Right up until the last moments I was waiting for one of our players to go, and the smart money looked to be on Yohan Cabaye making a move elsewhere.
However he didn’t. He stayed and regardless of what has gone on he is back in the team and has been performing well. The only issue is, with another transfer window fast approaching, all of the stories and speculation will once again resurface. In fact they already have and once again it is Yohan Cabaye who is at the forefront of them.
For instance take these quotes from a radio interview in France:
“I miss the Champions League. I’ll finish this season with Newcastle and concentrate on the coming months and then we’ll see.”
Now he’s not exactly saying he’ll be off in fairness but even so it’s not great news. Clearly he has eyes on bigger things and although I doubt he, or many players who are looking to get into World Cup squads, would be looking to move into a new team and new surroundings a few months before squads are drawn up for the summer, a good World Cup would most certainly put him in the shop window.
I’m not getting too down about Yohan Cabaye. I think he’s a great player on his day but I also think in Vurnon Anita we have a player who is capable of replacing him in the side. I just wonder if the hassle and destabilising effect is worth it?
We’ve won three on the bounce so I feel a bit out of place having a moan about things, but then again three wins only papers over fundamental cracks that are still evident at United. The reality is that all players are for sale so don’t get too attached to them.
In terms of Cabaye, I think we’re peeing against the proverbial wind. We’re being used as a stepping stone which I’m annoyed about but I can also understand. If the ambition of a player can’t be matched here then why should they stick around in what is such a short career? What annoys me more though is that this also seems to fit with the blueprint of the club which makes it all a waste of time trying to keep hold of Cabaye.
Or anyone really…
Toonsy, I guess the real question is “are we going to try and keep him” I think he wants to go and we want to sell him..for the right money..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I think all the players are made aware that we are only a stepping stone club, where a player can make a name for himself in the premiere league.
If they are playing well for NUFC then CL teams will come calling.
It’s a win-win situation for both club and player.
B-B(Quote)
B-B It may be win-win for Mike Ashleys club and for the ambitious player but I feel it will be a Lose for the fans who want to see NUFC challenging for trophies and building for success, not for the summer sales.
I can’t blame non-Geordie players for wanting to join ambitious clubs but I do blame our “management” for stifling our ambitions.
GFH(Quote)
Short answer? Yes it is a waste of time. He’s a workyticket and he will get his own way in the end. I expect him to play well from now until the end of the season and then to have a very good World Cup. We will demand, and probably get about 15 million for him. He’s an excellent player and deserves to play at the very top.
Ciaran Donaghy(Quote)
It’s not that he may leave, its who fills those boots when he is gone? Cabaye in in the same class of player as Pirlo at Juventus, so it is likely midfield play will suffer with him gone. Certainly how the midfield is deployed will change.
BeeGuy(Quote)
http://www.squawka.com/news/2013/11/25/lucky-escape-why-wenger-was-wrong-to-target-this-midfield-maestro/2013112536887
Can’t blame Cabs for missing the CL. But according to the stats in that article he’ll need to improve a fair bit before anyone is prepared to pay top dollar for him.
whumpie(Quote)
…and he really needs to shut TF up and let his play do his advertising. CL suitors won’t be impressed.
As for us – he’s been forgiven once; it won’t happen again. He needs to stop this **** or he’s going to have a rough time from the stands.
whumpie(Quote)
Pretty much yes because he’s clearly already made his mind up and had done in the summer, if not the previous summer. Whatever the excuses made on his behalf, he wants to go.It’s fair enough as, when he gets his head down and plays well he is good enough to get into many CL sides, he will get taxed like hell at PSG but they can more than make up for it by tripling his wages to ensure it still goes up-that will be a key factor for him.
