With Yohan Cabaye struggling in Paris with PSG, and apparently not too happy he is not getting enough first team games, the news out of France is that he would be available in January, either on a loan deal or less likely – on a permanent deal.
Clement Grenier – would fill the gap left by Yohan Cabaye
On Monday we had an article out on whether Yohan Cabaye would return to Newcastle, but in truth the chances of that are very slim.
First of all he left Newcastle for European football and there will not be any of that at Newcastle for quite a while, and maybe not the Champions League some for years to come, or at least as long as Mike Ashley is the owner.
And very few players return to previous clubs – because it’s a case of ¨been there done that” – and Yohan will look for a bigger club to join than Newcastle, with Arsenal and Liverpool interested.
And even if he gets down on his hands and knees and pleads to come back to Tyneside, where he had his best period in his football career so far, Mike Ashley will simply not pay out £20M for him – fact.
Mike may pay £10M for him, but PSG will want their money back on the player, and they’ll get it too.
It’s true that Newcastle plus Cabaye equals a very good side – after we’ve seen so many of our youngsters come through this season – Aarons, Perez, Ameobi, Abeid and Dummett – and most players have come into good form of late.
But it does point to the problem Newcastle have – that we don’t have too much creativity and skill in central midfield, which Yohan provided in spades when he was here for a pristine thirty months.
That’s one kind of player Newcastle need to bring in to improve the squad, but it will not be Yohan, but rather a younger player who can hopefully do the job that Cabaye once did at Newcastle.
We’d like to see 23 year-old Lyon central midfielder Clement Grenier brought in, and Newcastle were interested in him last January and also in the summer.
In late August he said he wanted to leave Lyon, but then after withdrawing from the French World Cup squad with a groin injury, he injured his groin again in a European qualifier, and had to have an operation, and he’s been out of the side ever since.
Lyon boss Hubert Fournier admitted at the time that his play-maker could be out for some weeks:
“We knew he was still fragile. But we played him because we thought he was capable. I am not sure that one more week would have changed anything,”
“He will need an operation, because it is not bearable anymore both for him and for the club.”
That injury could have been the reason Newcastle didn’t bring Grenier in during the summer, and Fournier made reference to the fact Newcastle were interested in his player, but that injury would prevent a deal from going through.
But maybe we could go back in for him in January, assuming the 23 year-old makes a decent recovery from the injury.
Clement would be a great addition to the squad, and would bring in that missing creativity and skill in central midfield.
Grenier has played for all of the French Youth sides, and five times for the full French side, and in six seasons in the Lyon first team, he has made 117 appearances with 15 goals.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
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98 comments so far
mag92
Nov 5, 2014 at 3:48 PM
Comment #1According to the blog authority, Grenier doesn’t want to join!
Go toon gooooo
Nov 5, 2014 at 3:52 PM
Comment #2We have Cabella.I don’t believe that this player is better than Cabella.But can be good bench substitute for Cabella.
hibbit
Nov 5, 2014 at 3:57 PM
Comment #3jeff from pennywell you will know all about them you use them often enough
Online Guy
Nov 5, 2014 at 3:57 PM
Comment #4Some Interesting News
Yohan Cabaye has spent almost the last 7 weeks or so in Newcastle ..he is here more than in Paris ..and he is not selling his house . he takes every opportunity to get back here .He loves it here ..the chances of him coming back are all down to what Newcastle do next.
