba and cisse (as well as HBA and Obertan) are all fast enough to latch onto to though-balls that roll along the ground rather than punted over the defence which only work if the defenders are both slow and weak, ala Man U when we beat them 3-0, but other teams aren’t like that and it requires a brain to out-manouvre them.
andymag(Quote)
@Shamrock
Great way to respond fella. You must go on one of those blogs where everyone is in a happy clappy club. 😛
Just because we disagree with your views does not mean its a wind up. It does make me laugh out loud though when I see people getting distraught because we’ve criticised dreamboat for his lack of attacking contribution.
😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
😥 I don’t like it when mummy and daddy argue 😆 opinions and my comments lads
andymag(Quote)
@David
As you will clearly see, many people will not have a bad word to say about our little French maestro.
Unfortunately for the Dreamboat crew, there are plenty who agree he does not contribute enough in attack.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Not really Troy. I say it how I see it and have had plenty of arguments with the ‘happy clappy’s.’ I just happen to think Michael is talking out of his behind without foundation and you almost made a good point about lack of attacking prowess from the team, but went about it wrong. You also love a good wind up, so I’m not inclined to take anything you say seriously anyway. Taking the moral high ground does not suit you mate.
Shamrock(Quote)
@Troy
I love your considered, amicable and clever approach when taking constructive feedback from other users. Very commendable.
David(Quote)
As far as forward play is concerned I agree that he has been disappointing, but I don’t blame him, our defence is poor and need a lot of protecting, so rather than play as a link man he has mostly been a second holding midfield player along side Tiote, with a stronger defence I’m sure we would have seen more of Cabaye as a link player which is what he was supposed to be
Patchty1(Quote)
repeat, until i get someone’s attention 👿
don’t know if its been mentioned yet but the reason that cabaye is “flattering to decieve” is cus of our style of play, he’s been instructed as has the majority of our midfield to hoof it up to the attackers, that isn’t the french way of playing and isn’t a decent way of playing either, if HBA was to start (in the formation I posted) we would get the game moving on the ground only making the ball airborne when its a smart diagonal pass that would benefit the attack, its down to pardew to make the team play it along the ground, both ba and cisse (as well as HBA and Obertan) are all fast enough to latch onto to though-balls that roll along the ground rather than punted over the defence which only work if the defenders are both slow and weak, ala Man U when we beat them 3-0, but other teams aren’t like that and it requires a brain to out-manouvre them.
andymag(Quote)
patchy1
fully agree, once saylor is back in the line-up he’ll be linking play much better.
andymag(Quote)
Troy said: “Stop making excuses for his lack of attacking ability”
Which is comparable with other “top” Premier League players using your own stats 😕
toonsy(Quote)
@Shamrock I have given you areas in which Cabaye is either not contributing or his contribution is not good enough.
You tell me then what value Cabaye is adding to the team? Tell us what he is DM, CM, AM or if you like CLM, or CRM 😀
Please tell us of the value he is adding.
To those giving excuses, you know that by you giving excuses you are tacitly agreeing that he is not as good as he has been made out to be else why excuse him.
Michael12(Quote)
@Shamrock
I find it very hard to believe that you can get upset over a tactical/player debate.
I seriously find it funny but I don’t choose to turn the subject into a ridicule thread. I just react to your anger and put downs towards Michael.
If you don’t agree with my viewpoint then say so without losing your temper.
I still maintain he does not contribute to our offensive play anywhere enough and that is because he’s more suited to being defensive.
I don’t go along with attacking midfield central midfield nonsense. He is meant to be our creative midfielder and he simply isn’t creative .
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Michael, you have told me your opinion which means nothing without something to hang it on. You would not understand though so I am no longer responding to you.
Shamrock(Quote)
Michael12 says: “We all agree we are being over run in midfield. We saw this as recently against wolves.”
