Yoan Gouffran has been a great signing for Newcastle from Bordeaux last January, and he is now a regular is the first team, and keeping a number of star players on the bench at Newcastle, such as fellow Frenchman Hatem Ben Arfa and Senegal striker Papiss Cisse.
Yoan Gouffran – while at Bordeaux
Yoan played against is in the Europa League last season, and maybe that’s when Newcastle first became interested in him, especially when they realized his contract would run out at the French club last June.
While at Bordeaux, whom he joined from Caen in 2008, he played 178 times with 40 goals, and so far he has played 32 times for Newcastle with eight goals – and that’s about the same strike rate he had in France – about one goal in every four games – not too bad at all.
The former French U21 International has talked to the local press today:
“We have to work, stay positive and look forward,” “It’s good for us. We play quickly against Manchester United. We have to focus for this game and look forward.”
“It’s an important game for us,” “We go to Manchester United to get something.” “We have no fear about the game. We played very well against Chelsea and Tottenham.
“It’s a big team. We have shown we have a good team too.”
Yoan is always positive, which is always the best way to be (given the alternative), just as long as you remain realistic – and I’ve never met successful people who have a negative outlook on things.
Maybe Yoan can get his 9th goal of the season today at Old Trafford, where Newcastle need some result to make up for the huge disappointment at the Liberty Stadium last Wednesday night.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 on us on Google+
23 comments so far
Himanshu Dhingra
Dec 7, 2013 at 9:44 AM
Comment #1Alan Pardew is the right manager for manchester united to be facing right now.
asenski
Dec 7, 2013 at 9:56 AM
Comment #2If you cannot settele a team to beat swansea without michu and bony, then there is no chance to do so against man united even if roonwey and rvp don’t play
we will never have attacking mind vs big teams under pardew
cyprus
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Comment #3They’ll come out all guns blazing… We need to be on our toes all game but most important to hold out in the first ten, and last 5′ each half.
70TWO
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Comment #4———— Remy
Gouffran – Cabaye – HBA
—— Sissoko – Tiote
Santon – CD – CD – Debuchy
Two proper holding midfielders and Cabaye in the Beardo role with 3 forwards to link with, we need to be entertained again. ManU are strongest on their right and Henandez will probably need to be marked by Mbiwa.
ilovetoon8788
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:08 AM
Comment #5Gouffran. One of the best signings we have made in a long long long while.
Up there in the top 3 best signing in the last decade.
ilovetoon8788
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:09 AM
Comment #6Also Tim Krul player of the month and Pardew Manager of the month.
HWTL!!
Black and White with an army lol
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:11 AM
Comment #770TWO
have Cabaye and Sissoko swap positions and watch Manure crumble under pressure
niafron
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Comment #8And Remember, he came from Seine Saint denis!
bollance
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Comment #9It has to be a good thing that nobody is predicting a win today
asenski
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:17 AM
Comment #10i would put mbiwa ahead of willo this game as this man has incredible pace and calmness compared to willo’s
doubt pardew will start with arfa or cisse and probably will put the same formation and tactics as he did the last 5 times
Himanshu Dhingra
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Comment #11I think Pardew will go for a draw when ManUTD with their confidence and lack of personnel are there for the taking.
If he gets a draw watch him bleat about how he feared a backlash and its a tough place Blah Blah blah.
A loss having a go is better than a 90 minute defence fest draw in one sense.
Black and White with an army lol
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Comment #12we seem to play better against the bigger teams, maybe something could happen today.
asenski
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Comment #13are we facing southampton next
who knows our next 3-4 games?
bills-son
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:25 AM
Comment #14Himanshu and asenski,
Do you not get tired of writing exactly the same post just in slightly different ways?
asenski
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Comment #15bills
give me another relevant topic to comment on 🙂
bills-son
Dec 7, 2013 at 10:41 AM
Comment #16Asenski,
If all you can post about is how sh1t Pardew is its no wonder you need to ask me for more topics.
How about telling us how a sh1t manager has got us to 7th after a third of the season.
asenski
Dec 7, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Comment #17bills
“How about telling us how a sh1t manager has got us to 7th after a third of the season”
I really don’t know mate – it is still unknown for me 🙂
do you want to talk about pardew after our gameplay tonight vs man utd?
70TWO
Dec 7, 2013 at 11:15 AM
Comment #18Black and White with an army lol
Did think there was interchange between Sissoko and Cabaye, but would like to see Cabaye further forward as he can get submerged in the holding role. He can easily slot back into a 3 man midfield when necessary. Not entirely sure of Sissokos defensive qualities so could replace with Anita. When we played Swansea the defense and 2 holding midfielders stopped them playing, in the 1st half, but we lacked creativity/ball retention.
Rather than Shola we need to build a team around Cabaye who needs to be further forward as he is excellent at distribution, has an eye for goal and is being hampered by a largely defensive role.
niafron
Dec 7, 2013 at 11:25 AM
Comment #19In France, most of the fans wants to see Cabaye BEHIND two midfields…
Like Pirlo with Juve. Not sure about that, but must say he was quiet excellent in that role against Ukraine.
JAMSHA
Dec 7, 2013 at 11:28 AM
Comment #20himan wat time n channl.is the match
magpie6699
Dec 7, 2013 at 11:34 AM
Comment #21Pardew is crap! – Is that the right password for getting into this blog because that’s all I ever seem to read? (Sooo boring)
Didn’t like the manager of the month award ( not trhat it wasn’t justified with the 4 wins including some tough opponents) – it’s always been the kiss of death for the next result or two.
Not expecting anything today and don’t care if they are without top players – so were Swansea and (I believe?) Hull.
bills-son
Dec 7, 2013 at 11:34 AM
Comment #22Niafron,
Cabaye said recently he likes playing in front of the defence but playing deep means we often have little creativity in the final third.
I’d like to see a 451 today with HBA wide right and Sissoko in between Tiote and Cabaye. Sissoko making those bombing runs through the middle would give us something we don’t have with a 442.
bollance
Dec 7, 2013 at 11:42 AM
Comment #23Pogba won best u21 player in Europe recently. His emergence this year has been the best thing to happen to cabaye.