When Cheick Tiote was injured on Saturday and we are now really short of defensive midfield players we did mention that maybe Steve McClaren could recall Gael Bigirimana from his loan deal at Coventry City, which had only just started, but Gael seems to be out of favor at Newcastle having only played one game for the first team over the last two seasons.
In his first season on Tyneside he looked a very good player with 25 appearances and one goal.
But he played the whole game last night at Bradford along with Adam Armstrong, but the Sky Blues had a disappointing 0-0 draw that we reported on last night.
Gael Bigirimana in action at Portland in pre-season
But even with the point they remain one point above Gillingham in League One after Gillingham won 2-0 at home to Rochdale.
And it seems that Gael had a very good game and Coventry manager Tony Mowbray was full of praise for the 22 year-old:
“We are a bit disappointed with the result as I think it was as good as we’ve played all season really and played some good football at times.”
“We controlled the game and where they had one or two isolated moments, we took the sting out of the occasion really well.”
“Aaron Martin and Ben Turner did the job they were supposed to and Gael Bigirimana gave us a real level of control in the game. His passing and link play was really important to us today.”
It´s likely that Gael will get lots of games if he stays on loan through the end of the season and from comments he´s already made he would love to return to play for his home-town club on a full-time basis at the end of the season.
As we said, we´re not quite sure what´s happened to Gael over the last two seasons but when you don´t play many games it’s difficult to impress people at Newcastle.
We´d be surprised if the former England U19 International will be recalled from Coventry, although if he plays really well there it could even help rekindle his career on Tyneside.
The fact he was sent out on loan in the first place, when we were already short of defensive midfielders even when Cheick Tiote was fit, suggests Steve McClaren doesn´t rate him.
Comments welcome.
10 comments so far
martoon
Nov 25, 2015 at 9:25 AM
Comment #1Being a sports journalist these days must be easy. Look which positions we are short in and then look around for ex NUFC players or players on loan who play in position and then link the two together. Any research required there’s always Google or Wikipedia.
I could do that – giz a job 🙂
lochinvar
Nov 25, 2015 at 9:26 AM
Comment #2Just further evidence that the club and McLaren are making all the wrong decisions in all the wrong places.
I Know its Party Time of the year but doing the Hokey Kokey ?
” he’s in, he’s out , shake it all about……oooh Hokey Hokey Kokey ”
Get a grip McLaren
croftus5678
Nov 25, 2015 at 9:38 AM
Comment #3so todays news so far is we are recalling arma/bigi.(rubbish)
playing goofy in dm.(maybe true)
siem is wanting to move as he is not played and can not show what he can do.(maybe true)
seedorf has had talks with the club as manager (rubbish)
linked with a 4th keeper / an oxford midfielder and a £35mil striker who we have no chance of signing.
we should really stop looking for excuses as we have the players who can do something at the club atm ! macca just needs to get them playing.
write our team down on paper and compare it to many teams and it should be in the top half and we can not blame ash this time as its macca who needs to motivate these guys ! like someone said he’s a great coach and he has improved us in that department but is he a motivator/manager ?
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 25, 2015 at 9:42 AM
Comment #4Yes to Bigi, no to Oba, if he’s the height of our aspirations then we are doomed.
A player by the name of Asprilla scored a corker for Portland at weekend!
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 25, 2015 at 9:47 AM
Comment #5In a different vein (pun intended) I hope people are signing anti Jeremy Hunt petitions to try and save the NHS.
I dread to think what this year would have cost my family and friends both physically and financially if it were privatised.
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 25, 2015 at 9:49 AM
Comment #6I wonder how any games Adam would get if he is recalled!
croftus5678
Nov 25, 2015 at 9:53 AM
Comment #7——————-elliott——————
jan——mbem——–dumm—-mbab
——————-sisso———————
———siem————-wij————–
thau———————————perez
—————–mitro———————–
colo not good enough and dummett not good enough at lb so put him in middle.
sissoko made his name as a dm and he knows how to play it and can still go forward from there.
siems vision and wijnaldum’s reading of the game may provide us that added threat up front and create a fair few more chances.
it does leave our cm weaker with siem’s lack of energy but with thauvin and perez cutting in i think we can cope.
jimmysmith
Nov 25, 2015 at 10:15 AM
Comment #8I think you can blame Ashley for our current problems. For not adding to the squad in key positions for two full seasons. Some odd sales, obviously Cabaye without a replacement, Santon another. We don’t have a genuine winger of sufficient quality, and we need two on match day. We lack a commanding centre back, and a genuine EPL standard left back. Our midfield isn’t at all right. Some good players in there, but not the right mix. Some among them and others who know they’ll be picked even when they don’t perform. Young players in key positions that cry out for more experience. A few squad players that clearly aren’t good enough to be there. Others that don’t want to be.
He’s spent 50 mill, but it’s no more than a start to repair a squad that had been allowed to drift aimlessly, and Thauvin and Mitrovic represent half of that, and they have plenty to do to justify their transfer fees. Thauvin in particular has looked a bust, like a schoolboy. I know Ashley delegates, but money has clearly been his primary concern and the buck does stop with him, as he has publically admitted.
posada
Nov 25, 2015 at 10:44 AM
Comment #9Croftus
None of your front 6 have a clue how to defend.
We’d get stuffed.
posada
Nov 25, 2015 at 10:47 AM
Comment #10Bigi is a good midfielder.Two years ago he was playing the Toite role better than Toite.
But, he has gone nowhere at our club.
Having said that Danny Simpson and Gosling have played well against us in the last couple of weeks.
Sums up NUFC. We don’t get the best out of anyone.