Claudio Cacapa has played really well for Newcastle since he was signed on a free transfer in the summer from Lyon, and he was delighted to score his first goal for the club on Monday night.
Claudio has stacks of experience in the European Champions League and it really does show.
He certainly looks the real thing for Newcastle at the back.
Claudio Cacapa – looks the real deal at the back for Newcastle
In an exclusive interview with The Evening Chronicle today, the 31-year-old defender said he was just so delighted with his goal and thinks his move to Newcastle has been a great move for him:
“I scored around seven League goals for Lyon in my seven seasons with them, but none of them gave me as much pleasure as that one on Monday night, and I really do feel that I can get more.â€
“It was a fantastic feeling and such an important goal for us and, as my agent says, I really am on cloud nine at the moment.†“This has been a great move for me and I could hardly be happier at the way things are going.â€
“Most of my goals with Lyon came from headers from set-pieces, and this is part of the game which our manager Sam Allardyce feels we can cash in on.â€
“We have some wonderful dead-ball kickers like Emre, Charles N’Zogbia and Geremi, and both Abdoulaye Faye and myself feel we can knock in a few goals this season.â€
“As it happens, Abdoulaye hit the post with a header in the first half on Monday night, but I was lucky that my effort went in and I am sure I can improve on my scoring record with Lyon here at Newcastle.â€
We think Big Sam’s signing of Cacapa could turn out to be one of his very best for Newcastle. Claudio has vast experience in the Champions league and looks full of class at the heart of the Newcastle defense. Like most players Sam brings in, he seems very mature and down to earth, but is also apparently very unassuming.
As Sam said earlier in the week, Claudio has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, simply because he seems to have all the credentials to be a real star in this league. Cacapa has settled at Newcastle quickly with his wife and young baby. It is to the credit of Sam and his staff that all 9 players brought in during the summer are producing so quickly for the club. They really seem to know what needs to be done to get the players settled in and happy, so they can then concentrate on the job at hand. Cacapa is on just a two-year contract but Newcastle has the option of a third season – which seems to be such an obvious option, if Cacapa continues his great form for the Magpies.
Comments welcome.
15 comments so far
indian toon
Oct 24, 2007 at 3:11 PM
Comment #1definetly good for a extension if he can keep himself fit. fine defender. know we ve got captains all over in geremi, butt, owen, barton, cacapa, beye, viduka, given, what a team.. i say WE HAVE A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TEAM. dont ya agree.
Hammy
Oct 24, 2007 at 3:21 PM
Comment #2Defo……
This guy is shit hot…great attitude..can’t believe we got him for nothing.
A pity he’s 31 but better late than never!
indian toon
Oct 24, 2007 at 3:36 PM
Comment #3k.. even if berbatov moves in, he might want the no 9 shirt which martins owns, as berbatov’s mom has said that it was a dream ofhis talented son to play for nufc
in shearer’s shirt.. will be interesting.
shakkkaaaaaaaaaa
Oct 24, 2007 at 3:39 PM
Comment #4being 31 doesnt matter anymore these days, especially with the support BSA brings to the club, he will to till he’s 60.. atleast !
steve
Oct 24, 2007 at 3:48 PM
Comment #5Great to have Cacapa at the toon – we should tie him up to an extension now before Arsenal realise Senderos is absolutely rubbish and they come knocking on Cacapas agents door
Obafan
Oct 24, 2007 at 3:56 PM
Comment #6Cacapa is a class act. Fantastic style, good position, great attitude and giving everything to defend the colours of our team NUFC. I’ve to say every signing BS made, they all want to play with the correct heart to defend the colours of our team. What a great prospect that is. Faye and Cacapa can become one of the most experienced central duo’s and also a duo though to score goals against.
Is the rumour about the child dream of Berbatov willing to play for NUFC true or is this the beginning of the transfer rumours for coming January???
Here are my thoughts on the new players:
1. CACAPA: world class defender, played very solid in every game for the Toon. Could be a tp 3 transfer of the EPl this season and a free transfer.
2. FAYE: perhaps the most of us thought that this would be the less important transfer, but Abdoulaye prooved us all wrong. He is superb and will score goals for us on free kicks and corners. Great player.
3. BEYE: was my favourite transfer especially with the yes/no atmoshere around it. He needs more time to gel into the team and to know the EPL. If he does he will be one of the best RB’s we ‘ve ever had.
4. ENRIQUE: needs to be more patient, and not always willing to kick the long ball which is not always effective. Good assist on Monday. Is a fighter for the team.
5. SMITH: fighting for every ball, but IMO he has got the bad luck that BS doesn’t play him at his natural position. Therefor for me it is very hard to judge him. Has got a very good attitude, but needs to be more clever and not tackling like a mad which will cost him suspensions (like Monday).
6. BARTON: back in business since Monday, and what a style he has. He and Emre can be our technical minded midfield players to open up defences for Martins, Viduka and Owen.
7. GEREMI: our captain, has got a fantastic attitude and wants to die for the team. IMO his best poistion is on the right wing, which he played last Monday. He hasn’t showed the best so far, but he plays descent games for us.
8. VIDUKA: every time when I see him I think why are you not moving around to ask the ball, to make combinations and then in a moment he touches the ball, scores and is useful for our team. Might be not in his best shape, but damn he can be very useful for us.
9. ROZEHNAL: started very good, but was a bit left alone by Taylor, who sill made mistakes which costed goals (like Boro game). Now he has to wait for another chance. And to be honnes he is good, but our central defence just is fantastic which is bad luck for Roz. I know him for Bruges a couple of years ago and I know that he will fight fo his spot and he will play very good.
Hammy
Oct 24, 2007 at 4:09 PM
Comment #7Nice summing up Obafan….wouldn’t disagree with that at all…
Tom_Toon
Oct 24, 2007 at 4:44 PM
Comment #8Id disagree with the technical aspect of Barton, thats abosolute shite. Brilliant player but in no way that technical.
indian toon
Oct 24, 2007 at 4:49 PM
Comment #9rightly said . he’s more likely to be a naturally gifted holding midfielder.
Canadian Mag
Oct 24, 2007 at 6:11 PM
Comment #10best of seen from a back four in ages on Monday night. Something that I am truly looking forward to seeing more of.
Canadian Mag
Oct 24, 2007 at 6:12 PM
Comment #11best i’ve seen from a newcastle back four in ages on Monday night. Something that I am truly looking forward to seeing more of.
Bill f
Oct 24, 2007 at 7:17 PM
Comment #12Bet he would like to have Juninho in the team, possibly the best dead ball man in the world. Bl**dy good with the moving ball as well.
leo
Oct 24, 2007 at 10:19 PM
Comment #13would he come to newcastle though?
does everyone agree that cacapa’s smile is contagous,
i was down in the bar when he scored and his smile was massive, i went up to the pitch soon after and he was still wearing that massive smile. great for team moral
Faroe Geordie
Oct 25, 2007 at 12:29 AM
Comment #14What Roeder, Souness, Robson, Gullit, Dalgliesh and Keegan weren’t able to do in the last 10 years, Big Sam has done in 3 months!!! D E F E N C E
Kein
Oct 25, 2007 at 3:18 PM
Comment #15Defence looked great against struggling tottenham (apart from the goal), but it really hasn’t been tested by the best teams..for example man city tore us apart..still FAR BETTER than before! The new defence may need a bit time to gel up totally..and then we can talk about clean sheets!
And sorry my pessimism…