We watched the Lille game against Rennes yesterday, which ended in a 3-2 home victory for the French Champions, and French top scorer Moussa Sow scored a good hat trick for Lille – full name Lille Olympic Sports Club (LOSC).
Johan Cabaye – definitely joining Newcastle
And it was obvious when Johan Cabaye was taken off late in the game, that it was his last game for the club, although the TV commentators didn’t say he was going to a powerhouse club in England – Newcastle.
They didn’t say that. 😀
And in a press conference following the game the successful Lille manager Rudi Garcia spilled the beans on his midfielder:
“Yohan announced yesterday to me first, then the whole group, that he has made his choice to join Newcastle. “
“It is a choice that I respect, although I would have liked him to stay with us.”
One or two of the French commentators seemed a bit surprised at the news, and we understand Newcastle have done a nifty deal in that they found out the skillful midfielder had a €5M release clause in his contract, so they paid around £4.3M for him.
For a player of his class that’s an excellent deal by Newcastle.
We learned a little bit more about the player yesterday – he can play in a number of different positions, but his penalty skills may not be everything they were made out to be, because he missed his last three penalties and Moussa Sow scored Lille’s one penalty yesterday.
It also looks like Gervinho is leaving the French club for around £10M, and Newcastle are in with a chance for this player.
The TV commentator yesterday said it would only be £10M for a player of his undoubted class, but that was because he only has one year left on his Lille contract.
If Newcastle can also get Gervinho, it would be terrific business for the club, as this lad not only scores goals, but he makes then too, and looks unselfish and a good team player – and very fast and the 24 year-old would get a lot of free kicks on the edge of the penalty box.
And Cabaye can smash those free kicks in for Newcastle.
By the way Gervinho is 24 today – his birthday.
The Ivory Coast International would be an exciting signing for Newcastle fans.
And if Newcastle could get Moussa Sow too, that would be even better, but he’s probably be very expensive right now.
Moussa finished the season as top goal scorer in France with 25 goals, by beating another Newcastle target Kevin Gameiro (who also scored yesterday too) to the golden boot by a couple of goals.
Moussa is also in his first season at Lille after joining them last summer from Rennes on a free transfer.
Cabaye is rumored to be going to sign a four year deal at Newcastle, and on Saturday the news was that it would be announced about the middle of next week.
It looks like Newcastle have got one player in the bag this summer, and when we’ve watched Johan he’s looked a very good technical player and he’s in the 26 man France squad that will play against Belarus in a Euro 2012 qualifier, and then the two friendlies against Poland and Ukraine.
Here is just one of the many UTube videos on Johan Cabaye.
Comments welcome.
158 comments so far
Nufc_mo
May 30, 2011 at 9:26 AM
Comment #11st!
Brilliant news!
Gervinho next please.
Nufc_mo
May 30, 2011 at 9:27 AM
Comment #2http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6959254,00.html?
Berbatov set to leave Manure,
Worth a bid? He is afterall a Newcastle fan!
solano
May 30, 2011 at 9:28 AM
Comment #3Will have a pastis to celebrate….a corned beef one…..
Toonboy
May 30, 2011 at 9:31 AM
Comment #4Let’s sign up berbatov, worth a punt- will love it in front of 50,000+ Geordies.
Not only is he a Newcastle supporter, but he idolizes Shearer, the new number 9 for a couple of years maybe?
GeordieRob
May 30, 2011 at 9:32 AM
Comment #5Solano,
A corned beef pasty is the breakfast of Champions!
solano
May 30, 2011 at 9:33 AM
Comment #6A corned beef pastis is the breakfast of French Champions, mon ami….
Toonboy_84
May 30, 2011 at 9:33 AM
Comment #7Would love berbatov. Imagine him and benny boy up top. Such intelligent players together. Too expensive though I would imagine.
NorseToonBrann
May 30, 2011 at 9:34 AM
Comment #8think we have to stop raiding lille after gervinho. haha. feel sorry for them
toonruz
May 30, 2011 at 9:35 AM
Comment #9its fan of other clubs stiring because there jealous that he picked us over them ha ha the same thing happend with ben arfa
roshan MAGPIE
May 30, 2011 at 9:35 AM
Comment #10good news hope its gervinhio next and then gameiro then m BEnGUE he jose leaves then wayanba then sturridge
toonruz
May 30, 2011 at 9:35 AM
Comment #11berbatov is 30 years old he to old for us
roshan MAGPIE
May 30, 2011 at 9:36 AM
Comment #12good news hope its gervinhio next and then gameiro then m BEnGUE if jose leaves then wayanba then sturridge
solano
May 30, 2011 at 9:36 AM
Comment #13£5m down…..£32m to go…..
Nufc_mo
May 30, 2011 at 9:38 AM
Comment #14Only problem with berbatov is high wages and age… dont think Ashley will allow it…
Shame tho, would love a player who has scored 3 hat tricks and become the first non english player to score 5 goals all in the same season!
Nufc_mo
May 30, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Comment #15Solano didnt we only have 35mill to spend… therefore 30mill left 😛
WWJBD
May 30, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Comment #16Let the good times roll?
ronaldeano
May 30, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Comment #17There’s a pic on twitter of Gervinho and soloman Kalou, they are good mates.
I recon Gervinho will hold on until arsenal table a bid so he can live in London near his mates rather than up here in Newcastle….
Toonboy_84
May 30, 2011 at 9:39 AM
Comment #18If we show enough intent/ambition do we reckon jose will sign up?
