One of the new arrivals who has really impressed us since coming to Newcastle in the summer, is 18 year-old former Coventry midfielder Gael Bigirimana, and he had an excellent game last week in Athens, although a certain Ryan Taylor was our Man of the Match with a terrific performance and a great goal.
Gael Bigirimana – enjoying life at Newcastle
Cheick Tiote is till injured and will not play tonight, and could even miss the game on Sunday against Aston Villa, so Alan Pardew may play new boys Vurnon Anita and Gael Bigirimana in Newcastle’s central midfield, as he did last week in Athens.
Bigirimana arrived from Coventry City this summer for £1M at most, and he already looks a bargain buy, and now we understand why Coventry City fans thought the fee was ridiculously low – they’re right.
This is what Bigirama told the local press today:
“Vurnon played a great game, and I am just learning from all these players.” “Cheick and Yohan Cabaye are very good friends – just like brothers – and they are helping me here” “They are good people and I am learning every day.”
“You take things one step at a time, and in this football life, if you work hard, you will earn your rewards.” “Playing in the first leg was a good experience for the team.” “Hopefully, I will be involved in the second leg.”
“I am just here to decrease my mistakes and make sure the manager can have confidence in me.”
We can see Bigirimana being a first team player in one or two years time, and he has already put in some very good performance for the first team in pre-season.
But as he says, he’s got his feet firmly on the ground and listening closely to what the Newcastle coaches and his mentors Cheick and Yohan are telling him.
He seems to be learning every day, and his attitude is simply first class, and surely this lad is going to be a big player for Newcastle in the future.
What do you think?
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28 comments so far
Kyo
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Comment #1Of all the young lads we signed in this window, Bigi is my favourite. Looks like the next Tiote from what I’ve seen of him so far. Well worth that 1 million.
nico
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:04 AM
Comment #2Kyo.
He might have to be the next Tiote as |I think he’s off.
Slank
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:10 AM
Comment #3People are complaining about the lack of transfer activity but perhaps they don’t realise that Bigi’s transfer may be seen in a couple of years as a major coup by Newcastle, possibly the best signing of all the premiership clubs in retrospect.
At 18 years of age and costing less than £1M he has easily settled into our first team. He has composure and vision on the ball way ahead of his years. He also appears to be a very nice lad. He will be worth millions in a few years time and probably the most sought after holding midfield player in the league.
TorqToon
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Comment #4Still going fellas???? Can’t you just enjoy the article being about a great signing and a highly rated prospect rather than continually linking it to losing all our stars?!?! It’s really boring now…
thai-mag
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Comment #5whats happening with pardew when he pushed that 4th ref, has nothing been done yet
JP...from The Rock
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Comment #6Bigirimana has impressed me more than Anita has. Though that is down to Bigi being used to the English style of play from his Coventry days. Anita will come good, he just needs time. You can see the class he has with some of his touches and passes. Though Bigi really has impressed me. I believe he will play well again today and improve his chances for a first team spot.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Comment #7SLank…..We can only be happy about them when they have actually contributed and set the league on fire. Do keep up 🙂
ToonAndy
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Comment #8Would like to see this fielded tonight…
————————HARPER——————–
SIMPSON—-WILLO—-PERCH—-RAYLOR
——————BIGI———ANITA————–
OBERTAN—AMALFITANO—MARVEAUX
————————-CISSE————————
JP...from The Rock
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Comment #9To think the lad is only 18! He has already impressed more than Vuckic and Abeid in the short time he’s been here.
TorqToon
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Comment #10Toon Andy – nice line up! Very able to do the job ! Shame Shola is injured as he could start up top and we could rest papisto.
pawl250
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Comment #11Thai Mag – He is to have a personal hearing during the international break (next week or the week after). His punishment will be decided then.
Nico – Tiote isnt away, he has basically said that. I think he is a man of his word or atleast for this transfer window.
Kyo – I agree, all the players including Anita, Bigi is my favorite signing. Its clear this kid has potential to be a big star, especially since all the interviews he mentions about improving. Its a good sign!
Slank – I am bothered we havent strengthened. I am a very strong believer we could be pushing the top 6 all the way, especially if we improved our defence! Mbiwa, Debuchy, Douglas all would have been great signings, and 10x more important than Anita.
Look we could spend 20m now and arguably push for CL places. I feel if we dont improve or match this year we could lose key players next year!
Its important to show ambition, we arent far off now but next year we could be miles away with alot of money in the bank from selling the likes of Tiote, Cabaye!
We really need defenders how cant Pardew see this!!
yorkshire_magpie
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Comment #12Gosling was shocking in the first leg. I think he should be dropped today. Amalfitano should get a chance. He looked impressive in the first leg when he came on.
Belly
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Comment #13The only reason why I’m disappointed about no new signings is simply the excitement of a new signing. I think we are in great shape going into the season and I think we can challenge for the top 6 no problem. All these idiots moaning and complaining need to get real. We were relegated not too long ago. We’ve come so far in a few years. I fully support the clubs stance on standing firm on transfers. It’s a great attitude to have.
