Whilst I’m going to hang fire on the full blown Player of the Season vote for now, I do think that it’s time we started to ponder who has been our best signing of the season.
Our success this season has been brought about by shrewd investment that fits the Ashley blueprint. All of them are young enough to have sell on value, have yet to peak in their development or at the very least aren’t in a rapid state of decline like a Michael Owen, and all of them have been thoroughly scouted to ensure that they have the best possible chance of adapting to life in England, the Premier League, and the Newcastle squad.
This is not an article for apportioning praise to who we think is responsible for bringing these players in. Whether it be Alan Pardew, Graham Carr, Derek Llambias, Mike Ashley, Lee Charnley or, as is most likely, a combination of all of them, it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is finding out which player you think has been the best signing this season.
Yohan Cabaye
Signed from Lille, where he Captained the side to the Ligue 1 title before his departure, Cabaye has been a class act for me. With 33 appearances, three goals, and eight assists to his name this season the 26-year-old has had a fine debut season in the Premier League. However it is his work rate and willingness to put himself about that has impressed me the most.
The lad runs himself into the ground in most games which is highlighted by the amount of distance covered in each match. He’ll also tackle and intercept and is near the top of the stats chart for both. Of course he has been a bit overzealous at times this season and has sat out three games for a kick aimed at Brighton’s Adam El-Abd and was arguable fortunate not to see red in the Derby at the Stadium of Sh*te earlier on in the season. I’ll take that though as for the vast majority of time he has been fine.
Demba Ba
What can you say about Demba Ba that hasn’t already been said? With 16 goals in 31 appearances this season the Senegal international is averaging more than a goal every two games, even though he is going through a rather lean spell at the moment which can be attributed to him playing on the left of an attacking three in a system designed to incorporate the attacking threat of Ba himself, Papiss Cisse and Hatem Ben Arfa.
Oh yeah, and he cost diddly squat in transfer fees!
Davide Santon
The highly rated Italy U21 Captain arrived from Inter Milan in the summer with a huge reputation and a tag of being one of the best young defenders to come out of Italy since Paulo Maldini.
In truth it’s been a slow start for the Italian as he spent weeks being adjusted to the English game and way of life and was kept away from first-team affairs whilst this process took place. He’s still made 22 appearances though, which is more than he has made in any other season in fairness, and he is still just 21 years old so has a lot of career ahead of him.
Gabriel Obertan
Suffice to say that I don’t think he’ll win this particular vote, but I do think he’s not as bad as some are making him out to be. Yes he has a lot of rough edges to his game, but the pace he possesses is frightening and if he can iron out some of those creases in his game he’ll be alreet. It should also be noted that the lad works hard tracking back and was a fixture in our team during our impressive start to the season in which we went 11 games unbeaten.
Papiss Demba Cisse
It’s unusual for a January signing to be considered for awards* like this. However with ten goals in his first nine appearances you can’t really discount the former Freiburg frontman. He really has hit the ground running and has shown that he is more than capable of wearing the Newcastle No9 shirt that is adored by so many. He also signalled a bit of ambition from the board, who have now shown that they will spend relatively big on the right player, and that they are prepared to wait to get hold of their man.
The boy is a natural finisher and has scored some sublime goals, with his chipped effort away at Swansea being amongst the best of them. With five games to go, could he sensationally pip Demba Ba to our very own Golden Boot? It’s a tough ask, but equally I wouldn’t put it past him!
The others
I’ve left out the likes of Mehdi Abeid, Sylvain Marveaux and Rob Elliot. Abeid is very much a prospect and hasn’t featured much for the first team. The same applies for Rob Elliot (apart from the prospect bit!) although incidentally I was at a game in which both of them played at Nottingham Forest earlier on in the season. It could have been different for Marveaux though had his injury problems not flared up once more.
I also appreciate that some may say that signing players like Tim Krul and Fabricio Coloccini on longer contracts should be considered, but not for this. I have a sneaking suspicion that both may appear in our Player of the Season poll however…
So get cracking then. Cast your vote and and we’ll see who is deemed to have been the best bit of business this season. remember it’s a fairly open ended and depends on any number of factors that YOU deem valid. If you think that cost is a factor then consider it in your evaluation.If it’s form or asists or goals etc etc then consider that instead.
