Is it a waste of time trying keep Yohan Cabaye?

Cabaye has eyes on bigger things
Cabaye has eyes on bigger things
In terms of transfer news, the last few months have been pretty sweet. That is the security that the closing of a transfer window brings.

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…

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.

310 thoughts on “Is it a waste of time trying keep Yohan Cabaye?

  1. Can’t wait to see which CB Pardew drops on Saturday.
    It’s going to be one of the biggest decisions he has had to make recently.

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  2. Europa is NOT an option for Ashley
    There is no financial benefit in Europa.
    Plus it has a detrimental performance on the league the following season.
    CL is worth millions, anything else is not worth bothering with.

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  3. Personally I would rather see us get safe and then attack the F.A cup rather than a “high” league position-unless other teams really are fucking up massively by that time CL will be beyond us on this budget.

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  4. of course it will be Newkie. But you just never know.
    tbh 5th was beyond us a couple seasons ago, but funny things happen quite often.
    We were not great that season we got 5th, but we kept getting the points/wins.
    A bit like this season just lately.
    Go figure.
    Pardew is right, all that matters is the win, how we get it is irrelevant.
    HTL

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  5. Pardew has the gift of the gab.
    Even more than Troy 😯
    Somehow he gets the players to believe in him and in each other.
    You cant put a price on that if I’m honest.
    Just hope he can keep it up. 😛

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  6. I can see cabayes point, although he’s going nowhere in Jan – obviously he’ll be off in the summer but even that’s dependant on getting a decent bid, I actually prefer remys attitude where he says we can qualify for champs league – caveat is that I have my usual waste of cash bet on that

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  7. Newkie@78, You just posted exactly what I was gonna post. I’m desperate for us to win something and like you would settle for a lower placing so long as we had a trophy to celebrate.

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  8. BB-Aye, that’s what I’ve been saying for years, we are not a top side who can demand beautiful football. If we want to play 80% possession football or go and win games 8-4 then we need to drop down a league. Otherwise we get wins wherever we can and however we can. We did that with graft, team spirit and precise passing and finishing and right now we’re doing the same, only the personnel are different.

    Kim-yeah, that is why I wasn’t so disillusioned with last year until late on, because whilst we were terrible in the league all year we were doing well in the Europa, and had we won it but finished 16/17th it would still have been our most successful season in decades. We also really weren’t that far from it. We lost to the finalists in Benfica through a lot of misfortune-papiss cisse hitting the post after a 1v1 and then Santon and Staylor doing their very best to gift the two winning goals to benfica via a stupid backpass and a stupid hand ball. I watched Benfica against Chelsea in the final and they themselves were unlucky not to win, Chelsea getting a crappy counter and then corner goal.

    Bearing in mind our very good record against Chelsea in recent years (and this season) I really think we could have won it. God knows how we could have done if we had a side flying in the league and full of confidence also in Europe, but alas. Anyway yes, long story short, if we win a cup it will be a brilliant season and for me, between finishing 5th and 12 is of little consequence-I’d like us to be in europe for sure but would love silverware. Love it!

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  9. @newkie I’m inclined to agree – however,if we play to our potential I can’t really see anyone other as man city and possibly **** and cheksea as nailed on top four – manure have been punching way above their actual talent for years – they do wekk because teams automatically think they are inferior

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  10. Stevep-problem is many sides have that “potential”-and if they aren’t reaching it it’s it’s easier for them to pick up points, because they have better individual players to carry them if they aren’t playing well. Manure have plenty of flaws and some very average players, but the fact that Hernandez barely plays for them but would walk into our side says it all. They have a front line to carry their average defence and midfield and they have a squad that, while not superb, can create enough and keep everything ticking along to feed Van Persie, Rooney and Hernandez. Van persie is due a serious layoff some time soon, but if not he will carry them to the CL.

    Liverpool have Suarez who will win them games on his own and Everton, according to their fans, have a better manager-plus one of the best strikers in the league playing for them. I’m all for positive thinking but we can’t get ahead of ourselves, one game at a time.

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  11. I can’t believe Ashley has barred the local papers over the press reports on the fans march, yet, he allows or likely instigates the reports of Cabaye wanting to be away in the summer.

    Looks like Mikey has decided to cash in and is stirring the pot.

