It’s clear that of all our players who went on loan deals last season, two players in particular did very well indeed – James Tavernier at Rotherham, who were promoted last Sunday to the Championship after beating Leyton Orient on penalties after extra time in the play-off final at Wembley, and Algerian Mehdi Abeid, who had a great season in Greece for Panathinaikos.
Mehdi Abeid – at Panathinaikos last season
All of our other young players on loan could well see that they will be put up for sale by Newcastle manager Alan Pardew this summer.
21 year-old Mehdi Abeid played 38 times for the Greek club with 10 goals, and he got some rave reviews in Greece, and 22 year-old James Tavernier improved at Rotherham, where he played 28 times with 5 goals and looked very solid.
Panathinaikos are keen to take the 21-year-old back to play in Athens next season, and that’s not surprising, but we think Alan Pardew will take a close look at the lad this summer, and also look at James Tavernier hopefully, to see if they are good enough to challenge for a first team place at Newcastle next season.
This is what Alan Pardew told the Shields Gazette today about Abeid:
“Mehdi did well – we’re pleased with him,” “Of all the guys we’ve had out on loan, he’s probably been our most successful one.”
“We couldn’t get him on loan to a Championship team.” “No one seemed to know too much about him. Fortunately, we got that move to Panathinaikos.”“More power to him. He’s a good lad with a good mentality. I’m pleased for him.”
If Pardew does not elect to keep Mahdi at Newcastle next season, he could want to loan him out to a Championship club, and that should be easier now he has performed so well in Greece.
James Tavernier has one year left on his three year Newcastle deal, and there’s more chance that Newcastle will let him leave permanently this summer.
And there will be a number of Championship clubs after him if that’s the case – and they already include Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town.
Comments welcome.
36 comments so far
spitfire_
May 28, 2014 at 10:35 AM
Comment #1Like a new signing.
toonarmydownsouth
May 28, 2014 at 10:38 AM
Comment #2That’s cabs replaced then!
Spoof
May 28, 2014 at 10:40 AM
Comment #3from previous thread.
Why are people having a go at Ed about this article, at this moment in time there are many of us who expect a difficult summer for many reasons but one of those reasons is that we no longer look upon ourselves as being of any great appeal to players, we believe that other clubs would be there preferred destination as they are more appealing, so Ed brings an article which is basically the same but from a fans view rather than a players view which is what we as fans have discussed quite regularly.
What the hell is wrong with people, we are all concerned as to how we are viewed as it does have a huge sway over how we compete for players and then Ed rights an article to show how we are viewed and all we get is moaning minnies, if anyone is not concerned about the fact that more people watch Sunderland than us, then they bloody well should be.
Jail for Ashley
May 28, 2014 at 10:43 AM
Comment #4tads,
Well if Anita won’t work then we’ll have to plod along with Abeid and see if that works out, what’s it matter if it doesn’t, I think the policy was to aim for selling big then promote within, this idea of replacing a player from outside was eventually supposed to be phased out, it would work a lot better if we paid for top coaches.
Foxworth
May 28, 2014 at 10:44 AM
Comment #5Twitter leaks all over the place stating:
“Grenier and Cabella have signed long term contracts with Newcastle after meeting with pardew this morning. The story is embargoed so journalists cannot comment at this time.”
Hope it’s true. I’m sick of spending all my time either waiting for us to sign someone or hoping to see that newsflash headline saying “Pardew sacked.”
Jail for Ashley
May 28, 2014 at 10:47 AM
Comment #6tads,
On your earlier post, I find it incredulous that some people are still blaming JfK for the inactivity in the last two windows as if the sole responsibility and purse strings rested on his decisions alone, it’s the same people who are saying, well the club said there’ll be signings be patient.
Jail for Ashley
May 28, 2014 at 10:48 AM
Comment #7Foxworth,
I don’t use twitter and wouldn’t even know how to post, but I believe all it takes is one person with a few multiple accounts to start off a rumour.
Spoof
May 28, 2014 at 10:49 AM
Comment #8League 1 to PL is a huge jump which I believe will be too large a jump for Tavernier league 1 and Championship may well be his standard, the jump for Abeid is a huge one as well, but on the rare occasions that I saw him for us I thought this lad had a chance to make it but he then seemed to go backwards, hopefully that was due to finding it difficult to settle in which then lead to a lack of confidence which you would hope has now been reinstored in the lad, I hope we keep him for next season, strength in depth is vital, Guthrie gave us some great cover when we needed it, we have had very little decent cover since, Abeid and Colback as cover for a strong 4/5 midfielders would ease my fears of injuries and suspensions.
mindshaft
May 28, 2014 at 10:49 AM
Comment #9Not sure Abeid did that well, Tav probably did better at Rotherham in a harder league… I mean who has heard of this lot other than Olympiakos
1 Olympiakos
2 PAOK Salonika
3 Atromitos
4 Panathinaikos
5 Asteras Tripoli
Probably not that much different from League 1 / Championship league
Foxworth
May 28, 2014 at 10:53 AM
Comment #10Ahhhh I know JFA, but one can hope can’t they!
