The latest addition to the Newcastle squad is the 6’2″ box to box midfielder from Toulouse – 23 year-old Moussa Sissoko – who has often been compared to the former Arsenal great Patrick Vieira – because he stands 6’2″ tall and has a powerful way of playing the game with lots of skill – just like Vieira.
Moussa Sissoko – will wear the number 7 shirt
But Mouusa himself has tried to play down that comparison, which he’s had for at least a couple of years now, and he had this to say on the Newcastle United web-site after signing on at the Tyneside club yesterday:
“It is fantastic to be compared to someone like Vieira,” “He was a fantastic player, but if I want to be as good then I’ll have to put in some incredible performances in every single match, every week.”
“I’ve often said that for me the Premier League is best in the world and it’s also a league which corresponds to my style of play. This is where I really want to take the most pleasure from playing. It won’t be easy, but it’s up to me to work hard so I get everything on my side so I can do my best.”
“It was really important to move on, to take on a new challenge.” “I’ve been with Toulouse for ten years now so even though I gave 100% in training and during matches, it was quite a comfortable place for me. I was in my comfort zone and I wanted to take on a new challenge and rise to that challenge.”
“Newcastle is the ideal club for me to be able to go on and do great things.” “At Toulouse I had the luck to play in almost every game, but for me it was time to move on to a new challenge, and that new challenge was here in England.”
We hope we’ve signed the next Patrick Vieira, and we also hope the five French players brought into the club so far in January is a positive sign that owner Mike Ashley and company will further strengthen the squad in the summer, and show great ambition for Newcastle United.
We’d love to see Newcastle challenging for a top six place again next season, or even for the top four and a Champions League position.
That sounds a lot better than battling down in the Championship again – for the second time in four years.
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171 comments so far
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:05 PM
Comment #41Predictions for Tuesday night?
Villa 1 Toon 4
mecannylad
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Comment #42If we win against Villa on Tuesday then the ‘sting in the tail’ at the end of the window on Thursday may just about be bearable…. If we lose however, the inevitable ‘transfer sting’ coming our way will bring us all back down to earth. Mecannylad has spoken.
~Anita One Bites the Dust~
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:06 PM
Comment #43Mirin to replace Colo once he leaves? :3
5Danny94
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Comment #44I just wonder if Pardew’s going to start rotating the squad a little bit more now. If we line up:
—————–Krul—————
-Debuchy-Mapou-Colo-Santon-
——–Tiote———Sissoko——
-BenArfa—Cabaye—Marveaux-
—————Cisse—————–
Then we have:
– Gouffran
– Jonas
– Taylor
– Taylor
– Simpson
– Anita
– Perch
– Bigirimana
– Haidara
– Obertan
– Williamson
– Ameobi
– Ameobi
– Ferguson
– Vuckic
– Gosling
Who have all been, or would have been had they been signed before now or not ruled out with injury, challenging for a place in the starting XI or at least as a regular substitute. How many of those will be happy to warm the bench every week and see minimal action?
I can imagine us lining up with Taylor and Mapou at the back, or with Haidara at left-back, for a few games. Either way, I can’t wait to play Villa. I wish the match was today! It’ll be nice to have a list of players to choose from for once…
fray bentos
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:15 PM
Comment #45@yo-yo
Don’t know if you agree with me or not in that post?
SupaToonKid
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:15 PM
Comment #46Sissoko is far more like Yaya Touré than Viera. Not just a CDM but a powerhouse going forward as a CAM. The competition in CM for us is fantastic. We’re 1 forward short atm but even if we don’t sign anybody else we should still get a top 8-10 finish.
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:17 PM
Comment #47do you think we will sell anyone by jan 30?
Jarra
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:18 PM
Comment #48So upbeat now I keep singing the tune to the French national anthem in my head and the words Victoir as it was shouted out from the crowd in that second world war film where Pele and Bobby Moore stared in along with actors Michael Caine and Stallone played in goal.
Could you imagine that at St James being rang around the crowd VICTOIR, VICTOIR, VICTOIR follwed by the French National anthem.
Really am like a kid buzzing, you know what there really is something special in following this club Thank god I was born a Geordie.
Howay the lads.
PS be grateful who could remind me what the film was called as will buy it just to watch that bit at the end so I can build up to Tuesday nights match.
Mr Random
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:18 PM
Comment #49I would sell tiote now. Got a really bad ego to him. Gets frustrated wayyy too easy. Sissoko ideal replacement.
infintoon
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:19 PM
Comment #50we’ll probably sell Simpson if he will be willing to jump ship in january.
Spuggy
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:19 PM
Comment #51Nouveau chateau!
AshSays
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:19 PM
Comment #52The way I see it, Gouffran is here to support Cisse and for that purpose he has a more than a decent goal/game ratio. Cisse is our finisher, was very unlucky against Reading. He needs to sort out his positioning though as he is caught offside one to many times.
