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?
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98 comments so far
la.jim
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:12 PM
Comment #41Anyone in for Carrol!
carl
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:14 PM
Comment #42Reyantoon
westhamtillidie.com claim it’s nailed on.
carl
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:18 PM
Comment #43Carroll played in a behind closed doors friendly today.
GeordieTwo
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:22 PM
Comment #44Quality of squad at this point in time? An interesting topic. Looking at the forwards our best in form striker remains Cisse. But he is often injured and often out of form. I would already say Perez is our second best striker. I was impressed with him right from the start. Hard to say yet with Armstrong or Campbell. Ferrerya looks to be a write-off already. Do we need a senior experienced striker? Yes. Midfield? Will look a lot better once De Jong gets back. Abeid looks very promising indeed. Cabella will come along as he has skill. Tiote will leave I believe. Colback is very steady. Not too bad overall. Back four? Here it’s difficult. Willo is on his last legs and may not get back into the starting lineup. Colo can be very steady but is fragile in the air. Saylor is unpredictable. We definitely need a solid CB to come in. Fullbacks? I’m still very unsure about Dummett. Pardew doesn’t seem to favour giving Haidara a run of games. Who knows about Santon? I was never happy about his defensive abilities. We’re thin at RB. Janmaat is very decent but it gets difficult beyond that. I think Raylor can fill in here and there for a game but that’s about it. Is this a mid table squad? I’m not sure it is at all.
la.jim
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:22 PM
Comment #45That must mean he’s getting better.
Reyantoon
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:28 PM
Comment #461949bh
I don’t agree with u.Actually haven’t seen him since the the start of this season but I saw him the whole of last season and in the France national team.Remember he still is only 23,and from what I saw, he’ll only get better.He can play CMF,LW,RW,great set piece, free kick,perfect long ball etc..
comparing him with marveaux and calling him lazy is a big harsh don’t u think?
Don’t be surprise, he won’t stay with Lyon next SSN.
I am sure bigger clubs still monitoring him.The biggest reason any club didn’t sign him yet is because he got injured. That is the reason we didn’t rush in either IMO.
Mister Tuff
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:30 PM
Comment #47“Colback is one of the first names on the team sheet and one of our best buys in a long time.”
………….best buy erm no free transfer -yes.
GeordieTwo
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:31 PM
Comment #48For us a lot will depend on Perez and Abeid playing consistently well. We know what we’ll get from players like Colback, Colo, and Krul but we have a lot of very inexperienced players now. Will Sammy be consistent? What about Dummett? And Saylor? These are players I think could have problems over a long season.
GeordieTwo
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:32 PM
Comment #49Aarons and Perez could be break through players who really make us shine. Here’s hoping. I don’t like to see too much pressure put on them but they are playing so well it’s hard to keep them out of the lineup.
Reyantoon
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:36 PM
Comment #50Carl
That will not be a surprise isn’t it ?
GeordieTwo
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:36 PM
Comment #51A heads up lads! Instead of Grenier we’ve decided to sign Lance Chubbnuts from Dry Tavern Pennsylvania. It’s the Dry Tavern Desperados he plays for of course. This is a big item over there. A quote from his manager: “this lad has the scrambly bits to compete in the Prem. We’ll definitely see him onto the plane!” Beautiful.
GeordieTwo
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:38 PM
Comment #52I think we should all get behind Chubbnuts! No peeing in his back pocket straight away beermonkey! Harrumph.
GeordieTwo
Nov 5, 2014 at 7:42 PM
Comment #53I don’t understand the lack of enthusiasm about the Chubbnuts signing???? Colour me puzzled!!!
geordie157
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:08 PM
Comment #54Who cares about grenier, wijnaldum would be a much better fit, can play across the midfield or off a striker and he’s not injury prone.
wolfshead@toon
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:27 PM
Comment #55geordie
i thought chubbnuts was a medical condition haha
martoon
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:27 PM
Comment #56It’s looking like Cabaye is going to be the new Andy Carroll. Expect Ed to be doing a ‘Cabaye back to NUFC’ article at least once a day 🙂
toonking
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:31 PM
Comment #57BPC
So i guess, you aren’t bothered about arrons then and don’t mind him sitting on the bench this whole season?
the first thing that i see when look at that team is “well well pardew has done it again”
i can guarentee if pardew himself wanted hope to bring grenier into the team, this blog would become packed with posts stating arrons is going to become pardewed.
Scottiedog
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:34 PM
Comment #58NO MORE FRENCH PLAYERS!
toonicle
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:34 PM
Comment #59Colback was a free transfer because he purposely ran down his contract and didn’t resign so he could join us, not because no one else wanted him. He’s talented and no way i’d drop a young local lad with loads of premier league experience for Grenier.
Shaker Shakrah
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:37 PM
Comment #60Now they REALLY need to sell Cisse and try to sign
Saydo Doumbia , amazing striker and he will suit Newcastle
+
Yes IF they sold Tiote then they should bring Grenier
geordie157
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:40 PM
Comment #61If we sign any ex toon player it’ll be Enrique because we all know pardew loves a left back or two…
Shaker Shakrah
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:41 PM
Comment #62# toonicle
I would do it
Man i would drop Colback for Abied let alone Grenier
hahahaha . . .
He don’t defend like Abied & i didn’t see anything offensively from him to be honest
Grenier is a fully technical great player
Great passer , killer passes , holding midfield
Vision , Free Kicks , Shots , EVERYTHING !!!!!
geordielad880
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:45 PM
Comment #63Side vs west brom:-
————————Krul
Janmaat—–collo———–taylor—–dummett
sissoko——-abeid———colback—-sammy
—————-cisse———–riviere-
toonicle
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:51 PM
Comment #64Shaker- Grenier has done that in the French league, no idea how he would adapt to Premier league. Colback has shown himself a good passer, great stamina and ability to break up play, and he’s a dependable English player who wants to play for us instead of just chasing big money contracts.