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  12. cabaye has played Champs lge for 5yrs 🙄 what a knob.

    sell him and invest buy Remy or a decent replacement or we’ll b back to relegation fodder.

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  13. Newkie 😉
    I cant believe that Richie cant really believe that Troy cant really believe that ashley would do that.. 😆

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  14. I can’t believe that you can’t believe that I can’t believe that Troy can’t believe that….Stop now please! :mrgreen:

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  15. I can’t believe it’s so quiet on here…or all across the tooniverse.

    Is this what it feels like to be happy again? Woo hoo hoo….

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  16. Its amazing how so much **** gets written and twisted, from just one simple radio interview.
    👿 👿
    What he actually said was fair enough imo.

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  17. Newkie, happiness doesnt sit well with a lot of Toon fans so they dont know how to handle it 😆

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  18. It seems to me that Ashley is trying to generate enough interest in Cabaye, for a sale to occur in January.
    That should save him from having to dig his podgy fingers into his own pockets.
    I would love it if Cabaye refuses all offers in January.

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  19. The way he gets his **** Direct News to play one club against another, to try and ramp up the interest and value of a player is quite frankly 😳 😳 😳 😳 😳 😳 😳 😳 😳 😳
    You have to give hom credit, he knows what he is doing and it seems to be working.

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  20. I can’t believe anybody takes any notice of what is written on the web or in hard copy newspapers.

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  21. @BB
    They are all fucking ridiculous. People need to take everything they read with a pinch of salt. Unless the quotes are directly from the newspaper, and the interview is printed in full, they could have been slashed and interpreted any which way to sell.
    The point on Cabaye being the barometer of the team is very true. His influence in both attack and defence is huge.
    I don’t think there would be any logic in selling Cabaye in Jan. WC bumper prices $$

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  22. Aussie-it does feel that way. I wonder if there are any left that hope we lose our matches from now on? 😆

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  23. The cynic in me says that come January we are sitting comfortably in say 6th or 7th place, with no chance of being relegated. MA will decide that instead of investing in some players that would push us on to potentially qualify for the CL he will worry that just missing out on this will burden us with the EL. From a business perspective he could see that cashing in on two star players (Krul & Cabaye) for £30m would be good for the balance sheet and would also weaken the squad sufficiently so we didn’t qualify for the non profitable and performance damaging EL.

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  24. So pleased that Cabaye has been misquoted. I’ve loved the notoriety I’ve received since he arrived.
    The girls love Troy Cabaye, his twin. 😆

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  25. Obviously you are Cabayes twin Troy..like devito was to schwarzenegger in twins.. you were concieved from the **** that was left over… 😆 😆

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  26. BB @ 103.. do you know for a fact that Ashley is controlling what gets put in the SD press releases 😯 I think he would have more pressing business than to make up press stories mate.. 😉

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  27. Exactly Aussie. That site posts dozens of gossip and rumors a day. Is Ashley the source of all it? I see it links us to a lot of players this January too. Surely the cheapskate isn’t planning on spending 🙂

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  28. Aussie – I do believe he has set their agenda.
    Obviously he doesn’t control every single article they spout.

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  29. BB, to me its just another trashy news provider. I wouldnt read too much into the bs presented as breaking news…

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  30. Aussie – I don’t believe a word of it.
    I just find it staggering how one mis-quoted article can result in so many other rags running with the same story over and over again.
    Obviously a quet news week 😈

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  31. So, say we managed to sign Remy. (or an equivalent)
    Do we sell and replace Cisse, or keep the faith ❓
    Imo, bollocks to his confidence, he’s a striker, he should be arrogant to the point of self-delusion in his own ability.
    We won’t sign a top striker if we already supposedly have 2.
    We could do with a 3rd but they would be a notch down.
    Shola as 4th with AC easing him out over the next couple of years.
    I would get shot now to be honest. He seems a ‘nice’ guy, but it is a nightmare having a striker tat can only ever score wordlies. You just can’t organise a team around that.

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  32. ST- if believe sports direct news we’re going to sign 3-4 strikers….right after we sell cabaye, krul, santon, and lose Remy:)

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  33. Its funny that when the press either make up a story or decide to publish quotes without context the ‘fans’ on here are straight on the players back slagging them off. I’m amazed people believe anything in the press.
    I guess journos have to write something and Cabaye saying what will be will be isn’t really going to make any headlines so it’s easier just to stretch the truth a bit

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  34. Solano-if we signed Remy then personally I would look for a different type of striker to Cisse to compliment him. Someone like Gomis, but I’m not sold on Gomis himself, I just wish Carr would go a little further abroad than just France.