Was this Cabaye’s fault? Or was it because Wolves had an extra man in midfield? We wouldn’t have got the first goal without Cabaye stealing the ball off Wolves, but that won’t show as an assist.
toonsy(Quote)
@toonsy
They are comparable with Kieran Richardsons stats in all categories. He falls way below every other player for shots. That stat should stand out like a sore thumb and that’s why it’s included.
It shows he doesnt get into positions to shoot.
He’s too busy protecting Tiote in their own half whilst their strikers are shouting for help. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
repeat, until i get someone’s attention 👿
don’t know if its been mentioned yet but the reason that cabaye is “flattering to decieve” is cus of our style of play, he’s been instructed as has the majority of our midfield to hoof it up to the attackers, that isn’t the french way of playing and isn’t a decent way of playing either, if HBA was to start (in the formation I posted) we would get the game moving on the ground only making the ball airborne when its a smart diagonal pass that would benefit the attack, its down to pardew to make the team play it along the ground, both ba and cisse (as well as HBA and Obertan) are all fast enough to latch onto to though-balls that roll along the ground rather than punted over the defence which only work if the defenders are both slow and weak, ala Man U when we beat them 3-0, but other teams aren’t like that and it requires a brain to out-manouvre them.
andymag(Quote)
Troy – And that is purely Cabaye’s fault? What are Tiote’s stats in that case? I mean they both play in central midfield do they not so shouldn’t he be held accountable also?
toonsy(Quote)
Toy, or it shows he is passing the ball to somebody in space as opposed to needlessly wasting a shot from an unrealistic position. Lots more shots than him, yes. Lots more goals? No. Wasted possession then? Yes. Depends how you look at it eh?!
Shamrock(Quote)
Andymag – I agree, but for Benny to start in that position we sacrifice our wings, which create fook all anyway so we wouldn’t lose out in that sense. However, I personally wouldn’t be happy leaving our fullbacks completely exposed, especially Simpson.
toonsy(Quote)
Andymag, maybe the tactics hold him up a bit – however those tactics have got us higher up in the league at this stage of the season than we have been in yonks. So i’m inclined to say we should be playing to our strengths, which is 4-4-2 at this point in time.
Next season with an addition or two, who knows? 😛
Shamrock(Quote)
toonsy
we could put jonas at RAM and cabaye LAM so guti could support simpson and cabaye could play a through-ball for a rampaging santon
andymag(Quote)
shamrock
what got us up this far was a solid defence 😯 , which has disssolved with s.taylors absence, so I reckon experimentation would be healthy, the phrase “if it aint broke don’t fix it” no longer applies to us after the horrors of our recent performances. I agree the formation would work better next season with better defenders in (taylor back) including a new full back such as van der weil we could really push up the table making Europe the aim.
andymag(Quote)
@Toonsy
Correct me if I’m wrong but Tiote is solely a defensive midfielder who breaks up play covering his back 4. That is a general job description.
That should allow our creative maestro to play further up the field to create and get involved in attacks.
His safety net is Tiote. I don’t expect Tiote to have decent attacking stats.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
maybe ime wrong but looks like that we have a lot of comments for a morning/afternoon for a while on a monday,great 😀 😀 😉
icedog(Quote)
@Shamrock
You say his lack of shots is down to him passing to people in space.
Strange cos I watch everyatch and don’t see that. Do you?
The fact that we don’t create many chances shows he’s not doing that.
That stats show what I’m seeing with my eyes. He doesn’t get far enough up the field to shoot often enough.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
The facts are that Cabaye sits too deep out of choice because that’s where he feels comfortable.
I agree Cabaye sits too deep, but if it isn’t under Pardew’s intruction, then either way, Pardew is at fault because he can’t get a player to play to his intructions…
If Cabaye wasn’t playing to those instructions, he would be dropped, but when Guthrie plays in that position, he does exactly the same thing… so I have to believe Cabaye sits deep under instruction.