Nufc_mo
May 30, 2011 at 9:40 AM
Comment #19Right, we need to prepare some chants for Cabaye for next season, especially if he does a tiote and comes out all guns blazing!
Nufc_mo
May 30, 2011 at 9:41 AM
Comment #20@Ronaldeano
He is also good mates with Tiote and Drogba(who was key in getting Tiote to join the EPL)
Arsenal’s priorities are defense, rather then attack… Gervinho wont be top of their list.
toonruz
May 30, 2011 at 9:41 AM
Comment #21ronaldeano
your another he gave his to the club yesterday he ours fact
toonruz
May 30, 2011 at 9:43 AM
Comment #22ronaldeano
your another he gave his anser to the club yesterday he ours fact
ronaldeano
May 30, 2011 at 9:45 AM
Comment #23Hope so… Gervinho would be a fantastic signing
the1willy
May 30, 2011 at 9:46 AM
Comment #24Wow, didn’t expect such a good start to a Monday morning. It really looks like we want to show our intent to the fans, current squad, and any other potential signings. Can only be a good thing.
Yeah, Berbatov used to sleep in a toon shirt with 9 Shearer on the back, and it’s rumoured today that Man U would let him go for around 12M. Could be worth a punt, at least we know he can score in the Prem, although not sure about his work rate?
Rotonda heights
May 30, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Comment #25Toonboy 84
TBH Jose has been shocking these last few months and I have a sneaky feeling this M’bengue guy could be the real deal too.
Markaccus
May 30, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Comment #26Get in, cabaye looks class.
Gervinho looks like he is coming, as he wants to join cabaye
Berbatov, even though he’s 30, would be a class signing, Toon fan, wanted to play here as a teenager, looks up to big Al, and is still a fantastic goal-getter. has a few good years left in him easy. That would be our foward line sorted, just defence left to do!
bills-son
May 30, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Comment #27solano – one finger up to the Reo Coker, Carlton Cole, Ashley no ambition ransfer believers like you – 3 or 4 more fingers up to go.
Like I said to yesterday – the club now have an organised, structured transfer policy for the first time in my 50 years as a toon supporter.
I’ve been saying for months Ashley would spend and that I’ve got great confidence in the direction Pardew and the club are going. I reckon we’ll be top 6 potential next year with a team full of flair, speed and goals.
Like I said, 1 finger up 3/4 to go.
tweaked
May 30, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Comment #28gr8 news, so we have smith\guthree’s replacement is done and dusted, looking forward to seeing gameiro and gervinho signing on the dotted line 😉
Nufc_mo
May 30, 2011 at 9:49 AM
Comment #29@the1willy
Regardless of work rate, any player that can score 3 hat tricks and become the first non englishman to score 5 goals in the same season is welcome at Newcastle in my books!
The fact that he idolized shearer and supported Newcastle is an added bonus!
Rotonda heights
May 30, 2011 at 9:49 AM
Comment #30Yes a bit rich to have a go at Liverpool when we’re trying to get 2 Lille players !!!
Edd Case
May 30, 2011 at 9:50 AM
Comment #31—–Berbatov—–
HBA
Gervinho—-Jonas
—Tiote–Cabaye—
Not a bad midfield and forward line up
solano
May 30, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Comment #32Ey up…NUFC…the pastis is stronger than I thought…..though you get a canny interest rate when it’s tucked away in an offshore account 😉 Still think we should do our utmost to keep the backbone of our team and then the squad will start to look better…..as a cynic/realist we will have to wait and see….but this fella seems like a very decent player and it’s good news…..2 strikers next!
Rotonda heights
May 30, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Comment #33Bills son,
I think everybody is just hoping it’s all for real this time and not have all our raised expectations all come crashing down on us.
Munster Mag
May 30, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Comment #34Great news, following on the rumours of the weekend. Ashley may be a horrible owner at times, but this club is now run well financially, and whilst losing Barton would be a huge mistake, Newcastle clearly know how to operate in the transfer market and find good players at good prices. So hats off to Pardew and Ashley. Keep up the good work. Lets hope this guy “does a Tiote” 🙂
Nufc_mo
May 30, 2011 at 9:54 AM
Comment #35@Rotonda
Gotta love irony 😛
To be fair we didnt know we were after Cabaye until news of a bid being accepted surfaced :[
Southern Pride
May 30, 2011 at 9:54 AM
Comment #36Itz great to buy young and all but experience is also key..
i kinda like barton over nolan (i know u all do as well)
berbatov may be 30 but he will make a hellava difference to our squad! imagine this…
……………..tiote…………….
…….Barton……Cabeye……….
Ben Arfa………………Gervinho
…………..Berbatov…………….
dats unreal if u ask me.. any1 disagree?
roshan MAGPIE
May 30, 2011 at 9:56 AM
Comment #37good news hope its gervinhio next and then gameiro then m BEnGUE if jose leaves then wayanba then sturridge K
Munster Mag
May 30, 2011 at 9:56 AM
Comment #38I’m with you on this one bills-son. Great move by the owners. Look at where we are now, instead of the likes of West Ham, with dumb owners , and Sam . Ouch!
DanNUFC
May 30, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Comment #39ronaldeano
that is Kalou but not with Gervinho, it’s just another one of his mates, he says he was at the Lille match watching Gervinho yesterday
solano
May 30, 2011 at 9:58 AM
Comment #40Swallows and Summers Bills…..and if you find anywhere I mentioned Carlton Cole and Nigel Reo-Cacka I will gladly eat hay with a Mackem donkey, alongside you….need I remind you, you so boldly announced to the world that you would do this if we didn’t spend all of £35m (in real terms) on players.