    The reality is though that we won’t sign Remy. We’ll have to sign another striker and hope something clicks with Cisse by the looks of things.

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  35. It looks to me that we deffo wont sign Remy.
    His fee, although affordable will be beyond us now.
    Trouble is who to bring in to replace him.
    Gomis certainly isn’t the answer.
    I would see him more as a Shola replacement.
    We just have to enjoy having Remy for the rest of the season, and see where we end up.
    Same goes for Cabaye.
    If we get a high finish because of these guys, then great.

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  36. I’m debating whether to get a another dog. I have one but like the idea of having two. Has anyone got two dogs and would you recommend or just stay with one?

    Ashley Out!

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  37. If we are sat 6th or 7th come the 1st of Jan then I’d be telling Cabaye and Collo that they are going nowhere.
    We have to strengthen in Jan, and we can do that without spending a fortune. Gomis for £2m, Shane Long if he hasn’t sorted a new contract with WBA, Ince could be bought for a decent fee.

    I’d ask Man City if we could loan Boyata with a view to buy in the summer. That would give us a good look at him and if he’s any good the get him in and allow Colo to leave in the summer.

    If we do it that way and address our current weaknesses in Jan – as in our forwards. Then less work would need to be done in the summer.

    If Cabaye goes I think Anita could be an automatic replacement within the squad already. But I’d love us to go for someone like Siem De Jong, and I also like Jack Cork who seems to have fallen out of favour at Southampton.

    I think we have to do everything in our powers to get Remy signed on full time as a priority though. He fits our team so well.
    I wish I knew whether his good form has got him thinking ‘this will get me a big move’ or whether he’s thinking ‘I’m enjoying my football at NUFC, good form and am loved by the Geordies – who after what I did to them in Jan, had every reason not to – what a great bunch, I wanna stop here!’
    If we can offer him a good contract, then it could well be the latter of the two … I hope.

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  38. It’s a well known fact that Cabaye wants to leave, but unfortunately the lad is in the same boat as Collo…he’s signed on to the toon. Unlucky for him. I reckon Ashley maybe is willing to create a bid war for Cabaye, and can wait to see what kind of offers come in. If the bids don’t reach what Ashley would like, then he won’t allow Cabaye to leave. I know we are left with the issue of hanging on to a player who maybe doesn’t want to play for us, but I don’t think that will affect Ashley. He won’t give Cabaye away cheaply that’s for sure, and will let him stew at the toon.

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  39. Munich – I wonder if Ashley/Joe has said to Cabaye, if a club offers X amount of pounds for you and they are a CL club then we will sell you. But, for that to happen you need to be playing well, coz nee CL club is going to bid for you if you’re refusing to play or playing *****.
    If we’re offered £15-20m for you then you can go, but if not then you stay and if you’re playing well you’ll get regular footy with us which will keep you in the French team. Plus ya best mate Debuchy is here.

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  40. Sharpy mukka, I think you are spot on there. I also think that is standard crack for the toon, and part of the big sale schpiel… Come to the toon, prove yourself, and move on to a bigger club.. it means everyone profits in the end, the player and the club (Ashley). The only ones who don’t benefit are the fans…but players left the toon to go on to supposedly bigger things long before Ashley arrived at the toon.
    That’s the way it is i’m afraid, and it’s pretty infuriating.. Ashley isn’t interested in slugging it out with the big money clubs in the EPL. I reckon a mid table toon chugging along bringing him millions in, backed up by Rangers in the Champions League will be his main startegy from now on in.

