Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa had a good game on Saturday afternoon, and his leadership was there for all to see, and Mapou is currently second in our Man of the Match poll, just behind goalscorer Yoan Gouffran, who was surprisingly replaced in the second half – and why – we have no idea.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa – great acquisition for Newcastle The 23-year-old was signed from Montpellier in January for around £6.5M, and he is currently getting used to the fast pace and physical nature of the Premier League.
Alan Pardew has praised the French defender in the Shields Gazette today:
“It was a difficult pitch, and I thought Mapou was absolutely outstanding,” “He had a couple of misplaced passes. I thought one of them was definitely the pitch.”
“He was probably the outstanding player, but against Sunderland he was absolutely tired.” “The difference between Yohan Cabaye and Mapou between Sunday and West Brom was a million miles.”
“They looked different players – that’s what energy levels can do for you.” “And Rob Elliot, apart from one tiny mistake, was solid and strong, and that bodes well for going forward to the next four games.”
The lads were certainly full of energy at the start of Saturday’s game and immediately took the game to West Brom in the first half, but we couldn’t keep it up in the second half – unfortunately.
Mapou has so far played 16 times for the Magpies, and we have a hunch, as we talked about yesterday, that if Colo returns on Saturday against Liverpool, then Mapou could well be employed at left back.
That would be in place of 20 year-old Massadio Haidara – and it’s simply because of Mapou’s extra experience.
And we fully expect Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa to become a top player at Newcastle.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 us on Google+:
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
=============================================
205 comments so far
Tinman - Pardwho?
Apr 23, 2013 at 11:42 AM
Comment #1‘Mapou has so far played 16 times for the Magpies, and we have a hunch, as we talked about yesterday, that if Colo returns on Saturday against Liverpool, then Mapou could well be employed at left back, in place of 20 year-old Massadio Haidara – simply because of his added experience.’
Well that would be just brilliant, more players out of position
Tinman - Pardwho?
Apr 23, 2013 at 11:45 AM
Comment #2Rain your right about having no real wingers. That means before a game you cant just say ‘hey gouffy, your on LW today mate.’ Tell him to stick to the touchline and get balls into the box and that if he drifts into the middle too often he will be subbed.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 11:46 AM
Comment #3Tinman…Did you really want us to enforce your request on the last thread? 🙂
Rainrix
Apr 23, 2013 at 11:47 AM
Comment #4Tinman… I know pardew has to really make sure they stay in position even if it isn’t where they want to be. Or alternatively he can play obertan 🙂
Phatoon
Apr 23, 2013 at 11:55 AM
Comment #5We do need a proper winger or 2.
I would try this until we get them:
………………………….Elliot
……………S Taylor……Yanga-Mbiwa
Debuchy……………………………………..Haidara
………………………Coloccini
…………….Sissoko………….Cabaye
………………………Ben Arfa
.
…………………Gouffran….Cisse
Having Coloccini sitting in DM would allow the FBs to push forward and could leave 3 CBs to defend. Allowing Taylor/Mapou to use their “pace” to guard the flanks knowing there will still be 2 CBs to defend the middle.
Also gives more CBs for corners etc
Rainrix
Apr 23, 2013 at 11:56 AM
Comment #6Ibiza… If we’re good at one thing its hounding people off the blog 🙂
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:01 PM
Comment #7Rainrix…So I’m told 🙂
Phatoon…I quite like that. Seems to be the areas that players veer towards anyway to some extent.
Phatoon
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:04 PM
Comment #8I always thought Colo would make a good DM.
He has good positional sense, good passing and is reasonable in the air. Also means we don’t need to rely on his pace to hold the line.
He’s also quite handy attacking, he’s come out with some good headers and shots, given the limited chances he’s given. Could allow him to have more shots etc being slightly futher forward.
Tinman - Pardwho?
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:05 PM
Comment #9Haha maybe I wasnt totally serious, but nevertheless I am going to have to go! Catch You Later.
Generic Commenter
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:05 PM
Comment #10New to the blog but always read. Do we have an update on Cisse? Btw I will try and keep the ‘Pardew Out’ comments to a minimum
Guj NUFC
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:07 PM
Comment #11Lads am watching our season review from 2011-2012, what a remarkable campaign but what’s happened! 🙁 To think we have a stronger squad, (-Ba) and we are 16th in the league baffles me, even with a couple of injuries, we are not a relegation battling side. All we need is an in form Cheik Tiote and Ben Arfa- that’s the problem I think 😀 go 4-3-3 with Sissoko Tiote and Cabaye in the middle with HBA, Cisse and a new LW next season 🙂 Let’s just get this season over and done with yeah 🙁
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:08 PM
Comment #12Tinman…Just F off mate 🙂
Phatoon…I’d be interested to see it. His lack of pace may prove problematic wherever he is on the pitch, but maybe for breaking up play and simple passing to cabs or sissoko it could work.
Transfer Sage
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Comment #13for the rest of the season
——————elliot——————
debuhcy–mbiwa–colo–haidara
—–sissoko–anita–cabaye——
—–gouff–shola–marv——–
Obviously HBA in for shola if he manages to recover quicker, and cisse for gouff.
play quite narrow with width from pull backs, the front three could all get goals and marv an supply for gouff.