Average_Contents
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:52 PM
Comment #65What a goal ibrahimi. Chelsea look shite lol.
Shaker Shakrah
Nov 5, 2014 at 8:57 PM
Comment #66# toonicle
Cabaye also done it in the French league
I saw 5 or 6 games for Grenier and i got to say
it doesn’t matter where he play
his way of passing the ball will never change and thats
what our team needs !!!!!!
It’s okay for me with Colback
If they sold Tiote then they SHOULD sign Grenier 😀
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 5, 2014 at 9:08 PM
Comment #67Been saying for ages we should go for Doumbia .
Reckon he would destroy the PL .
croftus5678
Nov 5, 2014 at 10:06 PM
Comment #68i agree with the colback fans tbh !
i’d take him over an untested grenier anyday in fact i’d take abied above him also atm and tiote and sissoko and siem.
cabella still has a lot to do to impress me atm as he’s not got that final ball or that decent shot he needs to succeed atm and i’m hoping he will come good but atm ober/sammy/aarons ahead of him on effectiveness in my book.
toongloom
Nov 5, 2014 at 10:09 PM
Comment #69I think theres a very good chance that tiote and santon will be sold in the winter transfer window – which to be totally honest not the worst as long as we invest back into the team. Tiote for 10m and santon for 7m.
Bring back cabaye on loan, doumbia for 12m and buy a cb.
Krul
Janmaat new cb/taylor collo dummet
Cabaye abeid sissoko
Doumbia cisse cabella/perez/arons
Thats a very gd team and within our reach too. Only if this was fifa eh…
Wat u boys reckon?
Big Pappa Cissé
Nov 5, 2014 at 10:20 PM
Comment #70Lets see Colback try that against Real Madrid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHnM-M3FtB0
jimmysmith
Nov 5, 2014 at 10:30 PM
Comment #71Pards is completely absolved now. Pellegrini is a “feckin’ old kernt”! Ask any City supporter.
jimmysmith
Nov 5, 2014 at 10:33 PM
Comment #72Pards is completely absolved now.
Turns out Pelligrini is an “effin old c@nt!” after all.
Just ask any City supporter.
JamesToon
Nov 5, 2014 at 10:54 PM
Comment #73Is it true we have first refusal on Cabaye?
beermonkey
Nov 5, 2014 at 10:59 PM
Comment #74james toon
dunno not heard anything like that, not so sure I would take him back it depends on who was to leave, not sure he would wanna come back
jimmysmith
Nov 5, 2014 at 11:25 PM
Comment #75I’d keep Abeid in the side. Not because he’s necessarily better than Tiote, I doubt he is, but simply because he’ll play out of his skin to keep his spot, knowing he’ll have to, if Tiote is fit. He probably has better distribution than Tiote though, even now, as does Colback, so they may be our best central mid pairing, but on paper, Sissoko and Tiote look quite frightening.
Pards has some real selection headaches other than that too. Does he play Cisse or Peres, or both? Who starts on the wings? It’s not an entirely good problem to have either, because we have momentum to protect, and Obertan was a central figure to that with his pace.
jimmysmith
Nov 5, 2014 at 11:43 PM
Comment #76This is my team, with Sissoko reluctantly on the flank, because like it or not, the defensive role of a wide man is necessary. So to me it’s either him or Gouffran, and Sissoko can’t be left out. Cabella, Sammi and potentially Tiote to be introduced as the game develops.
……………………….Krul
Janmaat…….Tayls……Colo……Dummett
……………..Abeid………..Colback
….Sissoko………..Peres…………Aarons
…………………Cisse
expatmag
Nov 5, 2014 at 11:56 PM
Comment #77Jimmy
We have to go 433 agaInst WBA. Tiote, if fit, will have to wait and there is no way Sissoko should be shifted out wide. He has been immense through the middle during this run.
Cisse if fit, should start with the pace of Aarons abd Cabella either side of him up front. Peres and Sammy as second half subs if necessary.
jimmysmith
Nov 6, 2014 at 12:09 AM
Comment #78I like Cabella expat, but I worry he hasn’t fully come to terms with the role out wide in this league. You’d have to say the same of Aarons and Sammi, being so relatively inexperienced.
Seems to me the three of them and perhaps even Peres, are best used as impact players at this stage, particularly against tired legs. I actually like the idea of giving them a half each, to go full throttle, although don’t know how realistic that is.
To be honest, I see this precious form of ours as quite precarious, and worry about it. Ha!
Blofal
Nov 6, 2014 at 12:19 AM
Comment #79I would play this… but would have Sissoko and Cabella interchanging between central and wide positions.
Also against City I was very impressed with the hold up play of Riviere. I think he would work well with Perez. But the lone striker still has to be Cisse if fit.
Janmaat – Saylor – Colo – Dummett
Sissoko – Abeid – Colback – Aarons
——————–Cabella
———————Cisse
jimmysmith
Nov 6, 2014 at 12:27 AM
Comment #80Yeah, I also think Rivierre may have more to offer with a genuine number ten behind him. Which Peres may well be, and also Cabella and of course De Jong. But if you play with a number ten you need real industry, bite and passing behind it, which we appear to have in Sissoko, Tiote, Abeid and Colback. Add pace on the flank, which we also appear to have and we look potentially a real handful.