I have his personal email Address if you wish to send him a message or two ..collectively.
mag92
Nov 5, 2014 at 3:58 PM
Comment #5Every little helps!
croftus5678
Nov 5, 2014 at 4:08 PM
Comment #6hmm lets ot get too greedy here i’m perfectly happy with abied/sissoko/colback/tiote/siem and even anita/bigi/vukic so think we are well stocked in mid and have no need for another.
solano38
Nov 5, 2014 at 4:09 PM
Comment #7Grenier is a risk as he’s not physically strong and gets injured easily
Pity we missed out on Lacazette because he’s a great player
Doubt very much that Cabaye will play for us again – do we really want him to? Of course, leaving Newcastle could have been a big mistake for him, and everybody makes mistakes : should we forgive and forget? Perhaps…
mag92
Nov 5, 2014 at 4:11 PM
Comment #8Lets say Cabaye, thanks, but no thanks!
martoon
Nov 5, 2014 at 4:25 PM
Comment #9It always amuses me how blog opinion changes. Obertan is an obvious candidate but also Saylor is another. A few weeks ago he was a chest thumping idiot prone to one mistake per game but now he is first choice in every line up I see now
wolfshead@toon
Nov 5, 2014 at 4:39 PM
Comment #10@croftus
absolutely if any area needs strengthening its defence and perhaps another cf as cisses return to form looks more like a flash in the pan at the moment
wolfshead@toon
Nov 5, 2014 at 4:41 PM
Comment #11@martoon
yep wheres blubber t!ts and his mates pouring scorn on the posters welcoming back tayls so far we are unbeaten since he returned to the team
Sliema
Nov 5, 2014 at 4:42 PM
Comment #12I would happily take Cabaye on loan. 18 months. Be a great signing.
toonicle
Nov 5, 2014 at 4:49 PM
Comment #13Where would Grenier get into the team? Not a winger, and we seem to be ok there with Aarons and Sammy playing wonderful football right now, and right now I wouldn’t think about dropping Sissoko, Colback or Abeid from the team either. Midfield is the only place we are spoiled for choice, January should be all about a new striker and CB.
ToonLynx
Nov 5, 2014 at 4:52 PM
Comment #14why does everyone think that Grenier and Cabella are similar players?
Grenier is more suited to the centre of the pitch while Cabella is a forward!
Go toon gooooo
Nov 5, 2014 at 5:09 PM
Comment #15It is important that Grenier and Cabella are game creators instead of wingers and they play in the middle of the pitch not left or right and at the centre or a little forward is not important.They are not DM .Both players are not strikers also.
Reyantoon
Nov 5, 2014 at 5:12 PM
Comment #16Grenier,are u kidding me?what a player.Perfectly suit our club.I said it many times,he has got everything, talent,behavior, personality. Will be world class player in two yrs time.I would happily take cabaye as well,either on loan or on permanent. If we don’t get Grenier, hope we do,cabaye will be perfect,or Roma’s Miralem Pijanic. All are cracking MFs perfect for our club.We are big club.we need this kind of MF in our squad.we should always play to qualify for European places,and in order to do that,these players are a must.
Reyantoon
Nov 5, 2014 at 5:21 PM
Comment #17Can’t stop dreaming though… hahaha..
cyprus
Nov 5, 2014 at 5:43 PM
Comment #18Ed, man,
Cabaye is not our player anymore, even if he’s overrated 🙂 Now, here’s your challenge – once more. Don’t mention the word “Cabaye” for a whole month. I know you can do it. Starting… now!
mag92
Nov 5, 2014 at 5:51 PM
Comment #19Cabaye the guy who went on strike, because Newcastle, wouldn’t sell him to Arsenal!
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:01 PM
Comment #20——————————Tiote——————————
——–Sissoko——————————–Grenier——–
—————————–Cabella—————————-
———De Jong——————————–Cisse———
Yes Please 😉 .
mag92
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:02 PM
Comment #21@20 Colback is missing!
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:08 PM
Comment #22@ mag
And ? .
mag92
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:09 PM
Comment #23Colback is missing from that ridiculous team selection.
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:19 PM
Comment #24@ mag
If you think that is a ridiculous team selection then you are mad .
