Newcastle United have certainly been weakened by the loss of Yohan Cabaye tp PSG – Yohan is having a medical today and the transfer could be completed before the day is out – unfortunately.
Yohan Cabaye – gone to PSG
Cabaye will be a huge loss to the side for the rest of the season, and it begs the question as to how important it is to the owner Mike Ashley that Newcastle finish high up in the league table, when for the second time in three years Newcastle have sold one of their best players mid-way through the season.
Most good clubs don’t sell their best players in January, as Newcastle are now finding out, when they have been told their number one target to replace Yohan – Clement Grenier of Lyon – is simply not available this month.
Why couldn’t Newcastle have just told PSG that Yohan Cabaye was not available in January, but for the second time in three years, it’s a self-inflicted wound – after we did exactly the same thing three years ago when we sold Andy Carroll to Liverpool.
We shouldn’t be at the mercy of these big clubs – rich and powerful clubs to quote Alan Pardew – coming in and having to accept their offers for our best players.
And when will Newcastle ever be a top side again, if we continue to sell our very best players – last January it was Demba Ba, who went to Chelsea.
We could have sold Yohan in the summer, and used his services for the rest of the season, and allow him to help Newcastle finish high up in the league table.
And then there would have been players more readily available in the summer, and certainly a lot more than there will be in the next four days, that’s for sure.
And Yohan could have a great World Cup, and his transfer fee could have gone up over the summer.
Unless the leadership at Newcastle starts to think more about the team than simply the finances of the club – we’ll never be as good as we were under Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson, when we were regularly a top four club in England.
And that’s not even an opinion – that’s what the facts and the actions of Mike Ashley over the last three years are telling us.
Comments welcome.
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176 comments so far
toonluvva
Jan 28, 2014 at 4:51 PM
Comment #1Just wondering if we could sell Cabaye to PSG and have him on loan til say the end of February?
spitfire_
Jan 28, 2014 at 4:53 PM
Comment #2IMO it wasn’t mistake to sell Cabaye this month. However it was mistake to sell him with 4 days to go. FFS jfk needs 28 days to bring De Jong who didn’t start a game from April I think. Even that I think De Jong deal was sure a days before but was on hold to ‘please’ the fans after Cabaye departure. And even so now for 4 days jfk he should bring his replacement.
89Norcal
Jan 28, 2014 at 4:53 PM
Comment #3Bigger mistake if we have no chance at signing a replacement.
While I’m confident in Anita, the combination of profiting off our best and only signing on loan is ruining our depth.
But doesnt surprise me, Mashley strikes me as the type of guy who would demand a 6 month test drive on a Rolls Royce before actually buying it.
swemag
Jan 28, 2014 at 4:53 PM
Comment #4Charlie Adam will be our saviour apparently.
I bet people will get excited by that.
spitfire_
Jan 28, 2014 at 4:53 PM
Comment #5Of course I’m not happy with his sale but this gonna happen soon or later with our lack of ambition.
Markaccus
Jan 28, 2014 at 4:54 PM
Comment #6I like this blog, ed, but are we going to get 6 months of “…..blah blah, but since the sale of our best player in january….” in EVERY article, like you did when Andy Carroll was sold? 😀
joeinthecheapseats
Jan 28, 2014 at 4:55 PM
Comment #7Hope the Charlie Adam report on talk sport ain’t true
What a cart horse he is should go in for Adam Lalana and spend some of that cash that’s in Ashley’s back pocket
Ibizatoon
Jan 28, 2014 at 4:56 PM
Comment #8swemag…Charlie Adam?!? Where did you hear that one?
Don’t see it at all. Where is the sense in making this money on Cabaye only to spend some on Adam who will have zero sell on value?
On that basis alone I just don’t see Ashley sanctioning it…never mind the usual obstacle of actually been able to complete an incoming transfer.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 28, 2014 at 4:58 PM
Comment #9Why do we always come here
I guess we’ll never know
It’s like a kind of torture
To have to watch the show
And now let’s get things started
Why don’t you get things started
It’s time to get things started
On the most sensational inspirational celebrational Muppetational
This is what we call the Muppet Show!
magicbus
Jan 28, 2014 at 4:58 PM
Comment #10Of course it was a mistake to sell but we are owned by a person who sees nothing but £`s, that is what his world solely revolves around and hell to anything else.
h-train
Jan 28, 2014 at 4:59 PM
Comment #11Maybe Adam wouldn’t be the worst in the short term, he’s certainly be in good form this season playing more advanced, would slot in without much hassle.