Also, the stats you have given in comparison are a bit of a joke really because they will tell you Lampard has been a better player than Modric this season, when if you’ve watched any Chelsea or Spurs games this season, he quite clearly hasn’t…
Goals and assists don’t tell the full story… They are just numbers. Look at how Messi set up the first goal for Barca yesterday. He did all the work, all the creativity, yet Fabregas got the assist and Alves got the goal… The stats will tell you Messi did nothing…
Ask Stato do give you the numbers on “chances created” and you’ll see very different figures.
JJ(Quote)
Troy
I must say, I generally respected your opinion footballing wise, until you said that you feel Nolan is a better player than Cabaye 😯 😯
Wow, then you kind of went down the crapper… 😆
JJ(Quote)
JJ
couldn’t agree more mate, if you picked players on stats alone you’d be liverpool. 😆 and we’re ahead of them (no one mention the CC 😮 ).
andymag(Quote)
@Shamrock: I’ll take that as you conceding you cannot tell us what value he is adding because he is not adding value to any part of our team it is as simple as that.
@Toonsy. First off the reason I used DM, CM, and AM scenarios was because some people are saying he is a DM then when you point out that we are leaking goals so either he is not contributing or his contribution is not good enough people then say he is a CM. When I say we are being over run in Midfield they say he is an AM to which I then reply we are not creating chances for our forwards nor is he scoring.
Yes against wolves they out numbered us in midfield but Javis played pretty much as a striker. Toonsy do you see people are having to excuse him again this time we blame the oppositions 5 man midfield for Cabaye’s poor performance. The excuses range from just back from injury, he needs Tiote who is at the cup of nations, we played a top 6 side, Williamson, Simpson, Shola and the Jews 😆
Enough excuses please guys! Wolves are on 22 points, and us 43 light years apart.
Michael12(Quote)
AndyMag @ 175 – I totally agree mate. We have gone from the start of the season playing some decent ground football to constantly long ball/hoofball and it’s totally isolating our midfield especially Cabaye.
Our football has got worse as the season has progressed and not better.
I am not looking forward to next weekend against the Mackems, I have a very bad feeling we will get beat.
EvilFranky(Quote)
evilfranky
when I think of tottenham at home, manu at home, what they both have in common was great tactical awareness by pardew, knowing what the team can do and closing them down quickly. Bale was made null and void and tiote and cabaye completely dominated modric and parker. then at manu evry player pressurised the opposition into making mistakes them benefitting from them, tiote didn’t leave rooney’s side the entire match unless we had the ball in which case he was making runs to get the ball and send in a through ball to Ba. since then its been ” send crosses from all ends of the pitch lads, and hope ba or cisse can run onto them, if that doesn’t work we’re f#cked” 🙁
andymag(Quote)
@JJ
I said Barton was better than Cabaye.
Nolan was just too slow to get back but he had the role sewn up in his mind. It’s exactly how I see a CM.
His attacking ability was first class it’s just that he was a tugboat and not a dreamboat.
Dreamboat should try play like Nolan as he has the engine.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Evilfranky @189
Exactly!
Thing is we’ve seen games when Cabaye is allowed to get forward a bit, and he looks **** hot when he does it… But for some or other reason, the team are playing so **** negatively, they ALL seem to have completely forgotten how to pass, and make runs and look for the ball.
I simply cannot see us beating the Scum the way we have played recently. I sense a high scoring loss coming… 😥
JJ(Quote)
you would be better off looking at his total passes and pass completion percentage rather than goals and assists.
Mark Thewlis(Quote)
The fact is that central midfield is probably the only area that Pardew has a number of options when it comes to section of players.
Cabaye is playing the way Pardew wants him to play otherwise if he wasnt Pardew would play: HBA, Gosling, Guthrie, Vukic or Abeid in there.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Troy,
I agree Cabaye should get up the pitch more. And if Pardew has told him to do that and he isn’t he should be dropped. But I think his instructions are the opposite… Why? I don’t understand. Have to ask Pardew that. It makes no sense to me either.
Andymag @190
I totally agree, with that. Its like the players think they are good enough to stroll to victories and have forgotten you actually have to play well for it to happen… The tactics have been so unimaginative.