I mean, what else is left in this club for us apart from hope.
Fingers crossed anyways.
Jail for Ashley
May 28, 2014 at 10:54 AM
Comment #11Spoof,
I have been unlucky enough to only have witnessed two good displays under Pardews management in the thirty odd games I have attended, the three nil loss to Chelsea and the three two win, although when we beat Blackburn in the unbeaten run wasn’t too bad, we have suffered some dross and no one can be blamed for not watching us, but in all fairness the mackems were involved in a relegation/title scrap at the end of the season and that will have affected viewing figures.
Spoof
May 28, 2014 at 10:56 AM
Comment #12Foxworth
I hope its true as it would be a huge boost for us fans if it was true, especially Grenier, I am a bit concerned about Cabella as I’m not sure his style is suitable for CM in the PL, I prefer players who rum with the ball to be out wide where there is a bit more space for them, look at how poor Benny was when he played CM, I just think that it gets to crowded in the middle for players who run.
jazzyp
May 28, 2014 at 10:58 AM
Comment #13Give the lad a chance I say. Surely if he has progressed at Panithanaikos that is the whole point of sending our young lads out on loan to hopefully get them to the next level.
If Abeid Proves his worth then all good but if he fails to stepup to the plate then move him on
firebug666
May 28, 2014 at 11:06 AM
Comment #14The club know how important it is for the fans to renew tickets, If we had made any significant signings it would be in the news. They would also have to honour any agreement they have with Sky Sports and so would have to keep them in the loop.
IMO if it is not broadcast through official channels it has not happened.
Spoof
May 28, 2014 at 11:07 AM
Comment #15Jail
this is the whole point of what I was saying, this is a subject which could be debated so why have they moaned at Ed for bringing it.
Yes those figures may be false due to tv appearances, I don’t know how many times we were on compared to them but obviously that will be the reason, but what concerns me is the reason why we aren’t on as often as we should be, mid table no bodies who have a turn-off appeal which is as big as its turn-on appeal, I know this is moving the debate towards how the club is due to Ashley, but they do go hand in hand, looking back at years gone bye when we were everyones second favourite team, how many would watch us then, and look at us now where other fans would rather see us go down than watch us on tv is painful, the club is a lost course, we have been destroyed.
the broons
May 28, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Comment #16Be great if it was true, but to sign both would automatically be our biggest spending summer I can remember. Cabella isn’t sutiable for a centre midfield role. More like a number 10 playing between the lines of what I have seen of him. Hopefully more consistent and better use of the ball than ben arfa.
the broons
May 28, 2014 at 11:16 AM
Comment #17Also haven’t seen any of abeid last season, and I know its a pretty dreadful league. but 10 goals from midfield is respectable in whatever circumstances. Hope he isn’t the answer to cabaye though. The very few times I saw him a couple of year ago my opinion was not good enough.
beermonkey
May 28, 2014 at 11:20 AM
Comment #18bet its just a twatter rumour
until i see a pic of them in the shirt
or atleast a breaking news on ssn i wont believe anything
i would be very surprised if we have bought the pair given we still have obatan and benny and marv all still here taking there wages
does obatan even turn up to train anymore or is on some form of sabbatical he must be a little bored by now trying to find new ways to spend his 50k a week lol
jazzyp
May 28, 2014 at 11:42 AM
Comment #19The broons
Cabella plays down the flank and through the middle mate…….So would have options to swap and change at will. Something we have not had the luxury of lately
The Boy
May 28, 2014 at 11:52 AM
Comment #20Looks like the same guy with two twitter accounts who is tweeting about cabella and grenier
Phatoon
May 28, 2014 at 12:04 PM
Comment #21The Boy/Foxworth,
Which accounts are saying this?
jesperfuglsang - captain of the lemon crew
May 28, 2014 at 12:08 PM
Comment #22You guys keep think we will buy alot of players?
Ian Toon
May 28, 2014 at 12:12 PM
Comment #23I know as fans were starved of communication from the top. However, if you cast your mind back to the announcement of a mission statement there was a plan of achieving financial self-sufficiency. Mike Ashley’s appetite for bankrolling Newcastle’s deficit did not extend beyond the Championship promotion season.
Despite his own culpability in causing the relegation that almost broke the club, there are many in football who firmly believe that Ashley does deserve credit for sticking to his strategy. As to whether on-pitch decline has followed is highly debatable but we have progressed within a stringently tight financial framework. What could have been achieved with investment following a fifth place finish is a fair question to raise!