His antics in the summer annoyed me but only because I feel it would have left us a bit high and dry. Make arrangements to sell him in the summer and on the back of the world cup we might get something silly like 25 million for him. Ideally we would be able to reinvest that into some quality additions where it’s needed-like up front-but whether it happens or not is a different matter..Anita is desperate for game time, Sissoko has potential and seems a cert to start when fit and if Tiote is on form he is immense. We do have a very competitive midfield so it’s the one area I’m not overly fussed at losing a player. If we bought a proper attacking midfielder with the money it would give us more balance. We’ll also need a new defender to replace the wantaway curly one.
Newkie(Quote)
Problem for Cabaye is that most sides won’t be willing to pay the price we want.
I’m guessing we’d sell him for around the 15million mark.
He is a great player but only seems to last around 60 minutes a game.
However, as will most of our players, I don’t think we’ll replace him even if we did get that price so what would we want anyone to go.
JJ(Quote)
I think he needs to study the history of players who left and think hard. Who has gone on to greater things?
Owen? Duff? Bassong? Insomnia? Given? Martins? Carroll? Woodgate? Ba? Jose Enrique?
Not exactly a litany of post-toon triumph is it?
Thinking about it – can anyone name exalts of players who have left of their own volition and done better elsewhere?
whumpie(Quote)
I firmly believe Carr and co can do better for the £15M.. If anyone pays that.
whumpie(Quote)
I question any player that doesn’t want to leave us tbh.
A large numbers of players that we own have the potential to play in the CL, that should be their motivation.
If Cabaye plays well, has a decent WC and a good bid comes in then he will have earned his move, and we’ll have a tidy sum to improve our weak points with.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@Whumpie
Apparently he was MOM in France’s playoff game. I’m expecting him to shine at the WC and command a £20M + fee.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Newkie – agree entirely
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Whumpie…
Owen…Prem league and league cup winners medals
Shay Given…FA Cu winners medal and wads of cash
Andy Carroll…League cup winners medal and wads of cash
Jose Enrique ditto like AC
Woodgate…Ditto again
Oba Martins…League cup winners medal
not too shabby really 😉
though I do get the gist of your post 😛
richietoon(Quote)
Still find it pretty hilarious that Enrique is still yet to play in Europe.
And Carroll is getting further away by the day, Championship this time next year!
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Us getting 35m for Carroll is the all time bargain. How many games has he played since he left. 20 or so? Goals? 5 or so? He’s now cost £52m!!!
I won’t be too upset if Cabaye goes. He’s not that great. Good yes but we looked fine with Sissoko and Anita in there. Same with Tiote. Equal replacements will be found without too much bother.
georgio(Quote)
keep him now we need to get into the champs league is my opion 😯
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Every club in the world is a selling club and every player in the world is for sale if the price is right and bar 8-10(max) clubs in Europe every club is a stepping stone, players come and players go that’s just the way it is now, it’s the way it always was and the way it always will be.
richietoon(Quote)
Spot on Richie.
And if players are going to cone and go, cabaye is the type I want: bought on the cheap, gave us three good years, and then sold for a profit with Anita stepping into his place. That’s how it should be done
MDS(Quote)
ST-The CC will suit Carroll down to the ground, couldn’t come at a better time for the bloke as his goal record will soon be worse than Shola’s 😆
Richie-exactomondo.
Newkie(Quote)
Well go if you want to, and be done with it, my patience is running out with these guys all wanting out. 👿
Yes they are good and want CL football, well what’s wrong with sticking with us and trying to see if we can make top4, they’d get it then wouldn’t they. CL football be bollocks, it’s more money they really want half the time, just stop taking us for mugs. That goes for our owner too.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim who wants out other than cabaye and cabs? Even so they appear to now be giving their all
MDS(Quote)
<<<<<<, thinks if he dos leave it wont be til the summer i would be shocked if we sold him in january meself
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
MDS, It’s the fact the minute anyone looks half decent, we lose them, why can’t we just hang on to players of quality and build something worth believing in. I’m proper pissed off with our total inertia as a club in so far as ambition goes aren’t you ❓
KIMTOON(Quote)
MDS,’ giving their all ‘ , I should bleedin hope so mate, they get paid enough, anything less would be a disgrace.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim other than Ba what good players has the club sold recently? Sure I wish they’d spend more but this idea that we up and sell anyone as soon as they “look half decent” is pure fiction.