JJ(Quote)
Lads everyone keeps saying stats don’t show everything as if Troy has used the stats as the sole evidence of wither Cabaye flatters do deceive, but I don’t think he is.
I wouldn’t need stats to tell me that I expected more from him and that in quite a few games I have been disappointed in him, but I think the stats are a handy guide, and if they weren’t there quite a few would be asking for the stats to back up their case.
I thought Cabaye’s main job was to link up play and to attack but I don’t see much of that because he is to deep sitting beside Tiote. I also thought that was Tiote main job was to stay in the middle and protect the defence and allow Cabaye to get forward and attack the goal 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
This is Cabaye’s first season in this league and I think he’s done very well considering.
His engine is second to none .
Forget about stats because stats do not tell any full picture on what he does on the football field overall.
I think a few people have literally over looked just how good he is to be honest and don’t forget, he is still adjusting to the prem and life at Newcastle.
Cabaye is a fantastic player both defensively and offensively.
Take a good look at how he wins balls and distributes it and also he clever through balls and his long passes, plus the fact he’s got a mean shot on him.
He covers the most ground in the prem.
I don’t understand what people expect of him.
With him in the side as well as all the others, we are sat in 6th place and we are sat in 6th place even though we have had a major blip in the season.
Anyone that thinks Cabaye isn’t up to their standard, all I can say is, you are in for one massive disappointment if you think we can get better quality because quality players like him would cost about 20 million plus.
wolfie(Quote)
Wow! Cabaye`s stats are about the same as Ben Arfa`s. Considering the minutes player maybe they should change places for a while with Cabaye sitting out.
Janne(Quote)
Ben arfa looked shyte to me on Saturday, 1st game (admittedly) I’ve seen him live, but majorly disappointing, as was Cabaye but if your gonna slate Cabaye look at his contribution to the 1st goal? closing down in the opposing area? If it weren’t for him in that particluar situation we might not of scored….. and lost 2-1!!!!
Not a great game but don’t compare a French intnl to Guthrie!!!!!!!!!!!!
toonarmy87(Quote)
@Big Dave
That’s exactly how I see it. Thanks fella . 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
So basically we are where we are that’s to Krul and Ba 😕 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
TA87 from what I seen Benny looked as if he done more in the time he was than Cabaye done in the whole game, considering Cabaye has missed the last 3 games I thought he would have been well up for it, but imo looked very average.
As I said at the start I like Cabaye and think he has and will keep doing well for us, but I have not seen anything really special about him and can’t understand how he avoids any stick, but in far less games I have seen glimpses of real special skill from Benny but he seems to get a helluva lot of stick 😕
Big Dave(Quote)
@Whumpie
So are you suggesting we don’t question some obvious deficiencies in his style of play whether it’s the managers tactics or the players ability.
How else do you improve?
If you read the article I do mention he is our best player in that role. I just want to see him play more adventurous.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I have to agree with a few posters on here in that i think he is being told to sit deep. Forget the fact that Tiote is a DM there to protect the back four ,it’s obvious Pards has little to no faith in the entire back four and has told Cabaye to stay deep, that’s why we are also playing such a high line. Our defenders have ****** all by way of pace and are always liable to be caught for pace . Early on in the season Cabaye did appear to be more attacking as his role i believe was defined as that, but with the loss of Saylor it’s devastated our back line and the need to protect it has meant imo the need for both Tiote and Cabaye to act as DM. Hopefully once the backline is strengthened in the summer we will see Cabaye in a more attacking role ,only then can we truely judge him imo.
kimtoon(Quote)
Sharpy take Ba out of the team and we would be well down in the bottom half.
Big Dave(Quote)
@wolfie
So are you suggesting we don’t question some obvious deficiencies in his style of play whether it’s the managers tactics or the players ability.
How else do you improve?
If you read the article I do mention he is our best player in that role. I just want to see him play more adventurous.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@Kimtoon
It’s either tactics or his ability but I haven’t witnessed anything to suggest he deserves the adulation he seems to get from many on here.
