Those clouds are brewing mainly because of the situation with Yohan Cabaye and reported transfer interest from PSG.
Personally I’ve tried to stay away from any transfer talk this window as most of it is baloney, but Alan Pardew’s public doubt regarding the ability to keep Cabaye combined with the transfer blueprint at United are not exactly good signs.
However football is cyclical and players come and go. It would be a shame to see Cabaye leave, especially in the form that he is in right now, but these things happen in football. I’ve long gone past the stage of becoming emotionally attached to players under this regime and we all know that every player has their price and once it is matched then that is generally the end of it.
Anyway I’m in danger of getting into a rant about it so I’ll curtail my thoughts on the matter for if, or when, anything concrete develops. For now it’s back to the football.
Norwich:
Jonas Gutierrez is ineligible to face his parent club as he is only only loan at Carrow Road from United. The Canaries are also without injured duo Michael Turner (hamstring) and Jonny Howson (back) while Elliott Bennett is doubtful.
Newcastle:
Mathieu Debuchy is available once again after serving his three game suspension. Fabricio Coloccini is sidelined with a knee injury while Ryan Taylor continues his long road back to fitness.
Previously…
Newcastle have not won at Norwich for 20 years although admittedly there has only been four games played at Carrow Road since that victory in January 1994.
Unsurprisingly this fixture tends to favour the home side. Of 24 meetings in East Anglia, United have won just six times with ten victories for Norwich.
Overall though we have the edge, just. The 49 games contested between the two sides have yielded 24 wins for the Magpies compared to just 14 for the Canaries.
Stats and facts…
Newcastle are looking for a 300th Premier League victory.
Loic Remy and Yohan Cabaye have scored as many goals as the entire Norwich squad so far this season.
Norwich have not won back-to-back Premier League matches since the final two games of 2012-13.
Final thought…
When Newcastle apply themselves they can beat anyone on the day. This season has also shown that we aren’t afraid to play away from St James’ Park with six league wins clocked up on the road already this term.
However Norwich have a knack of winning when they need to. Much of the talk prior to Norwich beating Hull last time out was regarding the future of Chris Hughton. Apparently a defeat would have signalled the end of his tenure at Carrow Road, but they won the game and the talk has gone away.
I say this every away game, but there are no easy fixtures on the road in the Premier League. Getting back to application, if United can apply themselves and play as we can without any distractions from this whole Cabaye scenario then we have the tools to win.
Howay the lads!
Date: Tuesday, 28th January, 2014
Time: 7:45pm
Venue: Carrow Road
I see de Jong is due for a medical and looks to be coming on loan.
Haven’t read the comments on it, but can imagine some are moaning about it just being a loan signing 🙄 😆
Look at Everton, people!
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Thanks Sharpy
JJ(Quote)
Newkie – I’m just thinking of English players that can contribute to the squad – for the quota thing. I agree he wouldn’t be a priority at this stage but he’d be available and at a good price.
You know I think we should be in the Tom Ince race as well mate, for exactly the same reasons.
Sharpy17(Quote)
In fact a loan deal is a good deal….. i believe he struggle in Germany due to lack of games.
Let’s hope he is not a offside king striker…. Is there any stats of how frequent he caught offside. 😳 😳
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Sharpy-yeah fair enough. I guess I’m just hoping against hope some of our own youngsters come through to help the English quota. Bigi will count if he turns out any good, so that’s why I’d avoid livermore. We have dummett but he wont be happy to sit on the bench all his life….Campbell and Armstrong are those i’m hoping on, Newton and Tav are getting on a bit and I think they might look to leave. Sammy will be the same esp if we keep putting Oba on instead of him.
Tom Ince we should defo go for, I thought he was off to France but this thing about Swansea loaning him then getting him for free seems mental, we should at least go for the same deal.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – re Ince especially with Gosling at Bpool already and could make up the deal – mental that we are overlooking that one like!.
Yeah I hope some of the young uns come good too mate, Campbell and Armstrong in particular – hope they are a higher standard than Chopra if you know what I mean. Streete and Satka have potential too.