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  41. Think some people on here are falling foul of the conspiracy theory …. Its generally the media stirring up ***** by misquoting players, leaving out context or generally just making stuff up – Ashley’s prob got a bit more to do day to day than think up **** to feed the media , jk however …. 🙂

    Only target we should ever think about is winning next game, league position will come naturally

    Long is not worth a punt in my opinion

    Remy got more money at QPR and was able to live in london, sadly the only city people have heard of outside the uk , okay from a football perspective probably manure and Liverpool as well but they prob think its a 5 min drive from London – let’s face it England us tiny on a map whereas toon looks like its in Scotland

    Okay – random chat over

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  42. @mm – we’ve always sold our stars supermac, gasgoine, ginola, ferdinand , cole and basically any ****** worth owt
    We can’t really pin that one on ashley, jk

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  43. Stevep…you’re spot on there mate.. we should really be clapping our hands with glee that we have had so many good players at the toon over the last couple of years.. 🙁

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  44. Munich – the old I’ve got the less I care about which players come and go – certainly go. When we got rid of Carroll I was more interested in how that money would strengthen our squad than I was bothered about loosing Carroll.
    Providing we get good money for them, and the money IS reinvested into the squad, then I’m really not arsed mate.
    All that said, I’d be surprised to see Krul being allowed to leave like. I think Cabaye, Colo, Santon, Benny and Cisse could all be allowed to leave for the right price, but for some reason I think they’ll look to keep Krul.

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  45. Stu – I have one dog mate, a little Boston Terrier and it was his 1st birthday yesterday, he’s lush. I’d consider getting another but, I’ve got a 4yr old lad as well and between the both have me busy enough as it is mate.
    I suppose it’s an individual choice isn’t it. But I think it’s only right that I stress, particularly at this time of year – that a dog is for life and not just for Christmas mate 😛

    What type of pooch do you have now, and what would the 2nd be if you did get another one?

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  46. Ive got a red setter although it was meant to be the kids dog and I’d have nowt to do with it ….. That didn’t work out very well, I’m out walking it, washing it, feeding it and picking up its ***** …. Kin kids – topdog tho

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  47. @Aussie

    Ouch! That twins remark stung. 😆

    @ Trumpet

    Bizarre metaphorical put downs? Moi? 😆

    @Stuart

    I’ve got a Jackat. It’s half Jack Russell and half cat. It’s a DNA experiment funded by Newcastle University and the Centre for Life.
    She’s one of 6 in the world, from the same litter.
    Our family were the lucky applicants who applied to be selected as suitable owners.
    Each one cost £10k (funded by the Uni).
    It’s a strange thing but gorgeous. It’s got a cats body and a dogs head. 😯
    It climbs trees yet chases sticks. 😯
    It’s barks yet meows. 😯
    It puts it’s hackles up on its back yet arches it’s back and hisses.
    I get some strange looks when i take it for a walk on the lead. You can see people looking asking themselves, “is that Yohan Cabaye walking a cat on a lead”. 😆
    I hope that helps Stuart. I’ve got one dog and one cat in a sort of onesie. 😯

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  48. 🙄 well they say pets resemble their owners…. and yours is pretty f*cked up 🙄 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

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  49. I had a dog once, it’s gone now 🙁 ……. Well I did warn the little fecker not to chew on my shoes!! 👿

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  50. @aussie

    One of the qualities we had to have as a family was to be barking and mad as a ships cat. 😆

    I hope Stuart appreciates my help. I’m sure he will, he’s a lighthearted chappie. 😛

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  51. Troy 😆 I can only begin to imagine a Stavers family reunion 😯

    And I’m sure that, if he knew how, Stuart would have smiled at your earlier post 😆

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  52. @Aussie

    How’s my mate Begas diddling. Could you kindly inform him that Newcy Uni are currently advertising for suitable owners for their latest DNA experiment. A Urangachimp. 😯

    Begas would make a great owner. He would have to be careful though when applying as you have to send a photo of yourself in with the applicant. The Uni will think the Aussies have beat the Brits in creating a Urangachimp. 😛

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  53. Troy 😛 You have he wrong idea with Vegas, he looks more like Gollum from Lord of the Rings. He looks a tad pasty due to spending so much time down in the dark basement of the library that he works in 😆

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  54. @Aussie
    😆

    Stuart & Begas will be fizzin! 😆

    A Stugas would be a miserable little creature. 😆

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  55. Thanks for that insightful little story, Troy. I’ll be sure look for one of them on epupz… Some how I think my Weimarner wouldn’t go hungry with one of them in the house.

    Anyway, I’m going to Blackburn today to see a litter and see if any of them take my fancy.

    Ashley Out!

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  56. What would B&B say about all this inane banter? Do we have nothing better to talk about than dogs as soon as we find ourselves in the best patch of form in over a year! 😈

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  57. @Stuart

    😉

    I’m still in agreement with your Toon views. 😉 . It’s Aussie I find unbearably negative when it comes to that. 😛

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