It seems that Tiote and Cabaye are dealing with one position and neglecting their offensive duties.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Kimtoon Pards has no faith in the back 4, if that is the case then it would show just how stupid a gamble it was to not strengthen the defence in Jan 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
TROY@206, no mate I’m not suggesting anything and it’s each to their own thoughts.
All I’m saying and from my point of view is, considering it’s his first season in this league I think he’s done basically extremely well.
Granted he’s had a few off games but over all I think he’s been quality.
wolfie(Quote)
Who let Troy write an article? Based on his GUARANTEES that Tiote and Krul were gone during the January transfer window, I assume that he’d be off finding new sources of inside info.
Does Cabaye flatter to deceive? No, he’s been great for us – he’s asked to do his part defensively, so comparing him to Silva is absolute madness.
Free Scoring Smudge(Quote)
So we are were we are thanks solely to Ba 😆 And he’s likely to leave in the summer so that will be relegation next season then?! 🙁
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well done troy nice one 😉 first of Cabaye had a rotten game on saturday but not as bad as williamson and guthrie who could not pass the ball 6 yards ! usually however Cabaye is one of our stand out players and to be fair to him there is little you can do if you get the ball deep in your own half with nobody moving and few targets ahead of you ! so maybe this is more down to tactics than a negative mind set ! on sunday cabaye tiote simpson williamson all have to improve big style or we will be in trouble . 2goals from attaking midfield is not good enough imo and as dave points out without ba and his huge goal tally we would be a lot lower in the league ! @wolfie 20 million is nothing to ashley he spends that in january 😛
keith(Quote)
Think I sort of agree with troy here, cabayes a decent player and will prob come good next season, he’s def no silva although compares well enough with modric and arteta this season
I’d give him a B- for this season with the comment could do better if he took a chance and got further forward 🙂
4411(Quote)
Sharpy I didn’t say solely due to Ba I said “take Ba out of the team and we would be well down in the bottom half.”
Are you saying thats wrong ??
Big Dave(Quote)
@Free scoring smudge
I agree he’s played his part defensively. I compared him to many, not just Silva.
His stats were more on par with Kieran Richardson than anyone else.
If he left Tiote to do his role, he could get further up the field and link the defence to the strikers.
We might then be able to compare him to Silva . 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Dave – to suggest anything else would be crazy, but we’ve had a very successful season so far yet almost ever player has received criticism. It’s just difficult to believe to be honest.
The lad hasn’t had a full season in the league yet and he’s being pulled to bits or compared with established PL players.
As I said earlier – we sit 6th in the league 3 points from 4th and 4 points clear of 7th with 6 of our starting 11 different to the starting 11 from last season … yet we sit higher in the league.
But still almost every player has been critisised on this site?!… It just doesn’t make sense to me mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
@sharpy
Do we just praise the players all the time no matter how they perform.?
It’s constructive criticism and that’s healthy. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Concerning Cabaye I watched lot of games of Lille in the past years and it was really a good player but not in the same position than here. In Lille he was the most offensive of a midfield with Balmont and Mavuba so he scored more goals. And one other thing, in Lille he never tackle so he changes a lot here, and I think he played so defensive because Pardew ask him to play like that.
But a the end I think his performances have been good, and he really is a very good midfield for the amount of money we payed and that’s his first season.
But i think really all our problem in the game comes from the 4-4-2, which most of big teams don’t use now because this formation makes a team too predictable, there is never a swap of position between players, so we can score only with exploits from our players, and that’s happened in most of our game. You can use the 4-4-2 in some games, or in a moment during the game, but I think most of the team play with a guy in the hole and we need to do that to, because like that we are just not enough good to create us a lot of chances.
HBA39(Quote)
Christ, you’ll be saying ba has flattered to deceive next if he doesnt score in the next two games, personally for the price we got yohan at i think he has been exceptional in his first season in the prem.