If only, there could well then have been a sense of pride that the club were not only competing with the richest and most powerful, but they were doing so under their own financial steam. Whereas, it was firmly suggested from the Boardroom that it is possible to overachieve without massive expenditure. Again, arguably two wasted seasons have followed.
I put forward to the blossoming fan action groups some two seasons ago that I did not wholly go along with the received wisdom that fan-owned clubs are unfeasible at the top level in England. If Ashley could manage a club without contributing to its running costs, there is no reason why a fan-owned trust could not do the same. The only sticking point being the purchase price of NUFC. Clearly though for self sufficiency to exist player sales would need to continue with the overall strategy being dependent on buying low and selling high. Regrettably even the best and most astute transfer operators get it wrong. There are only so many times you can sell your best player and replace with a cheaper alternative before you screw up. Without identifying better, cheaper players than those under contract you will fail – Just how good is Graham Carr outside of the French market!
Surely Abeid could be a good test case which is precisely what I envisaged self sufficiency was all about. I watched him a couple of times two seasons ago pre season and said on here that he looked a great prospect. He appeared subsequently to have lost his way a little by appearing lazy and not prepared to work hard enough which is an essential requirement in a CM. I hope that Pardew will be brave brave enough pre season to give Abeid a run in games and not simply look to sell him at the first opportunity.
The Boy
May 28, 2014 at 12:16 PM
Comment #24Its fyd @savjuan and cognoscentinovo fyd @cognoscentinovo
Lilongwe Geordie
May 28, 2014 at 12:22 PM
Comment #25Haha, Cognoscentinovo and savjuan are two different people, but they were discussing how easy it is for a twitter rumour to become news a week or so ago. It will all be made up, they have had a number of tries with other rumours, some less serious than others.
They are taking the piss out of journalists who actually rely on twitter for news.
Jail for Ashley
May 28, 2014 at 1:04 PM
Comment #26Are both Cabella and Grenier going to the World cup ?
beermonkey
May 28, 2014 at 1:06 PM
Comment #27jail
don’t think cabella made the cut
Jail for Ashley
May 28, 2014 at 1:18 PM
Comment #28beermonkey,
We might get him a bit cheaper then !
Average_Contents
May 28, 2014 at 1:23 PM
Comment #29Jfa
He’s 1 of 7 on standby mate
Average_Contents
May 28, 2014 at 1:28 PM
Comment #30Jfa
Grenier is in the actual 23 man squad though, that’s apparently why his agent wants wages and a transfer fee to reflect that!
Whether he gets a start with cabs, matuida, mavuda, sissoko, griezman and more in front of him, is a different matter entirely
beermonkey
May 28, 2014 at 1:37 PM
Comment #31jail
we should know the fee buy now question is will th club pay it
USAGEORDIE
May 28, 2014 at 1:49 PM
Comment #32Newcastle need experienced Englishman in the team and there are two top English midfielders available this summer. I think either Gareth Barry or Frank Lampard would be an excellent addition to the squad. Give them solid wages and a place they can end their career. Both are very capable deep lying midfielders who can score.
ganiyu
May 28, 2014 at 1:58 PM
Comment #33abeid in my own opinion would contribute more to the squad.
1. he passes and plays one-twos
2. he shoots with both feet and has a good footballing brain.
on the other hand players like tiote need to be relegated to the the bench as he doesn’t really contribute much Even though he is hard working. I would take Anita anytime over him as he even has some assist to boast of .
Barton
May 28, 2014 at 2:00 PM
Comment #34did we get his signature on his contract…..over the line ?
Our Toon
May 28, 2014 at 2:07 PM
Comment #35Can’t believe fans on here think League 1 is at a better standard than the Greek League….Clueless.
Abeid was always spoken of highly in France, they really rated this kid but for some reason he hasn’t quite established himself here (PARDS), I’ve seen a lot of the lad and personally think he is very good and can slot straight into the starting 11.
Can we also lose this notion of Englishmen are required, Tiote is better than Barry, Lampard is well past his best and quite frankly isnt good enough. We need clever creative midfielders not the likes of Barry etc, English lads are really overrated and over priced!!
Sav
May 29, 2014 at 2:43 AM
Comment #36To be factual, we have had more successful loanee arrangements under Pardew than any previous Newcastle manager, Personally, I think that is the best possible testing ground for our youngsters. Far more competitive and a better learning experience than life in the stiffs. The benefit is clear in Abheid who was going nowhere after a promising start at Newcastle. The contact through Dabizas has been great. Now Abheid could well be a squad player for us next season. So what are the gripers griping about?