Yohan Cabaye has said that moving to Newcastle has helped him in his International career with France.
Yohan Cabaye challenges Carlos Tevez
Yohan Cabaye moved to Newcastle for €5M last June, after playing at French club Lille since 2004, and we are hoping that his best pal, Mathieu Debuchy will be on his way to Tyneside this summer, to link up again with Yohan.
Yohan has been named in the French provisional list of 27 for the European Championships this summer, and that list has yet to be whittled down to 23 by French manager Laurent Blanc.
Cabaye is very likely to start for France in the first game of Group D against England on June 11th, and that should be a good game to watch. We are hoping he doesn’t have too good a game against England. 😀
Yohan is keen to establish himself as a starter for Blanc’s team and he had this to say today:
“It’s definitely helped me being at Newcastle because there are a lot of great players and full internationals there.” “You come up against big teams all the time, strong teams, and there are no easy matches. I’ve learnt a lot.”
“Playing in midfield in England is a real lung-buster. In France there’s a lot more emphasis on the tactical side of the game, but the full-on nature of football in the Premier League is really helpful when it comes to being ready to play at international level.”
“It’s a difficult group. Ukraine will be a strong team. They’re at home and that will count for a lot. We beat them last year, but it wasn’t at all easy.”
“Then you’ve got Sweden, who are traditionally powerful and have one of the world’s great players in Zlatan Ibrahimovic.”
“We’ll be going into the group looking to win our matches and we’ll be very determined. But for me, England are the favourites. After that we’ll see.”
It’s hard to think England are the favorites for their group, because with Roy Hodgson as the new manager and a number of good England players not available for one reason or another.
We’ll do well to get through the group stages this time around, but England will do a lot better than four years ago, when we didn’t even qualify for the finals, under then England manager Steve McClaren.
The England players will also need to make up for their dismal display in South Africa in the World Cup two years ago.
We’d also love to also see Ben Arfa starting for France in that June 11th game in the Ukraine.
Comments welcome.
16 comments so far
Tsunki
May 25, 2012 at 10:08 AM
Comment #1Good to hear.
RonVanDam
May 25, 2012 at 10:17 AM
Comment #2If Arsenal can make a bid on Olivier Giroud for 6.4m plus Marouane Chamakh who has been shit for 2.5 seasons.
If Ba is unhappy, why dont we make the same offer plus 3-4m?
SupaToonKid
May 25, 2012 at 10:17 AM
Comment #3It’s vital for me that we sign 3 players minimal:
RB: Mathieu Debuchy: will seriously take the quality up a notch in that position as he is not mistake prone and can cross a ball also has international experience and has ability to play as a CDM + mates with Cabaye.
CB: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa: need the competition here and a quick CB is a must and he’s quick is Mapou and a strong lad as well also Mbiwa has the versatility to play across the backline and as CDM so it’s a must buy for me (if not Alderwereid looks a top notch buy as well).
Forward: Junior Hoilett: Is a free transfer, can play out on the wings or as a quick CF so his flexibility would be good.
Also would like a CAM to get 10 + goals from midfield e.g. Michu or Rasmus Elm & a young CF but with the 3 above being MUST buys these other 2 signings would definitely improve the side but are not necessaties.
Graeme
May 25, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Comment #4I cant see England doing very much in the Euros – even if they get out of the Group Stage. They are nothing special and haven’t been for far to long.
In fact England are the exact opposite to NUFC – we are far better than the sum of the individuals we have; England are nothing like as good as they should be, given the players available.
Is it the FA? The Coaching? Or simply the lack of effort?
jayphoto
May 25, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Comment #5was last night chatting to a french photographer friend of mine! He reckons Amalfitano will break into our first team by christmas and that he’s been signed to push for the starting 11 as he would have walked into a lot of ligue1 teams and won’t have come to newcastle just to sit on a bench! and that we should be excited to have signed him because he can create and do something different! Always nice to hear positive reports about players we’ve signed!
jayphoto
May 25, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Comment #6@graeme – I can see england getting to the semi final and andy carroll getting 4 or 5 goals! Reckon the football will be absolutely dire mind you, but tactically hodgson understands europe, and international scene, hence him getting a poor fulham to a uefa cup final and an even poorer switzerland to 3rd in the world! Fully expecting 4-5-1, carroll up top, long diagonal balls, 2 holding midfielders etc, reckon it’ll be the most organised england team for a long while!
cyprus
May 25, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Comment #7Good idea @2! Get rid of a 16 goal a season forward, just as part of a bargain!
jesperfuglsang
May 25, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Comment #8I don’t think anyone has said Ba is unhappy; I don’t even think he’s come out himself and said so?