Jonny(Quote)
Positionally I think he is very good, however I can see your point – especially when our width provides nothing at all. It worries me we score wonder goals, goals from simply pressing opposition into mistakes or route 1. I would like to see crosses or midfield through balls so yes I see your point
Staff(Quote)
Troy@207- I have no strong opinion on Cabaye one way or the other , but i do think he was more offensive at seasons start , when our defense was solid . Ireally do think it’s more tatical than him not being as good as some say he is. Is he world class in his role , well clearly not ,but then if he were he wouldn’t be with us unless he was some local lad come through the ranks like Gazza!.
Big Dave@208- Dead right mate ,a huge gamble not to buy a defender with pace and height or at least loan until Saylor back, said so when window closed.Really hope it don’t come back to haunt us ,but i don’t blame Pards for that ,he has to accept MA wishes and clearly a cb was not a priority in his eyes. 🙁
kimtoon(Quote)
Troy – I get that and no one has went over the top with criticism I suppose I’m defending him in the same way Dave defends Jonas as I think people have jumped on the fact Tiote is a DCM that must automatically mean Cabaye is ACM and I don’t believe that is his out and out role in the team.
That said, he was very poor on Saturday and can see why the question has been asked. Overall though I think he’s had a very good first season in the EPL … but that’s my opinion 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
Nolan, Barton and Carroll are gone Troy and they are not coming back.
Replaced by Cabaye , Marveaux and Ba.
Where Cabaye plays , either as defensive or attacking midfield , is at the instruction of Pardew. The back four are not good enough to allow Tiote to play a sweeper role in front of them thus allowing Cabaye to play as a box to box midfielder. Marveaux had the defensive quality to allow Cabaye to be more adventurous and until the back four are strengthened or Marveaux returns then Pardew will continue to play Cabaye as MD.
At the end of the day there is only one statistic to consider
2010/11 season 38 games 46 points
2011/12 season 26 games 43 points
If we end this season on less than 46 points I will concede that getting rid of the aforementioned players was a mistake.
sidekick(Quote)
Wow, Troy, I’m sorry I missed this article till now (work and all) but this is very much something I was thinking about the other day when I posted all those assist stats.
It’s a very good question: Is Cabaye really the creative player our midfield seems to need. We don’t rack up the chances like other clubs above us and I’d suggest that’s a huge factor that will keep us where we are–lingering below the top 4-6–until we open up a better supply line to our strikers who seem to be starved for service. Can Cabaye do that? Are Pardew’s tactics and orders restraining him?
HBA39’s comments there are very interesting–that Cabaye was a much more attacking player in Lille and this suggests that Pardew’s got him sitting deeper than he was before. Of course, we can’t discount that Ligue 1 is not the EPL and this is Dreamboat’s 1st season.
I don’t think Troy’s “slating” Cabaye, as many have suggested (did they read the article?), but being analytical about him. Interesting, and a good read, Troy.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
I believe Alan Pardew has done wonderful things but I think the team has gone up a gear in attack and we have to adjust and play a more attacking quick paced passing formation such as the 4-1-2-1-2….
—————–KRUL——————
SIMO–WILLO–COLO–SANTON
—————-TIOTE——————
——CABAYE—–GUTIEREZ——
————-BENARFA—————-
——DEMBA1—-DEMBA2——–
….And bring on the likes of Raylor for the defence, Guthrie to hold the midfield, and obertan for some attacking threat!
I believe this is the only way we are going to see this team play football and most importantly get goals! We have amazing attacking players in ben arfa cisse and ba so I think we should be using all 3 and I believe this is the only way he could play them.
He has done the right thing in defending his way up the league table because our depth in squad has been affected due to injuries bands etc.
I now think he should concentrate on attacking the second half of the season and get our new signing some goals and I hope that the wolves game has told AP that it is time for change! What not better to do it against our rivals next week and show the other teams we mean business! I believe if we do that, then teams will fear us more and play more defensive with us rather than the other way round! Wolves attacked us and got there goals because we dropped deep and defended our lead but when we attacked they couldn’t get near us us. Its a no brainer! Come on you magpies!!!!
cockneymagpie(Quote)