If he didn’t look like Stig of the dump I reckon people wouldn’t be as critical of him
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:01 PM
Comment #12Charlie Adam 😉 Wow!
..and here is comes to safe the DAAAAY! (picture Jim Carrey in Liar Liar)
santonthenewmaldini
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:01 PM
Comment #13I think there will be a major major clear out this summer Cabaye was just the start with Colo , Cisse , Taylor, Shola, Marveux and Obertan probably on the way out if we were to get say Cabella , De Jong brothers and a centre half would people be happy ?
I honestly think the intention is to bring through a lot more youngsters of our own to play and to be honest I would rather a youngster took up a slot rather than any of those players(apart from Cabaye)as they are on good wages and dont really offer much
Would also like us to get a proper look at the likes of Dummett , Vuckic , Abeid and Armstrong all getting some game time not 20 minutes but a few games in a row to see if they can adapt not all of them but maybe one at a time we are safe from relegation and to be honest probably not going to get Champions League so might as well give the youngsters a proper go if we cant be arsed to spend money !
BandB
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:03 PM
Comment #14jazzyp,
Absolutely. Wait until the window closes, then judge.
The only people whose bets are off so far are those who hooted at the idea that Cabaye would be sold.
I was wondering though, why it is perfectly okay to post time and time again that people WILL be coming in, and outrageously beyond the Pale (and into Muppetry) for others to harbour some small doubts?
anthc
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:05 PM
Comment #15Well the only thing left for me this season is to beat the scum and even thats looking unlikely. I hope his departure doesn’t have a negative impact on the rest of the squad, particularly debuchy.
The next Mike Williamson
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:06 PM
Comment #16Jonjo shelvey would be a shout for an English lad, or Ince. Both cheaper than the french guys and probably about the same level.
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:07 PM
Comment #17It looks like we will be playing either 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 in simething like this:
______________________Krul__________________
Debuchy____ Mbiwa_________Willo________Santon
___________________Tiote__Anita______________
_____________________Sissoko________________
Benny__________________________________Remy
____________________Shola___________________
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:08 PM
Comment #18*something
beefman13
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:08 PM
Comment #19Wow, charlie adam, right out of left field that one, a joe kinnear signing if ever there was one, maybe just hearsay!!! Yikes!
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:09 PM
Comment #20Has that Will Hughes kid left Derby yet? What would he cost?
toonarmydownsouth
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:11 PM
Comment #21Wow Charlie Adam!!!!!!
Cabaye who? I take it all back JFK your a f**king genius
Ted Bundy
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:11 PM
Comment #22I wish some of you would engage your critical faculties before fretting about rumours of us signing players of the Charlie Adam ilk, sourced from a commercial radio station that survives on winding fans up and propagating pure manure.
Hoping we’re giving Jeremy Menez’ consideration on a pre-contract, given his predicament at PSG and the fact the genuine wingers we have are of poor quality, aside from Sissoko who has done rather well, and we’ve just said faewell to Jonas. Find it hard to believe we would dismiss him out of hand or overlook him – he’s Obertan with a brain. There’s Matuidi too, but seems some of the top dogs are sniffing around him already.
Grenier would be a major coup. Doesn’t quite have the scurrying grit of Cabaye, but is a top draw technician with both feet, intelligent, moves with more grace and has a bit more stature. Not as good all-round, but edges Cabaye on footballing ability and he’s 5 years younger.
will die for the toon army
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:11 PM
Comment #23For the money I would sell him. I ve seen wat e Carroll money got us. Am a business man I think I know wat MA is doing.
h-train
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:11 PM
Comment #24jesperfuglsang
think hughes is destined for liverpool. They’ve had their hooks in a while.
swemag
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:12 PM
Comment #25@ santonthenewmaldini
Agree. We will not be fighting for CL football now one would think. We don’t want EL. What is there to play for?
Save the money, get rid of a few more (read Obertan) and see what Vuckic can do. He should be up to speed now. I would even give Gosling a run out after his spell in Blackpool seems to have worked out pretty well.
And yes, don’t through them all in at once.
If they are not good enough it is time for someone to have a chat with them and let them go. Sooner or later the kids have to live in the grown up world.