I follow the Portuguese league and RVW is also not the solo striker type, also not the best penalty taker, he has missed a few. Sporting Lisbon fans don’t rate him highly and if it were up to them they would drive him to Newcastle for the fee Newcastle has apparently offered ~£10M. Sporting Lisbon was already after a striker so I would be surprised if they sell their only striker with 5 days remaining in the transfer window.
tequilamag
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:20 PM
Comment #53Jarra Escape to victory
Jarra
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:20 PM
Comment #54VICTOIR — VICTOIR — VICTOIR
sorry really cant stop and don’t want to either
Howay Lads how many are now hearing those words in your head lol
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Comment #55@ Random – I think Tiote will the one to leave in the summer… I just think his discipline and how he is perceived by the refs in the PL now means he will be a marked man for a long time… I would take 20m for him and spend 10-15m on Wanyama…
Jarra
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Comment #56Cheers mate and how appropriate
Escape to victory as we escape this relegation threat and climb back ready to take the league on next season.
VICTOIR VICTOIR VICTOIR
tequilamag
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:23 PM
Comment #57onwards and upwards my friend
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:24 PM
Comment #58lads – theres an E at the end of Victior
Mr Random
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:24 PM
Comment #59@ichrisho – £20m would be great deal but I wouldn’t get a DMF, I’d go for a Class A striker. Think our season is abysmal this year due to pardew playing the one up front. Even shearer had support I’m every game.
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:27 PM
Comment #60Random – I see what you mean… I do think Sissoko would have replaced Tiote being sold in the summer so maybe a Striker would be better… I dont know who mind? Someone who can read an offside line might be good to teach Papa Cisse… 🙂 personally I would get CHarlie Austin in…
AshSays
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:31 PM
Comment #61I am hoping to see a more confident Obertan as a result of this French influx. Just read that he’s happy to see Gouffran joining NUFC, they played together before he joined Man U.
Mr Random
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Comment #62@ichrisho – lot of strikers come to mind. Charlie Austin seems like Jermaine Beckford when at Leeds. He won’t fit in premier league. One of my favourite young players out there is Bojan krkic (ex-barca) and Sergio canales. They would be ideal. But they don’t speak French! 🙂
gorgonzola ( former Pecorino former to gorgonzola)
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:36 PM
Comment #63http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elhWQ1ArTLU
We should get him….
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:37 PM
Comment #64Random – I was just thinking best to get some “local”-ish lads in… I thin more french might be a bad idea…
phillyg
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:38 PM
Comment #65—————–krul
debuchy-collo-mbwia-santon
————-anita-sissoko
gouffran – cabaye – marvuex
—————-cisse
I can see pardew starting this, anita and sissoko holding allowing cabs goufran and marvuex to create and supply for cisse. if struggling push anita out right and goufran up front along side cisse.
phillyg
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:39 PM
Comment #66second 11
—————elliot
simpson- taylor- willo – hiadara
————-tiote – perch
obertan – HBA – guite
Ameobi
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:41 PM
Comment #67what about Caroll back? oooooohhhh Contraversial
tequilamag
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:41 PM
Comment #68ichriso, there is a third Ameobi, plays in Iceland I think. Not sure how good his french is though.
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:43 PM
Comment #69Tequila – why not we seem to have made a home for the other two… i am particuliarly disappointed with sammy… very flimsy and lightweight… thought more of him… what ya reckon on Jordan rhodes?
Jarra
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:43 PM
Comment #70@ Ichrisho
sod the spelling mate just shout it from the roof tops VICTOIRE VICTOIRE VICTOIRE
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:46 PM
Comment #71Jarra youre right… its not as if the players will stop mid-match and correct the spelling… did you see they have an NUFC beret on sale at the shop?
Mr Random
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:48 PM
Comment #72Within next decade we’ll be able to field a starting 11 with all ameobis!
tequilamag
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:49 PM
Comment #73ichriso, for Sammi he is still young but looks like his confidence is shot at the moment. I think he has more ability than Shola but a loan seems the obvious option for him. Rhodes has scored a lot and may be worth a punt but prices for English players are crazy.Having said that we are getting close to the max amount of foreign players and will soon need to start looking at British players.
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:52 PM
Comment #74Haidara looking well impressive Vs Lille…
I like the look of that left peg and the speed he has… Carr knows his players alright…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wk46z28gTE
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:53 PM
Comment #75Tequila – youre right about the price of players… look at Tom Ince… rejected from Liverpool a year ago and now he’s gonna cost a massive 8-9m… just to get him back… I think that Austin or Rhodes would be good purchases… surprised that we dont have another look at Danny Graham… be good for 3 seasons out of him.. at least we know he would give 100%
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 12:57 PM
Comment #76a french mate of mine from Marsielle said that the club and fans are absolutely gutted and raging that we got sissoko… and that Barton regurlarly bad-mouths the toon… ass-wipe…
tequilamag
Jan 26, 2013 at 1:01 PM
Comment #77I like Danny Graham and think he is worth a punt. It`s good long term policy to buy players who will increase in value but we should be flexible. He has shown he can score goals at PL level so is a fairly low risk gamble. Playing for your home club can only be a plus he knows what the team means to the fans.Not stupid money either.
ToonMauritius
Jan 26, 2013 at 1:02 PM
Comment #78http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRXNNZNuQdA
lol that PEA got talent, speedy and good goalscorer, that exactly what we need
ichrisho
Jan 26, 2013 at 1:02 PM
Comment #79I reckon we coild get him in for about 4m – not bad… I would love to see Hooper in the PL… although Lennon would want about 10m for him… he played for scunthorpe 3 years ago… and now he’s worth 10m… no thanks..
ToonMauritius
Jan 26, 2013 at 1:04 PM
Comment #80if he come here, surely Cisse will warm the bench