It should be a decent vote to be fair as most of our signing have contributed in one way or another, so now it’s over to you!
[poll id=”64″]
* It’s not a real award with a trophy or owt like that!
Demba by a mile. Cisse has been a revelation but without Demba’s goals in the first half of the season we would have been no where. Incredible goal return when you consider the relatively poor service the lad had.
Legend.
EvilFranky(Quote)
I went Demba. He had the burden on his shoulders, none of us were screaming joyously from rooftops when he was signed, we were split between trying to portray our strikeforce in a decent light, and pure anger at the board for not getting a “20 goal a season striker”.
He made a mockery of our worries and was arguably key to getting Cisse on board.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
voted for Ba, even though he’s not scored as much lately the work he puts in is immense – close call with Cabaye though, Cisse has only played 10 games so he can be player of 1/4 season 🙂
Reckon Santon will have a good 2012/2013 season and Obertan will also get plenty games due to europa or CL
stevep(Quote)
I can’t choose between Ba and Cabaye ,both have brought a touch of class to tyneside . Ba maybe just edges it because he was a free transfer but then again Cabaye knocked back Champions league football to come to us .
Axel(Quote)
Obertan 😆
rossco(Quote)
Got to be Ba for me. Didn’t cost a sausage, and he provided that early momentum that’s built up a head of steam, and kept us flying high and full of confidence. If it wasn’t for his goals we wouldn’t be where we are now. Of course that’s hypothetical as we don’t know what Best/Shola/Loven would’ve done, but Ba wins hands down for me.
Great start to the season. Let’s make it an even better finish!
Rodzilla(Quote)
Gone for Cabaye, role model on and off the pitch and born winner. French starter aswell. Close with Demba but with reports of his “signing on fee” and petulance recently tipped it in favour of Yohan.
BigPapa(Quote)
Off topic but the 5 years Ched Evans has just received seems OTT. I don;t understand how any footballer would risk rape when they could have loads of girls. In comparision to recent murderers who have got less time than Evans.
Girl in the sun today whose Stepfather was beaten to death by teenagers who only got 2 years in prison.
BigPapa(Quote)
Ba all day long for me as well.
Johno Toon(Quote)
Got to be our fantastic new No. 9 for me.
Wanted to come here. Loves the place and the fans and is scoring for fun.
What more could you ask for?
Demba a very close second but how many goals would Papiss have scored if he’d been here from the start of the season?
Cabaye – non runner I’m afraid – too many games where he’s been anonymous and hasn’t dominated like he was bought to do. Maybe next season for him?
taken4mugs(Quote)
Voted for Cabaye, he’s going to be huge for the Toon in the next few seasons.
Demba Ba might have got it if it wasn’t for that “Get oot of Toon” clause in his contact.
Great that there’s a few contenders.
In five years time with hindsight it might be Abeid?
geoff777(Quote)
Johno, that was a very sheepish remark. 😛
Rodzilla(Quote)
I voted for Santon cos nobody else had voted for him and I felt sorry for him.
That’s just the way I am LOL!
UTD111(Quote)
i went for BA we were scoreing very little before hand,thought KRUL should have been on the list like imo
icedog(Quote)
Taken4mugs – Are you serious? Look at other players in their first season in the premier league (Nasri, Modric, Parker all took time) and it shows how good he has been which is backed up in the stats. Recently he has, along with Cisse and Ben Arfa been on a different level to the rest of our players (Swansea, West Brom).
He was good pre-Benny form and now he has got even better and, for me, is our Scholes and vital cog in our 4-3-3 fluid attacking formation.
BigPapa(Quote)
I went for Cabaye. He makes our midfield tick. He is one of the top tacklers, top passers, top runners, top assists….. You get the point.
toonsy(Quote)
I went for Cabaye because there aren’t many times you can buy an International for that price especially because of not being able to find fault with him. He’s not injury-prone nor has he got a ‘bad lad’ tag and works like a champion.
