Newcastle United have confirmed the signing of 25 year old Lille midfielder Yohan Cabaye. The French International has signed a 5 year deal at the club which was finally confirmed last night. Both player and manager have given interviews to nufc.co.uk;
Cabaye said;
“I’m happy, I’m really happy. I’ve just seen the facilities and the magnificent stadium. The people are really welcoming so it’s really great to be here. I was to adapt to the rhythm here, which is a lot quicker and it is one of the best Leagues in the world.
I like being on the ball, playing with ball and making lots of passes. I’m not a big dribbler but I like unsettling the opposition with short or long passes. I like going for goal, but I am also a player who knows how to defend and make lots of effort to get the ball back.
I am very excited for the season ahead, especially when I see the stadium and the facilities here. I am excited to start training and meet my new team-mates.
I am really excited about discovering the Premier League, St James’ Park and all of Newcastle’s fans and hopefully this season will go as well as possible for the team and for me. I am really excited to wear this new shirt.”
He added;
"This is a fantastic move for me. I have enjoyed great times with Lille but the time is right now to test myself against the best and playing for Newcastle United in the Premier League does just that.
My first impressions of the club and the city are that it is a lovely place and the stadium is magnificent. Now that I have signed I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the team, working with Alan Pardew and his staff, but most of all playing for Newcastle United and their supporters."
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew also commented on the news;
"We are delighted to have signed Yohan on a five-year contract. He has a first-class pedigree having proved himself at the top level in France, both for his club and the national team.
He will add great quality to our squad and I am really looking forward to working with him."
Could just as easily be Guthrie's No.8 he will take which I wouldn't be too bothered about.
I think he's a great signing and we look like were going in the right direction for once. Although it would be nice to stay loyal to Barton and Nolan we have to remember that nowadays these players would jump ship in a heartbeat if it worked out better for them and we cannot afford to romantacise about them "loving the club" when we all know they only joined us for their pay packet. Once we re-establish ourselves as a prominent force in the premiership maybe but until then I'm happy we wont be lumbering ourselves with any more Alan Smiths or Nicky Butts.
Largely well said, but the implied comparison of Barton and, especially, Nolan to Butt and Smith comes close to ingratitude if you ask me. Nolan has scored 29 league goals for us over the last two seasons, playing an integral role in our return to and remaining in the PL. Whereas Smith has been largely useless and Butt was deemed behind the pace of the championship. I wonder why nobody's "worried" that Cabaye will be 31 when his contract ends. I have trouble coming up with anything other than the club didn't suggest we should be.
it is going to be worrying if everytime a player gets to 31/32 we let them leave, you would hope that they look into each case and decide whether the player is going to have something to offer past that age, with Nolan i think the case will be no, he's already slow and on a massive wage and has already rejected an extended structured deal, we've got younger players in his position so why not cash in on him and reduce the wage bill significantly!
FFS, I love this logic: Nolan will not be worth having in 5 years because he will be slow, which we know because he's already slow (weeks after the end of a season where he was our top scorer). It honestly boggles the mind.
I honestly don't know why we're negotiating with Nolan already. He's still got two years on his contract, we've got much more urgent things to think about.
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the whole point Tunyc is that they are obviously going to ofer these players contracts till they are 31ish at which point they will then look at the players and whether they warrant a contract extension, if we offer Nolan a contract till he's 34/35 and he cant cut it in 2 years then we are stuck with a useless player on a massive wage! i.e Alan Smith
Nolan would 33 at the end of the last season of a 5-year deal. I'm 31 and I play pub league football. In the last year two teammates, 24 and 26 years old, have had to get major knee surgery, one for a cartilage problem and the other on a torn ACL. The idea that Nolan will break down is presumptive. If nothing else, he's been durable over the course of his career, making 351 appearances in 11 seasons as a pro. Since his second season, he's never made less than 30 league appearances in a season. I don't see how losing a bit of pace will hurt his game. Kevin Nolan was never fast.
The only reason his request would be flatly denied is that the club has taken a dogmatic stance about players of a certain age. If Ashley were in charge at Manchester United, Giggs and Scholes would have left about 10 years ago. Great policy, that.
I do agree that Nolan's lack of pace does not affect his game, for his game is all about goals and commitment but I think I agree with the club on this one. He wanted a 5 year deal if I'm not mistaken and the club have refused to give him that. Man Utd gave Giggs and Scholes one year contract extensions every year once they reached their thirties and there's a reason for that for they wanted to judge them on their performances. Nolan has had two very good seasons with us recently but he still has two more years on his contract so let's see how things go. There's no rush and if he continues to perform well offer him a contract extension but for now there are other more pressing issues in my opinion.
On a side note, does anyone know what's happened to "lostmekeys?" Haven't seen him on here in a while and he was usually a regular contributor to the forum.
LMK's been AWOL since February. Too bad, as he was a great contributor and my sparring partner.