MrMojoRisin76
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:15 PM
Comment #26“And it’s asshole sphincter tightening,with 3 days to go,got more chance of ,getting struck by lightning,than Jabba splashing the dough”.Though it’s obvious
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:15 PM
Comment #27h-train…I just thought if they are not looking to buy him in this window, then maybe we should 😉
jazzyp
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:15 PM
Comment #28BandB
Why do people jump on the bandwagon of negativity. .we all knew he was going sonner rather than later and im as gutted as the next fan. But we aint a one man team and never have been.
Its the same for luuk. Fans writing him off before hes even kicked a ball. And then wonder why we dont attract players
MrMojoRisin76
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:16 PM
Comment #29“Your everywhere and everywhere Jabba,because your fat”.
MontySmythe
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:16 PM
Comment #30First time poster but regular reader…the negativity and over reaction on this blog is ridiculous.
The squad is improving year on year and the club is progressing, possibly not at the speed many of us would like but it’s definitely moving in the right direction. There was an outcry when Carroll was sold but in retrospect it turned out to be a great move for NUFC.
Maybe the Cabaye one will also turn out to be inspired if we replace him with 2 or 3 players and make the squad stronger.
If we can’t get the right replacement i this window I’d rather wait til the summer rather than just buying someone for the sake of it.Hopefully it’ll be Ben Arfa’s opportunity to shine.
If you look at where the club was 5yrs ago and where it is now it’s definitely progressed substantially. Had a blip last year but it’s rare that a business doesn’t have a bad year occasionally and I think we learnt from that.
I think if we continue to progress at the rate we are then in 3-4 years time we should have a genuine tilt at the top 4.
Personally I’m quite happy we’re on this path.
HWTL
sparky55
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:17 PM
Comment #31lemon crew @ 9…very funny 🙂 tea all over me lap-top!
there’s no problem with selling with now…especially if he could have bought out his contract in the summer whereby we get nowt…and no problem based on the fact we’re already safe from relegation so doesn’t matter if we don’t win another game in Ashleys book because nowt to play for and nowt to lose…
…so a good time to get 20 million now v’s nowt in the summer.
not that we’ll see any of the cash like…straight into fat boys gambling kitty to blow on black in the casino on friday.
Fear not lads and lasses…it stops with de Jong…because we don’t need anyone else til the summer when he’ll try again to get some un tested players on the cheap.
We’ve still got a good squad so lets be thankful we’re competitive and still watching the likes of Man city and Chelsea as opposed to mansfield and colchester
h-train
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:18 PM
Comment #32jesperfuglsang
a sound tactic haha, but I heard they’ve got a pre contract agreement in place for him in the summer. I may be mistaken though.
Barton
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:18 PM
Comment #33“Absolutely. Wait until the window closes, then judge”
…..no offence but fekoff,how many windows are the pro Cashley crowd going to come out with that great line? ha’way man has the experience of the last 5+ years under this owner not telt yer owt? crist sake WAKE up!!
SholaHeskey
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:19 PM
Comment #34Charlie Adam, JonJo (Dr Evil) Shelvey…rather have steve claridge if we have to a clampit.
Mister Tuff
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:19 PM
Comment #35Ince has been given permission to speak to several clubs including the Mackems (not us though). Therefore please don’t mention him again.
BandB
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:20 PM
Comment #36jazzyp,
But it is not for you, with respect, to deign those who have a different opinion to you as negative.
I want to see us trying to win every game and finishing as high up the league as possible. And I am regarded as an arch negger.
I am reminded today of the Eloi in HG Well’s “The Time Machine.”
When one of their number is abducted and consumed by the predatory Morlocks, they simply pretend they never existed, and never mention them again.
Now to me, THAT is a negative outlook.
SholaHeskey
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:20 PM
Comment #37will hughes is good…so we wont get him…
Ted Bundy
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:22 PM
Comment #38MontySmythe
Welcome!
Wearisome isn’t it? You’re trying to appeal to a tidal wave of whiny tears. Good luck!
BandB
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:25 PM
Comment #39Ted,
Weren’t you going to look for a new team a few weeks ago?
Sick to your back teeth, and that?
Sazzer
Jan 28, 2014 at 5:25 PM
Comment #40Lee Ryder ?@lee_ryder
De Jong arrives on Tyneside after jetting in from Amsterdam #nufc