I’m not sure about Tav or Newton though. Playing well at the clubs they’re at now but not sure they are PL standard. As for Sammi – I honestly haven’t got a clue where he is like?!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I assume we will now be a 4-4-2:
Krul
Debuchy Colo/Mbiwa Williamson/Taylor Santon
Sissoko Tiote Anita Gouffran
Remy De Jong
Our first choice strikers are not even players of this club, Shola seems to be leaving in the summer and Gouffran is not played as a striker. That leaves Adam Campbell and Papiss Cisse as strikers who have played for the first team and even them often seem to get played on the wing.
Our striker situation is a joke.
funkyjesus(Quote)
the whole club is full of ****,nobody ever speaks the truth,only last week joe said no one would leave the club in jan,oh aye week later out goes cabaye ffs
icedog(Quote)
Ice – I don’t suppose he expected a £20m offer from PSG a week ago though mate.
We might loan him back for the rest of the season 😯
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy-you would think so, but with Joe that’s just standard procedure I think-pure mental 😐 I think at his age they would be due some compensation if a contract was agreed before he left? But yeah, swap for Gosling should defo be on the cards.
You would hope they’d be better than Chopra! it’s hard to judge with players of that age, but as long as they are playing competetive football from as young as possible I am happy. Ideally they would be in the Championship playing regularly, but St Mirren are obviously happy with the link, they did well with Dummett so lets see how Campbell goes.
Sammy is just on and off the bench, not really sure what’s happening. I guess there are/were more senior people to appease and have on the bench. This should open up some options. This is a good time to see if any youngsters can kick on, seeing as we’ve got nowt else to play for.
Newkie(Quote)
Well Cabaye has gone. Gutted but I hope it all goes well for him. He has been amazing for us this season after being off the boil most of the last.
Luuk De Jong now coming in as striker reinforcement is a good start (with 4 days left of the window) but now we need to move quickly to get someone in for the No.10 role.
I know nothing of the lads in France so I’m not going to pretend. I’d opt for Holtby from Tottenham or Siem De Jong from Ajax.
Oblong(Quote)
Where has my Acuna avitar thing gone??? 😥
Oblong(Quote)
Robert Snodgrass or Moussa Dembele if we are looking at midfield replacements, but I don’t think midfield needs more people, we have too many as it is.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Funky, we’ve been crying out for a #10 with vision for a while now, even before PSG came sauntering in.
HBA doesn’t get his head up enough for me and I’m yet to be convinced by Marveaux.
We also lack any wingers of note.
We could definitely do with midfield reinforcements.
blip(Quote)
People have mentioned Holtby and Dembele, but I think if we were looking at Spurs players then maybe Sigurdsson or Townsend?.
I’m a big fan of Sigurdsson personally and think he’d be a good option for the left side as Remy is unlikely to be here next season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sigurdsson is a great shout, but he’s been getting games recently, has he not?
Spurs seem more likely to let Holtby go, but I doubt we could offer either the wages they’ll want.
blip(Quote)
Blip,
Fair points but we need a regular first team striker to play up front before needing a number 10, lol.
I love Gouffran but I am not sure he is the striker to play with a number 10, he seems a 4-4-2 pick up the flick ons predator who can hit out of the box shots every now and again.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Moussa Dembele would be a superb replacement. Problem is, he’s starting to play regularly for Spurs now.
JJ(Quote)
Tom Ince talking to Stoke over a loan move 🙄 Stoke FFS.
KIMTOON(Quote)
I would go for Siggy as well. Versatile and a good goal threat, although he’s not really a playmaker. I think if we signed De Jong those two would do well together, both decent dribblers with control and eyes for goal. But i’m not sure he’d be much good with just Cisse ahead of him.
I’m not sold on Holtby and Dembele has been pushed back in the centre in recent years, not sure if that is his preference? Hasn’t improved a lot on how he looked two or three years ago for me.
Newkie(Quote)
Kim – it’s totally crazy the Ince situation isn’t it
Blip – Sigurdsson hasn’t really been playing under Sherwood. He’s generally went with a 4 man midfield of Lennon/Fernandino/Dembele/Erikson
I reckon Spuds would want something like £7-8m for him though to be honest.