BigPapa(Quote)
Ice – It’s only Signing of the Season, not Player of the Season 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy – great minds. 🙂
For me he is key to Ben Arfa’s form
BigPapa(Quote)
I would go for Ba. The goals he has scored have won us games, which make points which make prizes! So he gets the prize for me.
Even though he isn’t scoring he’s taking players away from Barfa and Cisse so his imput is still huge. Also helping to get Cisse here settled.
And for the pricey sum of £0. Not bad.
Cabeye deserevs a heap of praise too mind.
rossco(Quote)
Does anyone think that our spine could actually be any better? Krul: Colo Taylor: Tiote Cabaye: The 3 kings.
BigPapa(Quote)
Rossco – do you believe it’s unusually greedy even for footballers for Ba to have such a sizeable sell on fee? which is what i think it is?
BigPapa(Quote)
TOONSY hes like a new signing,we had hopeless harper before krul 😆
icedog(Quote)
I would like a left footed left back and back up in middle field and a winger forward type player, Without doubt Krul, Cabaye and Benny, and the strikers obv are our key players. Colo aswell but Perch played well recently.
Anyone else impressed with Figueroa against Arsenal?
BigPapa(Quote)
Toonsy @18 who would your player of the season be then mine would be Krul .
Axel(Quote)
I went with Ba, Cab a close second for me and hard to choose between the two.
On an off topic, I’m going to be crossing the pond to spend a couple of weeks in England. While most of my time will be visiting family, I don’t have any in the North East anymore. I’m planning on spending two or three days in the Newcastle area and was wondering what the suggestions are for must visit places (obviously St. James’ Park visit). The last time I was over I got to see a game between NUFC and Chelsea (1-0 the Toon, Kluivert scored) but there won’t be any games on and I’d like to see a bit of the area that my family is from. Advice?
ksmit(Quote)
Axel – Close between Colo and Krul. Probably Colo though. He oozes class and his effect can’t be underestimated
toonsy(Quote)
KSmit – Depends on what you like doing mate. Tell us what you lot enjoy doing and I’m sure people will come up with better ideas for you 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
KSMIT the big market on a saturday evening is definatly a must see , i always make a point of it when i am back in the area which is about 1or 2 a year . 😈 😆
Axel(Quote)
TOONSY dont agree who would cabeye have to set up,if ba wasnt there,best passer in the world is nee good if theres nee one on the end to finish it off imho 😉
icedog(Quote)
Well the big market was about the only thing that I got to do last time around. I guess I’m more interested in being able to see some of the history of the area etc. I live in western Canada so don’t really get to see anything that’s old or historic and I’m going to be with someone who has never been to any part of Europe so everything from churches to… I don’t know! That’s more or less why I’m throwing out a general question. I can spend time on visitor info sites looking for stuff but that would only give me what the website is saying I should do. Even a pub that is interesting would be great (we’re late 20’s early 30’s in age)
ksmit(Quote)
TOONSY can’t be denied the guy is class , the best captain we have had since Shearer without a doubt . The thing that clinches it for Krul imo is the improvement he has made this season ,the lad is pure international class and at such a young age for a keeper .
Axel(Quote)
Samuel Ameobi @Sammy_Ameobi
Drugs testing team are in on a regular basis nowadays, wonder if it’s suspiciously got to do with the fact that we’re in the top 5 lol 🙂
Nice funny lad. 😆 😆
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Sounds like I’m in the same boat as most, struggling to decide between Cabaye and Ba. Big fan of Cabaye and think hes a future captain of the club. He’s been a breath of fresh air at the club this season and really held the midfield solid.
However I voted Ba. Simply because, without his goals at the start of the season, our current league placing could have looked alot worse. Plus on a free transfer, I’d say he’s not only our best signing but the signing of the season in the league.
Sharpy17(Quote)
KSMIt if you get the time a trip too Lindisfarne (holy Island) would be good .
Axel(Quote)
Ksmit….while you’re up at Holy Island 😉 , Bamburgh castle is worth a look, you also have various visitors sites for Hadrians wall up that way.