As far a selling top players as much as I don’t want it to happen but I feel that we would need to sell a player or two to then reinvest and bring in new players in the future.
I’m proud that my club is in a great financial position.
Slank
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Comment #14ToonAndy @ 8
Good lineup except Simpson. He is needed against Villa and also Pardew should continue to show faith in Tavernia who made one mistake but showed more than enough qualities to warrant a starting place.
jimmymagpie
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Comment #15Pawl @ 11 – agree with everything you say, until the last sentence. Pardew DOES realise it, he’s been saying so all summer, but he can’t get the fat man to spend the money. Pardew said all along that the defence was his top priority. What amazes me, is why buy another defensive midfielder, when the money could have been spent on full back and centre half. But, there again, what control does Pardew have over transfers?
wynsleap
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:42 AM
Comment #16Belly – Hate to disagree but ‘standing firm’ on transfers means going backwards while others are strengthening.
Bringing in new players ‘in the future’ is not the way to do it.
We’ve just come off the back of a tremendous season with a European place. Why would we not buy again to cement that progress? Leave it a couple of years to get players in and for what? To get to a European place – where we are now? Doesn’t make sense to me at all.
ellington09
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Comment #17Bigi goes to show tjat when your between 18–20 u need to be playing every week. We need to be sending Vuckic, Sammi and Abied to Championship clubs to play every week they would come back better players. Due to the lack of investment from Ashley we cant do this as our squad is too small and we need them to make up the numbers.
jimmymagpie
Aug 30, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Comment #18Wynsleap – remember what Sir John used to say – stand still and you effectively go backwards, because others go forward ahead of you, which is exactly what is happening. We are weaker in the striker department than last season. Sold 2 squad strikers and none in, with Ameobi injured already, AS USUAL!
wynsleap
Aug 30, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Comment #19jimmymagpie – I’m glad you stayed on this blog. I often feel quite alone when I make statements which others seem to regard as negative.
I do feel that this window could have been the making of this club if we had grasped the opportunity to build on last years efforts.
If we fail (and it seems like we are about to) we may never get the chance to get back to the position we are currently in.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 30, 2012 at 12:09 PM
Comment #20wynsleap….It’s not the missed opportunity comments I find negative. However, to say we may neever get the chance again is a little premature, don’t you think? We were relegated 3 years ago and got back up there. Not saying we should fall away to go again, but to say it’s a now or never situation is a little negative imo.
FatmanJoe
Aug 30, 2012 at 12:34 PM
Comment #21Wynsleap
It’s also a little pathetic to be glad that you have someone to be negative alongside. It shows that a) you have always had a negative attitude regardless of how well we are doing and b) you don’t have the strength to stick by it, needing the reassurance of jimmy to fight your cause!
Stop moaning, enjoy the football and if we get relegated at the end of the season I give you and jimmy full permission to be negative and whingey all day long.
FatmanJoe
Aug 30, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Comment #22Honestly, nothing like a moaner to kill a start of season erection.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 30, 2012 at 12:42 PM
Comment #23Fatman….So glad you’re here…was having a problem remaining optimistic 🙂
FatmanJoe
Aug 30, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Comment #24Never buckle under the tyranny of negativity Ibiza!
I’m off, enjoy the game
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Aug 30, 2012 at 1:12 PM
Comment #25Fatman…I never will, it was just a joke. You too mate, hopefully it’s a cracker!
LooneyToon41
Aug 30, 2012 at 1:33 PM
Comment #26I’ve no doubt that Pardew knows we need another defender. We did bid for Mariappa (spelling) last January, but wouldn’t pay the £2.5m that Watford wanted. Luckily Perchino came in and did a great job.
@13 Belly. I couldn’t have put it better. It’s the excitement of new 1st team players that puts smiles on our faces, and thus far, that unfortunately hasn’t happened. Then again, i fully expected to lose one of our star players so… etc
wynsleap
Aug 30, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Comment #27Fatman Joe – My thoughts about Ashley and his lack of ambition have always been constant if you have read my posts for quite some time. I don’t need the reasuring accompaniment of jimmymagpie for that.
However if you have ever taken the time to read some of those posts you’ll find I have also often commented positively on players performances, certain purchases, Pardew’s record, SOME of Ashley’s decisions eg. youth policy, etc.
Unfortunately I am not like some on here who just accept everything Ashley does without question like bloody sheep.
stephen1971
Aug 30, 2012 at 6:26 PM
Comment #28i seem to be one of a few that does,nt mind the transfer window shutting now with what we,ve got, our policy was to buy younger players and bring them through, how do they get the chance to come through if we keep spending big money on players that keep them out of the frame ? bigi and campbell will come through big time this season i think , i also think ashley is waiting to see if senegal qualify for acon before he goes out and buys a striker , my guess is if a striker comes in then it,ll be in january, i,d of still liked debuchy though as we don,t have much tallent coming through in that position , tav is learning but he,s nowhere near ready yet imo