Newkie – I agree. He’d be left of a 3 man midfield with a play maker in the middle so we’d still need a Siem De Jong or Cabella or Grenier. Then maybe Gouffran or Sissoko right of that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Pardew – ‘Abu Dhabi Trip Has Given Us Appetite To Chase Champions League Place’
http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-wire/pardew-abu-dhabi-trip-given-us-appetite-chase-champions-league-place/
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Based on Munich’s scouting report, it sounds like de jong might be the right player to create room for Remy, Cisse and Ben Arfa. If we can get an attacking CM in this week I think we can maintain our place in the league and still challenge for 7th. I like some of the names you all are banding about
MDS(Quote)
Sharpy-would that be 4-2-3-1 then? Could work, he’s very versatile thankfully and doesn’t seem to cause a fuss. Only real flaw is that he can go missing ala Lovenkrands.
Funky-I know what you’re saying, it’s a bit weird all the speculation about the rest of the squad because we need to know exactly what we’re doing with the striker situation. They will determine what we build our team around. I’m assuming De Jong is seen as a more long term option than Remy. Are we keeping Cisse? So much uncertain really.
Newkie(Quote)
Newcastle United will have to move quickly to secure the signing of Etienne Capoue from Tottenham Hotspur 😯 😯
http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/premier-league-news/39241-tottenham-agent-sent-in-to-negotiate-deal.php#.Uue2FnlFC00
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
dont replace cabaye pls…i wana see more of HBA and bring back jonas….
sham nufc fans(Quote)
I think Cabaye leaving is a boost for our chances of competing for Europe. 😯
Before anyone freaks out & calls me a WUM, think about it.
Our best midfield to control games was Tiote, Cabaye & Anita but the problem was none of them are attacking midfielders.
We didn’t do enough to support the strikers or create chances for them & when we needed a goal Pardew would often sacrifice Anita & bring Ameobi on to create more chances.
It sort of worked to an extent but there were big drawbacks in the sense that the game turns to hoofball (vs West Ham).
Anita is the natural replacement for Cabaye. He’s not as flashy but he is a better team player.
So an attacking mid is needed with people suggesting Holtby, Sigurdsson etc.
Marveaux is the attacking mid we need (check his stats, they’re some of the best in the league). Alternatively it could be Ben Arfa playing as an attacking mid which would terrify centre backs.
TL;DR
We don’t need a Cabaye replacement at the moment. We need a winger & some certainty about our permanent strikeforce but otherwise i think we’ll do better without cabaye
KK(Quote)
One thing I find amazing is how quickly our club can make transfer deals happen when the players are going out the door rather than coming in…
JJ(Quote)
I actually agree what KK said…. in fact with Cabaye gone, Can they turn Moussa Sissoko into a more central figure? Can the brilliant but neglected Hatem Ben Arfa now be integrated? And what will this mean for Vurnon Anita?
That said, do we formulate our starting formation without wings? And use formation that utilize the strength of our midfield instead? 4-3-3? 4-2-3-1? 4-3-1-2?
It’s an interesting situation… 😉 😉
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
JJ our club doesn’t talk about transfers like some other clubs do. How do you now this hasn’t been going on for 2 years?
We know that the Cabaye Saga has been going on for at least 7 months that’s not very fast now.
Santii(Quote)
Newkie – that was my thinking mate or even 4-4-2 with him left wing, tho I don’t think he usually plays that wide I think he could.
Capoue is a good player but not one I had in mind to be honest. Would be a more defensive replacement for Cabaye – but then it’s a Pardew team so that would fit.
Sharpy17(Quote)
AngelOfDeath
Have you been taking English lessons mate? I swear I used to read your posts they were broken English. Bit like mine. 😉
JJ(Quote)
Santii,
There wasn’t a bid until yesterday.