As far as agreeing with the club: this stance looks to lead directly to Nolan's exit. If that happens, we've shed 23 goals from last season. Just keep that in mind.
if Nolan's such a top player, and we need to keep hold of him at all costs whether its detrimental to the club or not, why exactly is it that its only west ham who are trying to buy him!
If he's so good why aren't all the lower premier league teams trying to buy him and why aren't the 3 teams that have come up trying to buy him!
Why is he accepting a contract to drop down a league!
It'd have to be a hell of a deal to convince me...for a team that was looking for continuity and stability they sure look like they are chopping and changing a LOT.
If Nolan, Joey, Jose, and Jonas all leave this window we'll be in trouble. Hell, any three would set us back...
If it takes a full re haul of the squad to get us to the next level then so be it, as long as we aren't left short of cover and at the very least rteplace all the players leaving etc we new faces it will be ok. Don't go judging too early wait and see who we bring in first, fingers crossed by the end of next season you will all be singing ben arfa and cabaye's names and every one will be nolan who ?
remember the days of long loyalties betweens clubs and players have been long gone and vice a versa. And everything now is all driven by money. thats the top and bottom all chairmen are greedy not just ours, all players are just searching for the highest contract going, agents looking for the biggest fee. Money money money.
I hear your points, Andrew. Hypothetical question: how are you going to feel if you are singing for Cabaye and HBA at the end of the season...only to see them sold?
gutted tbh as I feel they are going to be the main focal point for the next few years now, however if we sign better players again and it improves our team then I would understand.
nufc4444 This makes me think Cabaye hasn't been signed to play the same position Nolan.
[news.bbc.co.uk]
Based on the performances I've seen from Cabaye, there are two options. He could play side-by-side with Tiote or the top of the central midfield triangle in a 4-2-3-1. I think it's more likely Ben Arfa will play at the top of the triangle, the question though is who will be on the flanks?
If it is the formation that you say Waffles and I think it will be I reckon it will be
Tiote, Cabaye
Barton, Ben Arfa, Jonas
Obviosuly goes on if Barton and Jonas aren't sold but I like the look of the midfield as it gives us a a creative mifdield and will let us play quick and counter attacking football.
I am more positive about the team now than I was at the start of last season
I don't reckon Ferguson's ready to start yet. He'll be a good back up but remember he's only young and won't be able to play like we've seen he can every game.
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i! I don't reckon Ferguson's ready to start yet. He'll be a good back up but remember he's only young and won't be able to play like we've seen he can every game.
I agree he's not ready to start, but I wouldn't be surprised if come September 1st we don't have another option.
I think you're right, waffles. I doubt he'll be thrown in just yet. Marveaux is left-sided anyway and we have several options on the right, even if they're not necessarily all impressive (Barton, Raylor, Guthrie if needed and Jonas can play there too...Shola even slotted into the far-right position in the midfield a couple times last season).
I think he's just as capable on either flank really, although he's probably naturally right footed he doesn't have much of a cross on him so it doesn't really matter which side he plays.
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I think ferguson will be a first team player by the time the window shuts, but I do think he needs another season to develop, I think he will take the left back position
I don't think ferguson will be 1st choice anything this year yes maybe another few seasons but really hope the club aim for a higher class of player. Yes he is good and will hopefully develope into a good player but not nearly good enough to command a regular first team slot imo.
I agree, we need to be looking for a different player to be a first teamer, but if the plan is Taylor from Swansea to take the LB position, then maybe Ferguson maybe the Left Back, have to say don't know much about Simpson, so possibly Ferguson is better
tbh I fell Taylor is only going to be a backup but I may be wrong, just have to wait and see i suppose. I think if Liverpool were serious about jose they would of come back with a larger bid by now.
AndrewThe Mag I think if Liverpool were serious about jose they would of come back with a larger bid by now.
I agree, look how quick they are doing business lately, like a guy, go after him and deal done straight away. Problem we have is if they are not interested then who is and if nobody does a decent bid then he walks at the end of the season
But if nobody gives a decent bid, it greatly strengthens our bargaining position for a new contract. Not expecting things to go down like that, but a whole summer of nobody willing to pay for you might change your mind about a contract offer.
Could just mean he sees out his contract and puts him in a better position for clubs next year, as there will be no transfer fee and he scores for extra cash as he will get a signing on fee as well as bigger wages
True. He'd be taking a risk, though. If he has a poor season (this was his best in England by far) or gets a major injury that fat contract goes bye-bye. Also, if nobody's willing to bid seriously for him, maybe he he can't actually get what he thinks he can. If I'm representing the club in I'd be pointing out these things.
Fully agree with you, that the club needs to point it out, but reckon he won't care as there will be plenty of takers even if he had a injury as people will see it as a gamble worth taking
That's the thing I don't know about. I assumed he'd be gone within a week of the window opening too. Apparently, LFC and Milan aren't as keen on him as was once reported.
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