In Newcastle, you have the castle keep and the 2 cathedrals although not really spectacular, Durham Cathedral and Hexham Abbey are better imo.
Also the area around Monument and Grey st are canny.
Ba for me…..though re signing Krul and Colo was shrewd business too 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Looks fantastic and I’ll be trying to get up there!
ksmit(Quote)
Would be Cisse for me. If only for the impact he’s had since arriving. Without doubt his goals have given us the platform to win 5 games on the bounce and catapult us into CL contention when we were just stuttering along.
Stuart79(Quote)
Apologies for my wrongful comments re Evans. Just researched the case and learned the facts, and it’s shamefully and wholeheartedly disgusting for some one to take advantage in that way.
Regards
BP
BigPapa(Quote)
Voted for Cabbaye and surprised he is so far behind Ba. Tiote and Cabbaye if not the best are the equal of any centre midfield in the premier league
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Ksmit
If going to Lindisafarne pay heed to the tide warnings on the causeway. Many have been fooled into thinking it is only a trickle of water. It is actually the North Sea
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Simply because of the impact he has made since Villa at home and without his finishing and goals which i belive has put us within touching distance of the Champions League. It has to be Papiss Cissé. Havin said that Ba and Cabaye are superb signings they have given their all, just like the rest of the squad this season. I’m looking forward to seeing us in Europe next season. It’s where we belong year in year out.
Belly(Quote)
STUART@38 do you not think ba would have scored enough,he was shoved wide for cisse?
icedog(Quote)
Cabaye for me, but difficult choice. Goalscorers naturally take the plaudits, but for them to function they need a team behind them, and for me Cabaye has made the team function properly.
Premandup(Quote)
Ice – Maybe he would have done, but Cisse coming in, scoring goals and meaning moving Ba out wide has been a major factor. This new formation is really the reason we’ve won these five games. We just look so dangerous going forward and it seems impossible that we won’t score in every game.
Stuart79(Quote)
STUART@45 100% agree with that view point
icedog(Quote)
A good question this one.
I’ve gone for Demba Ba. He has been a revelation since arriving.
Also I think his being here may have helped convince Papiss Cisse to come and join us too.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Went with Ba but in all honesty could of been Cabs or Cisse as also been emense for us. But Ba being a freebee and scoring a shed load of goals clinches it for me. 😀
kimtoon(Quote)
Went for Demba-firstly he was free, so 9million cheaper than Papiss or whatever
Despite the recent drop in form and some questionable behavior, other than instinct finishing he is second to none in our squad. He ran the first half of the season, although he did get all of the supply-much like Papiss is getting now. Still the better overall striker IMO although there’s plenty of time for my opinion to be changed.
Losing him at the end of the season would definitely leave a bitter taste in the mouth, stick with us Demba!
Newkie(Quote)
immense even 😳
kimtoon(Quote)
Ksmit – I know your getting loads of ideas thrown at you and I’d defo go with Holy Island and Bamburgh Castle. Took my little boy up that way for a week last year and he loved it, but it’s for all ages and beautiful on a sunny day.
Alnwick Castle and gardens is worth a visit as well which isn’t far away from Holy Island and Bamburgh. It’s abit expensive but the Castle has loads of history and artifacts.
And of course, don’t forget to book your tour of SJP 😉
Sharpy17(Quote)
KSMIT – I will go to back up Sharpy above. Holy Island, Bamburgh and Alnwick are all brilliant places to go to see ‘proper’ english history. Maybe spend 2 days up there as its about 50 miles north of Newcastle but well worth the drive.
I’d say Alnwick is the best place to visit, loads of history and modern links too. Such as the filming of Monty Python (dont know if you guys get it over there) and more recently Harry Potter. Harry Potter is also filmed at Durham Castle – thats where the great hall is.
You might think I’m a Harry Potter fan, but not really, just know my local facts.
If you want to see a proper historical city I cant reccomend Edinburgh any more highly. Only 1.5 hours on the train. I live there most of the year and have done for 3 years and still haven’t been and done everything, and Newcastle the rest (where I’m from).
rossco(Quote)