JJ(Quote)
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2011/06/19/newcastle-u-15-3-4-singapore-u-15-match-report/
I did mention how good adam armstrong is. 😳 😉
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
@JJ: I just don’t bother when it is on internet. 😆 😆
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
KK-Good to see your talking sense again, about Europe you are agreeing with Pardew and about a direct replacement you are agreeing with what I said. Keep it up fella 🙂
Sharpy-yeah same, I wouldn’t fancy him so much on the wings of a 4-4-2, don’t think he’d be any better than Goof or Sissoko there, I think if it was 4-4-2 he’d have to be the no.10
Newkie(Quote)
AOD-I actually remember that thread haha. Best get your application for understudy to Graham Carr sorted buddy!
Newkie(Quote)
De Jong and Gomis upfront along with Cisse and Campbell/Armstrong as back up.
That then gives us a set strikeforce and we can build a midfield/wing set up to fit it best.
Loan deals and players leaving makes it pointless to sign any more midfielders.
funkyjesus(Quote)
normally I think Ryder is a clown but he makes a good point re-cabaye and the fee we seem to be getting,why can the club think along the lines of Everton they refused 25mil for there full back he was under contract even got him to sign a new one as the lad could see the club was trying to move forward,are toon on same level seems not,no wonder cabaye wanted away could be more want away in the summer,who can blame them,cabaye got a few french players to sign for us thinking the club was on the up,he sussed jabba out and moved on
icedog(Quote)
@Newkie: Been planning to get the contact details of him. 😉 😆 😆
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Newkie – we’ve been linked with Aaron Hunt from Herta Berlin as a possible free transfer in the summer.
Not too dissimilar to Sigurdsson actually so maybe it’s the cheap older (27) option.
Funky – I like that attacking option but would swap De Jong for Cisse if I could.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It’s interesting that folks think we’re well stocked with midfielders. Anita, Tiote, Sissoko and who? If one of them got a knock who then? Just don’t say Gosling although Pardew says he wants to keep him 👿
georgio(Quote)
Interesting that Jose speaking about Chelsea said that they have 21 in the squad that’s the number he wants. I’m assuming 3GK, 3CB, 3FB, 4CMF, 5AM/Wingers & 3ST or should we have a different balance.
Premandup(Quote)
@Georgio: Maybe you hardly see this few? Most of them are out on loan.
Gael Bigirimana
Sylvain Marveaux
Haris Vučkić
Romain Amalfitano
Hatem Ben Arfa
Moussa Sissoko
Conor Newton
Mehdi Abeid
Shane Ferguson (LW/LB)
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Angel – nice long list there. Not sure I’d class Marveaux there – hardly a Tiote replacement. HBA’s not a mid either. As for the rest who would you fancy in the PL?
georgio(Quote)
Sharpy-an ethnic German would really put a fox among the frogs 🙂 . I’ve not seen much of him but if he’s free he might just be Ashley’s cup o tea.
Newkie(Quote)
Gael Bigirimana have the looks of tiote. 😆 Okay, to me he can do well if Tiote leaves….
In fact Moussa Sissoko suits someone like how Yaya Toure does for man city. Shouldn’t be playing wing…
As for the rest, Haris Vučkić IMO definitely can do what Ben arfa does without fancy football but with more physical strength and scoring ability. He isn’t young anymore. 😯
Conor Newton, Shane Ferguson, Haris Vučkić>>> this three+ adam armstrong key players for the future of Newcastle squad. ❗ ❗
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Add on, Haris Vučkić does track back to defend. 😆 😆
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
AOD, I’m a huge fan of Vuckic too. I don’t get the impression that Pardew rates him, though.
blip(Quote)
Surprised we’re getting so little for Cabaye – Levy at Spurs would have gotten at least 40 million
Not sold on Ant and Dec Jong but guess he needs to be a shot at toons got talent
stevep(Quote)
He’s also not getting too much game time at Rotherham, which implies he’s not pulling up too many trees…
blip(Quote)
One can always dream
georgio(Quote)
will other french players want to leave now,it could be a problem maybe
icedog(Quote)
AOD – fergies having a made at brum, seems to have taken 2 steps backwards this season according to my brum mates as well as the forums – they all wish they could send him back now
stevep(Quote)
I didn’t know Peter Lovenkrands is at Birmingham. 😯
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Strange the way the Cabaye deal has been reported. How much is there offer. He’s having a medical today but how much do we get for him?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2, I’d imagine the fee will remain undisclosed, since we won’t want selling clubs to know how much we have to spend.