MDS(Quote)
Kim, it’s definitely annoying. But Spurs and Arsenal (even Man Utd sometimes) have to accept it, why should we be any different?
It’s what we do with the money that is the current issue.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Kim-I don’t want to be rude but you seem in a feisty mood today lass 😀
The reality is, if even our home grown number nine prefers money to the shirt then nobody will ever really want to play here. Keegan and Bobby had to use their best methods to get people over here, and even then they were accompanied by a huge wedge. 99% of players just don’t have “affinities” for clubs in the same way that fans do.
MDS-Yeah exactly, and with Ba I’d say the majority of fans wanted him gone at the time anyway, because it would make us a better team and bring the best out of Cisse…
Newkie(Quote)
Nekie, also with Ba you had the release clause to deal with.
MDS(Quote)
Solano@28, Exactly it won’t get reinvested, well not all of it anyway.
MDS@27, Ba, Carroll( when he looked half decent we lost him ) , Enrique, not to mention decent back up players like Simmo being allowed to go . Now it’s Cabs and Colo want away 🙄 and it’s a combination of more money on offer and an owner who will not show real ambition other than for his store in the former players case . With regard to Colo I accept it’s a family thing or a favour to his old man behind it. 🙄 . I know other clubs, even spurs and Arsenal sell guys but then Arsenal go out and buy Ozil and just look how quickly Spuds reinvested the Bale dosh. We won’t spend all that we get for Colo and Cabs I’m certain of that much.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Newkie , Very astute mate, I am in a foul one today. Long story, won’t bore you with it. Let’s just say I’m in no mood for prima donnas trying to advertise their services to other clubs when we aren’t even in the transfer window yet. 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Toonsy good read 😉 I am sure Cabaye will be away in the summer, and while his antics at the start of the season pissed me right of, I cant really blame him as the club has showed him just how much ambition they really have.
So any good player will want the chance to win things and I dont think it will be with our club.
As for people saying we could get £15mil and could invest that better 😯 do people really believe that we would get the £15mil to build the team ❓
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave
Maybe like 8Mill, and a year too late 🙄
It’s annoying, as I have no problem with the idea behind it.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
He can talk all he wants but the fact is he signed a long term contract and will leave on our terms alone. He will be 28 next summer and he already struggles to last a full match, I doubt theres many clubs willing to pay £20m as much as i rate him.
P.S. i do love the fact that liverpool fans seen to think this news is relevent to them, They have as much chance of champions league football next season as we have…**** all
CC(Quote)
but if it came to a push which had to go caybeye or krul id rather hang on to krul meself 😯
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Kim-fair enough, hope you’re feeling better soon! But as for the football players, if they aren’t touting their future then their agents will be. The way of the game these days i’m afraid 😥
Newkie(Quote)
Dave-that’s the issue. I’ve said I have no problem with the idea behind selling a good player and getting better ones, or ones who will be better in the future, but it’s actually spending that money that i’m cautious about. If PSG came in after a good world cup then I’m sure we could fleece them for 20mil, which is way more than cabaye is worth. But getting that money back into the team, no real confidence.
Newkie(Quote)
any1 think we might have a chance of gate crashing a champs league spot 😯
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
CC-They might yet sneak it mate, I know it’s very early but Suarez could fire them there. As much as they want to hate him and don’t want to rely on him, they really do. They did have a good start without him but he is absolutely crucial to them. They got mugged over in the Carroll deal but they did brilliantly to snap him up for 24 mil or whatever, they will easily make a good profit on him.
Newkie(Quote)
TAE-Not a chance fella 😆
Newkie(Quote)
ST thats the problem I have with it too, too little too late.