Guj NUFC
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Comment #14Sorry for the amount of Emoticons- that’s what NUFC drives me too! 😀
I think we can beat Liverpool this Saturday and I hope the crowd will be 100% behind the team. Papiss 2 goals and Cabaye with a free kick 😉
GenralHez
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Comment #15There is no excuse for a professional sportsman to be lacking in energy because they need to play more than once a week, it would take a year to complete the ‘Tour of France’ at that rate.
Pardew’s subs are a disgrace, he needs to go back to school and in the meantime we need someone who can take us forward.
Let’s punish Liverpool for trying to eat the opposition.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Comment #16Guj…I think if you isolate any one given reason for our season it borders on pathetic, but there are a lot of those that have contributed to our plight this season when compared to last.
No doubt with less of those issues we would have done better and the margins between success and failure this season are fine (we could in theory still mount a challenge for top 10 – although it’s unlikely).
Still, i’m with you, I want this season to be over.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:14 PM
Comment #17General…Or punish them for biting off more than they can chew?
TS…That seems to be how they approach the game, so might as well set them up that way.
DokToon
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:14 PM
Comment #18pardew…”oh elliot, we are full on keepers this week, i need you to start for cisse… cisse, were full on strikers now that ive moved elliot up, you’ll be playing CB, and colo, well you play wherever you want…”
oh, gmorning all…
Transfer Sage
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:15 PM
Comment #19genralHez
I think players won’t be 100% playing 2 games in a week but there is no excuse for how low our energy levels were during a lot of the gmaes this season.
Especially early season when we never played many first team players in europa league, we changed 7/8 players a game.
Transfer Sage
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:17 PM
Comment #20ibiza
thats what we did last season when we played well…ba and ben arfa were narrow, supporting cisse and cabaye was pushing on that bit more with jonas and tiote behind him.
I think you need to make sure you get at least cabaye/sissoko and one or two of the wide men in and around the striker to make sure he has support.
DokToon
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:18 PM
Comment #21TS…
good point about europa, maybe next season itll pay dividends with the amount of exp the second team got.. one can hope..
terencelim
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:19 PM
Comment #22@Ibizatoon Thank god you’ve finally learnt that having the same team last season won’t guaranty any table position this season. There are tons of internal and external factors to consider. We’re talking about football now.
DokToon
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:19 PM
Comment #23wonders if pards has ever heard of this brand spanking new formation called a 4-3-3…
GenralHez
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:21 PM
Comment #24Maybe we need some fitness coaches from the Rugby world and a manager from the football world.
I know this is a bit radicle but it could not be worse than the current situation.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:25 PM
Comment #25terencelim…Finally caught up…on some issues anyway 🙂
Transfer Sage
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:28 PM
Comment #26dok
hopefully, it can’t do them any harm getting experience.
I think we just need to forget this season really, i’d like a new manager but if Pardew does stay then I will just start fresh next year.
DokToon
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:30 PM
Comment #27you had a couch session ibiza? about time 🙂
danuneek
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:31 PM
Comment #28If Cisse is injured, I would go with Goufran as our central striker. There is no way I would play Strolla (even though Pardew will).
————————Elliot————————
Debuchy——Taylor—–Mapou——Hadaira
————–Anita———–Sissoko————-
Benny—————Cabaye———–Marveaux
———————-Goufran———————–
Transfer Sage
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:32 PM
Comment #29genralhez
they do need to make sure we have better fitness, get a top coach for that really, because fitness can mean the difference between winning and losing. Even average players can beat top ones if they are fitter.
DokToon
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:32 PM
Comment #30TS, i kinda disagree..while the season itself was a rough one, the europa adventure was quite enjoyable imo…
Barras
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:35 PM
Comment #31If Cisse is injured for the Liverpool game, and Pardew picks Shola Ameobi to start as a striker instead of Gouffran, then we are ultimately asking to be relegated.
Beattie25
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:35 PM
Comment #32I’m sorry but even taking into account how good Mapou, Cabaye and the rest are, if they can’t play 2 times a week I don’t want them here.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:38 PM
Comment #33Dok…Couch session? Rather than a fence session? 🙂
I’d agree with the EL – wasn’t exactly pretty, but an enjoyable adventure and one of the only things to be excited about this season.
Transfer Sage
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:39 PM
Comment #34dok
what? i never said anything about the europa league being bad/boring?
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:41 PM
Comment #35Beattie…I think some of this is getting lost in reports, wasn’t it actually 5 games in 15 days or if you want 3 games in 7 days (Fulham, Benfica then Sunderland)?
davis_toons
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:41 PM
Comment #36I really can’t imagine our club in another 5 years still like now. (trying to get into top 10, some fans are so naive, even mention that top 10 can be 1st, 2nd or 3rd)
Really can’t let that to happen. (Will be better for Mike to sell this club if such things happen)
DokToon
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:41 PM
Comment #37beattie, who do you want here, may i humbly ask?
Transfer Sage
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:42 PM
Comment #38beattie
All players can play twice a week, maybe not 100% flat out in both but pretty close. (unless older/injury problems then need to be managed)
I think the problem is with the majority of the players so think it’s a fitness issue.
Ibizatoon - Back By Popular Demand
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:42 PM
Comment #39TS…Stop lying, we all know what you meant 😉
DokToon
Apr 23, 2013 at 12:44 PM
Comment #40TS, i know, was just saying is all 🙂