blip(Quote)
I must admit I feel down about Cabaye leaving. And right before the Norwich game and with Sunderland coming up as well. We need some huge efforts in mid field from Anita to replace him. Different types of players though. So we let down again. Is it going to be Grenier or nobody to replace him?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Aye BLIP, that must be it mate. I hope this doesn’t badly effect our season but how can it be otherwise? Once Cabs got a taste of offers in the summer it was only a matter of time with our **** wages. I know we’re 7th or 8th in wages paid but look at some of the wankers collecting from us. What are we paying some of the clowns we have? Obertan for God’s sake, and others on the sidelines as well. Well this is the Ashley plan once again. Now we’ll probably start to slip down the standings a bit but he won’t care a jot.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
that talk sport come out with some right ****,saying toon looking to sign charlie Adams to replace cabaye,do theses clowns get payed for some of this **** I have never known them to be right on anything they spout about
icedog(Quote)
“Not sold on Ant and Dec Jong but guess he needs to be a shot at toons got talent”
Stevep i am not even kidding i think that has to be one of the worst puns in the history of the internet 😀 😆 😆
@Ice Why would other french players want to leave?
As for young cm’s.. Abeid seems to be doing ok at PAOK. I wish Bigi and Vuckic were included in the first team more as they are the two who look like the most talented.
I have seen Siem De Jong’s name talked about on here and i think he would be perfect for us but so far there has been no concrete connection between him and us. Holtby is feasible as well but i dont see it happening.
Santii(Quote)
@Ice
i laughed at that talksport thing as well bunch of idiots. Them Sports Direct News and Newcastle Mad are sites i try and avoid these days with the amount of absolute garbage wrote/spoke on them.
Santii(Quote)
If it isn’t a busy summer of bringing in players we’ll probably follow this season with a poor one. What to do with Cisse? Hopefully de Jong prospers with us and we get him permanently. If not what then? And what about Colo? Can we finally shed ourselves of Obertan and bring a decent winger in? Who replaces Cabaye and will they be good enough? What to do with players like Amalfitano, Vuckic, and even Marveaux? Lots of questions but not too many answers.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
SANTII why would other french players want to leave,because they were sold the same **** cabaye was as I said ,he helped get other french players to come to the toon that they looking to build a team to try for CL its took him three seasons to suss out jabba will never spend that sort of money to get there mate
icedog(Quote)
On train on the way to Norwich… Looking forward to the game and hope Cabaye continues his good form. I’m going for a 2-1 toon… dreamboat stealing the points with a trademark set piece
Toon Chicken(Quote)
Cabaye, 18 goals and 15 assists in 93 games.
I’d say for a midfielder who dictates from deep and put in more than his fair share of defensive graft he’d have to be one of our best signings ever.
JJ(Quote)
Here we go again with Ashley. Instead of building toward something we continue to just be buy and sell quick profit takers which is all Ashley really wants. It’s a very dodgy play for me. We never get anywhere with it because we don’t strengthen, we just replace and hope for the best.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
lol Charlie Adams 😀
mark(Quote)
Sorry Toon chicken but Cabaye is having a medical at PSG. You won’t see him score any more goals for us.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
How much is the figure. I’ve seen everything between 18mil to 25mil.
JJ(Quote)
We aren’t really a club anymore. We’re more of an import export courier company of foreign footballers.
JJ(Quote)
JJ will never find out how much mate I doubt,other clubs would know how much cash we have to spend,they must not know jabba parts with very little of it,always said toon is money making machine for him,never will take this club forward imo
icedog(Quote)
It doesn’t matter if we got £50m for Cabaye & everybody knew about it.
Everybody knows that we don’t spend big on individual players.
We won’t be held to ransom because we can afford to bide our time as we don’t have anything to compete for.
KK(Quote)
Spot on JJ@221 and ice@222. They come, they go, and we never get anywhere. Pardew is wasting his time. We’re just an advertising tool and a toy for Ashley to play with.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
@newkie
You’ve got confused 🙄
Pardew (& you) are agreeing with me! 😆
KK(Quote)