Newkie my fear is that while selling one top player might work I think there will be others wanting to go aswell
Big Dave(Quote)
Hmm
From TAE’s question –
Do we have a better team/squad than when we finished 5th ❓
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
@ BIG DAVE
i think if we sold caybeye the money would end up in fatboys wallet never to be seen again 😯 bit like the tv money 😐
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Nothing surprises me with the toon. We never perform to our capability really, if you look at our league positions we either finish top 6 or below 11th.
Everton have hovered around 7th/8th/9th.
We just don’t do that, awesome highs, and depressing lows. That’s Newcastle United.
So yeah, TAE, maybe we add a striker and this could be one of those awesome high seasons 😯 😈
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Surely Cabaye can’t have more than a handful of Champions league caps, not exactly a regular when it comes to the competition. He even gave up the chance of playing in the tournament when he signed for us. We’ll have to put up with his ***** for the next 9 months until he eventually leaves. **** him off to the highest bidder in Jan, let him sit on the bench in the run up to the world cup and replace him with Anita. job done
Evans(Quote)
@ SOLANOSTRUMPET
maybe have a we have better team/squad.Been looking at our next 6 fixtures and think 5 of the 6 are winable in my view the only 1 i got dount in is the man utd game,which is why i raised the champs league and though spurs spent 100 mil in the summer ive got a naging dount they will make the top 4 meself
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
@43
I personally think we are stronger than when we finished 5th but so are the teams at the top.
Im not convinced by Liverpool, Everton or Tottenham so we could have an outside chance of the europa league if some of the champions league clubs win the cups and we nab 6th or 7th but the top four will be the manc clubs, Arsenal and Chelsea in no particular order depressingly…
CC(Quote)
We could finish top4 ourselves this season 😯
No seriously.
If the injury curse doesn’t strike after xmas, and Pardew can keep the team spirit and good run going into the new year……….
……….Well you just never know. 😛
KTF
Nowt wrong with being deluded. 😆
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
but to gate crash the champions league the next six games are huge for us 😯
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Beardsley’s Boots – you’ve hit the nail on the head there. In the past few seasons, it’s about now that players start falling like flies. Can you imagine how different things would look with 11 players out, as we had last year? I think we could just about field a reasonable team (bottom third quality), but the bench would be full of kids and the mascot.
This is why I think our most important signing of the summer could be Faye Downey.
Whumpie(Quote)
If we beat WBA we will be minimum 5th for a day 😯
Above the mdeia darlings Soton 🙄
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
say we got a draw against man utd and beat the other 5 i think we ganna be right in the hunt meself,whos to say we cant beat man utd they look a bit slack this season to me
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
and with all the french lads wanting to play at the world cup next summer i think that will give the team a great knock on meself 🙂
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Of the players we’ve lost under Pardew I’d argue that probably only Carroll and Ba are the ones we’d have desperately wanted to stay. Ba obviously had his sell on clause and Carroll went for huge money. If Cabaye did leave I think it would be in line with the latter personally. If we are to believe the reports of the summer, Arsenal offered £11m for him. Not bad considering he wasn’t exactly **** hot last season. But still we refused to sell him.
Personally I don’t have a problem with players wanting to leave for footballing reasons and it happens at EVERY club, not just us.
Arsenal lost RVP to Man Utd, I’ve lost count of how many players Spurs have lost to ‘bigger’ teams down the years. But Spurs have got good money for their players and reinvested it on the team.
That’s the big issue for me. I’d settle for £15m for Cabaye – so long as it was ALL given Pardew/Joe to strengthen the first team.
Sharpy17(Quote)
so this might sound deluded to you peeps but im ganna stick me neck on the block and say we can gate crash the champions league 😯
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
France qualifying for WC was paramount for our season.
I just got a funny feeling we are going to do well.
As has already been said, the next few matches will be the key.