Novocastrian66
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:21 PM
Comment #25Our priority in the January window has to be a centre half and a striker. If anyone leaves they will need replacing. I can see Tiote, Anita, & Williamson leaving who will need to be replaced.
wolfshead@toon
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:22 PM
Comment #26yeh papa you have missed out the ginger pirlo 🙂
carl
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:29 PM
Comment #27Sometimes ploughing through the posts appears like panning for gold!
As you sift through you hope to alight upon something of true value.
Instead you get ridiculous team selections which exclude our most consistent performer Jack Colback.
Colback is one of the first names on the team sheet and one of our best buys in a long time.
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:30 PM
Comment #28Don’t get me wrong I think Colback is a good signing but Would I have him in over the likes of Sissoko, Tiote or Grenier if we got him ? . No chance .
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:32 PM
Comment #29For me Colback only had one great performance this season and it was first game of the season against City .
The rest of the games he runs around a lot but doesn’t really do much . Its not as if our goal difference has been any different with him in the team .
mag92
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:33 PM
Comment #30@28 That team selection may look good on your Fifa 15 game.
goommy
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:33 PM
Comment #31I think we should left seats on a bench for our young players. They have potential as we seen from some of them now.
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:40 PM
Comment #32@ mag
Instead of slating my suggested team why not post your own and show how you would set up if we got Grenier .
mag92
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:43 PM
Comment #33Would Grenier not play off the striker and leave Colback alone to play as the ginger Pirlo.
Harley
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:43 PM
Comment #34If the rumours are true and tiote is away I’d happily sell him and Anita to fund grenier and a young up and coming midfielder like Bigi (what the hell happened there?)
Sissokho, grenier, colback, Abeid and a youngster is a strong enough central midfield.
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:47 PM
Comment #35Funny how the so called Ginger Pirlo was in such high demand he came to a mid table PL club on a free .
In all fairness his pass to Ameobi against Spurs was Pirlo-esque but he has a long way to go if he wants to even be half the player Pirlo is .
mag92
Nov 5, 2014 at 6:48 PM
Comment #36He’s a Geordie that’s good enough.
Harley
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:02 PM
Comment #37My team for west brom assuming tiote and cisse aren’t fit.
Sissokho, Abeid, colback
Cabella, Perez, Aaron’s
Subs
Elliot
Haidara
Raylor
Armstrong
Sammy
Rivière
Goufran
carl
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:04 PM
Comment #38Aside from watching some quality football at SJP on Monday night it was good to learn from some fans present of moves to reform one of the fans most intransigent, opaque and venal bodies! I speak of course of NUST. This comes it seems following word from Rangers that since Mike Ashley has assumed an interest the supporters group have hit the ground running. The widespread view it seems is that NUST have no such momentum and insiders describe it as ” bedalling backwards ” with many feeling an improvement in our fortunes has led to an overall decline of interest.
The Mag claim an investigation remains a work in progress but when asked they rather flippantly said they are always looking for items of interest and was there anything we could update them on.
What a shower they used to have something worth reading.
1949BH PROUDTOBEAGEORDIE
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:04 PM
Comment #39reyantoon you should ask these questions before talking nonsense about grenier .1 why was he roughed up in training by his captain.2 if he is so good why did lyons results improve to the extent of qualifing for europe when he was injured w6 d1 l1. 3 why is no one else interested in him .4 why have lyon said they will sell him and wont replace.5 102 corners 48 freekicks and63 shots at goal at 27 % shooting accuracy for a grand total of 4 goals and five assists in a poor quality league .imo more chance of missing plane being found in the next 2 hours than him making it in premiership. watched him a number of times and think he is lethargic lazy and gutless a larger version of marv but may as well be the same size as he lacks stength and power. have you seen him play a full game.
Reyantoon
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:11 PM
Comment #40It will be disappointing if king Pard don’t win mgr of the month for Oct.I initially thought he is strong favorite to win it but looking at westham,I think they won all of their Oct fixtures.So looks like big Sam is strong favorite now as I don’t think the league cup will considered by the PL.how about Perez or sissoko for player of the month?