Correct me if I am wrong.
There is just a lot of speculation and for what ever reason? If some naive idiot at Newcastle thought it was a great idea to put in a clause in Ba’s contract that said he could leave if somebody made a bid worth of £ 7mil and that we would only get to keep half of it. If someone made that deal just because Ba has “bad knee” then I say good riddance.
If Ba’s knee is crooked, why would we need a clause in his contract? We could just sell him on the cheap; there is no need to hand out candy is there?
Who ever draws up the contracts at NUFC most have slept during the meeting.
jesperfuglsang
May 25, 2012 at 10:40 AM
Comment #9The again that clause is also just speculation 😉
jayphoto
May 25, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #10reckon Ba’s clause is far more complicated than people realise! I actually think he might leave this summer, but I can only see it being to PSG! Wouldn’t shock me if we went back in for Gamiero from there, he wants out after spending all season on the bench!
Jail for Ashley
May 25, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Comment #11About previous thread,
Each to their own and all that but I will always remember Smith as the bloke who absolutely publicly slated Rio Ferdinand for joining Man U,and as a FSA signing who never scored a Premiership goal in four years and sat on the bench for a year (sometimes) for 60 grand a week .
jesperfuglsang
May 25, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Comment #12I don’t like to speculate, either way there is a 50/50 chance anyway.
But I don’t think he’s a trophy or glory hunter so my guts tell me he’s staying.
But if there is a contract dispute then you just never know; I’ll give Ba the benefit of a doubt.
Hatem's better than Messi
May 25, 2012 at 1:03 PM
Comment #13On England.
I think Hodgson will have them well organised, he’s very experienced.
I much prefer him to melted wellie face.
It is a tough group, but I think we’ll play better than we did under Capello.
mattnufc
May 25, 2012 at 3:06 PM
Comment #14Can’t see us doing well in Euro’s. Probably finish 2nd in group, then face Spain! Dissapointed Roy picked Glen Johnson and Downing over Richards and Adam Johnson, its like he used to manage Liverpool..
cornishman
May 25, 2012 at 8:28 PM
Comment #15Could,nt agree more mattnufc. How micah and adam are out and the other two under performing muppets are in i don,t know. I hope Demba stays as we need proven strikers, and as he,s shown that,s what he is. Looking forward to next season already, good job the euro,s are there.
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
May 26, 2012 at 5:53 AM
Comment #16England i think are really going struggle in the Euro,s!
IF we get through the groups, which i find doubtful ! We will go out at the next stage!
France will hammer us, Ukraine are,nt easy and Sweden are also no walk in the Park!
@14: Your probably bang on the money! Hodgsen has just left a lot of talent at home choosing instead to pick a lot of the Old Guard who are coming to the end of their playing careers!
Not too sure if Hodgsen is the right choice for the England Post at all. Steve Pearce would have picked a better squad which would of been more representative of the last season based on players form! It would of been better to go to the Euro,s with him and to begin rebuilding after the whole competition is over!
A lot of the In Form players and youth just hav,nt got a look-in! And it also seems that to get a place in the squad you need to be plying your trade South of the Watford gap!
Until we get a squad that is fully representative of the whole country and a trainer who is not afraid to pick them and stick up for himself with the Media! Who just have too much punch when it comes to the Enland Managers Post!
The youth is the future but Engeland appear to be picking the same players like Terry and Lampard, who lets face it are just not good enough anymore!
However, i will be supporting the Lads across here even though my expectations are low!
It remains to be seen how the great British Press will react to Englands Demise and more to the point who they will blame when they get beat!