There seems to be a good feeling and belief amongst the players.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I thought what pardew said today was very good:
“I said if we could get four, or maybe six, points out of these two games it would be very important.” “When you beat Chelsea and win at Spurs, you must win this game. “
“You must win it. Forget about how we played or how it ended, the most important thing – the agenda in that dressing room – was to win, and we did.” “That’s very, very important.”
He’s definitely got the players on his side.
Lets just hope the Lads can keep it going.
HTL
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
ST- I think we are better than the one the one that if wished 5th. But pool and arsenal are better than they were that year as well.
MDS(Quote)
One that finished 5th…..
MDS(Quote)
I trust Pards will keep a happy camp whether he stays or not. It’s one of Pards’ strengths. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
BB you seem to be becoming a fan of Pards 😯 😆
TAE I think your leting the last 3 games cloud your mind 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
As others have said, we are better, but we have been outstripped. We had our chance in the summer after 5th to enter the fray and try and cause some trouble with clubs like Arsenal going into a transitional period (No RVP) we needed to throw pressure on them at that time, but we didn’t. Spurs aren’t doing great but they have an immense squad, Liverpool and Chelsea have also improved their sides. If we stay injury free who knows, but if Remy drops, or Krul? Even Debuchy, as there is so little cover at right back, Mbiwa, Santon, Anita are all/should all be starters in other positions!
Anything is possible but I fear if we get our hopes up now it’ll all turn to waterworks if we lose our next two or three!
Newkie(Quote)
Big Dave. – Even a big sceptic like me cant deny that we are having a better season, so far.
Some of that has got to have come from Pardoh.
I always give credit where its due.
Of course I’ll be right back on his case if he screws things up again.
It does look like he has learnt some lessons and reacted to the valid criticism he has gotten.
Jury’s still out mind. 😉
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
well here is what was said in that interview 😉 make of it what you want
http://www.themag.co.uk/tyne-talk/exclusive-the-truth-about-the-yohan-cabaye-transfer-interview/?
icedog(Quote)
@Bootsy
Welcome aboard. 😉 you really should listen to some of us more often. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy – Even a smart **** like yourself, must be surprised at our league position so far this season.
I guess I’m just enjoying the ride for a change. 😆
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Ice…interesting:)
Say what you want about pards, and I’ve said plenty, he really does seem to be quite good at player/personality management. You really never hear about locker room trouble, players complaining about playing time, etc. The lads seem to like playing for the man and that is to his credit
MDS(Quote)
Pardew for England 😛
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Pardew working with the players we already have isnt a concern for me. It’s Joe working on new recruits that has me worried 🙄
Sharpy17(Quote)
@Bootsy
It’s my pleasure to let you aboard the smartarse express. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@ BIG DAVE
<<<<<<<<< rember you heard it here 1st 😆 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Ice-my issue with that article is that Cabaye says he will try his best “as always”-well we know that’s bollocks as he had many poor games last year by his standards! 😛
Newkie(Quote)
It’s definitely true that teams (Arsenal, Liverpool, Soton etc) have improved more than us since that season. However much of that season was built on just beating the teams mid-table and below. I think other than a couple of wins, we didn’t get many ‘shock’ results. We were just consistent.
There are 12 teams in the league we should “expect” to beat at home and probably 6 we would say we stand of good chance of beating away. Play to our potential and anything is possible, it’s just whether we have the consistency.
I look at the Everton and Liverpool results as a sign that we have grown up a bit since the season we finished 5th, mentally.
I know we got hammered by Man City – but I think that was more due to Cabaye ruining pre-match plans, and them being obscenely good.
The games against the scousers – going 3-0 down, and losing a man in an already injury-stricken defence, we would have got spanked last year, and the year before.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
9 points in our next 6 games would put us in a great position to challenge top 6 for the rest of the year.
Whether we sustain it or not will depend on injuries and Ashley imo.
I think people are right in saying that last summer was the year to capitalise. I think points tallies for the top 4 is going to be very high. If we get mid-50s and finish 7 there’s always the possibility of Europa though 😉
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)