There are reports in France that Newcastle want to sign 18 year-old Saint Etienne defender Mickael Nade this summer.
The 18-year-old has a contract at the French club that runs out this summer and it looks like Newcastle are moving in quickly to offer the player good terms and have him move to Tyneside in June.
18 year-old Saint Etienne defender Mickael Nade
He looks older than 18 – he must worry a lot
🙂
The other club said to be also interested in signing the youngster  is Red Bull Salzburg, but he would be one for the Development squad and Peter Beardsley if Newcastle do sign him.
The 6 ft tall center-back has been likened to Chelsea’s Kurt Zouma in the way that he plays and we were after the impressive  Zouma, before his signed on at Chelsea in January of 2014.
The reports in France suggest that Newcastle have already offered him a professional contract to join them this summer.
He is well regarded at St. Etienne but he has yet to play for the first team there.
Newcastle are likely to bring in at least five or six first team ready players this summer and some top youngsters too – such as Nade – who can be groomed over time for the first team.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
68 comments so far
jayphoto
Mar 13, 2017 at 12:25 PM
Comment #1im quite a big st ettiene fan, started following them when I was working in France a lot, the fan base is crazy, always thought they were the kind of Newcastle of France in the same way BMG are the Newcastle of Germany. Never heard of this lad so can’t judge, but the A.S.S.E side is old. Seriously on the aging side, its an old, slow team, I can’t imagine there is one player under 30 maybe outside of Ruffier (who himself is 29?) that would get into our first team.
The presidents are known dissenters when it comes to the subject of dealing with Newcastle aswell.
If this lad is a free transfer, how much potential can he be?
WWSBRD
Mar 13, 2017 at 12:28 PM
Comment #2RUNAWAY
The players on Saturday should hang their heads in shame? No, fans who can’t take a loss in a sport without a complete melt down? Quite possibly
WWSBRD
Mar 13, 2017 at 12:29 PM
Comment #3jay
Tbf this lad looks around 30
RUNAWAY777
Mar 13, 2017 at 12:33 PM
Comment #4WWSBRD yes we can take a lose but epends on the fight they put up so if your happy with what you seen so be it have a good day
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2017 at 12:44 PM
Comment #5Nobody was happy with what they saw on Saturday but those calling the manager a tosser and calling for him to be sacked need to hang their heads in shame.
jayphoto
Mar 13, 2017 at 12:44 PM
Comment #6@wwsbrd – agree with you there! Teams done the business more often than not this year but there are occasions where just energy levels aren’t right and nothing comes off no matter how good a form you’re in, think that happened on sunday and was coupled with Fulham having the opposite kind of game. No one expects to win at st james’, so for away players it can be an enjoy the occasion pressures off game. Fulham have some seriously talented players that can do what they did on Saturday when the pressures off. The difference is, Newcastle pull those performances off when the pressures on which seperates them from many other sides in the division
WWSBRD
Mar 13, 2017 at 12:46 PM
Comment #7RUNAWAY
1 loss in 14, 4th game in 11 days, beating both our closest rivals and not losing in what was considered our toughest run, top of the table, I read we’ve not been outside the top two spots since October…aye lads hang ur heads in shame pathetic lot they are
Id say u can’t take a loss no. Am not happy with the result or performance on the day no but Jesus man bit of perspective eh
WWSBRD
Mar 13, 2017 at 12:52 PM
Comment #8jay
I think barring us Fulham are the best away team in the league? Fair play to them they came and give us a beating, no shame in losing to a better team on tge day imo. They did well and we didn’t, plenty of reason why am sure I’ve read a few reports saying our lot looked knackard and hard to say they don’t deserve to be really along with other reasons
Quality will out though and we are top of the league Fulham still aren’t in the play offs
jayphoto
Mar 13, 2017 at 12:58 PM
Comment #9Remember reading a report about Fulham at the start of the season (before we played them). Was a championship pundits prediction of the league. He stated that Newcastles starting 11 was play off standard only but the squad of 25 was title winning level which would see them win promotion.
Brightons team he had as the best mix of a strong starting line up and a decent squad that would see them win the league.
Interesting on this, he said Fulham could be a surprise package because they’re starting line up on it’s day would blow away any other side when they players are up for the game but inconsistency would hurt them.
Think talent for talent, Fulhams players have played to their potential both times against Newcastle and its worth remembering they are one of the strongest 11’s when everyones firing.
Consistency will win this league for us I think. Losing 1 in 11 and 65% win ratio might be panic stations for some but I think years of mismanagement plays into our fans minds. Rafa is a proven, consistent winner.
Some win a race by sprinting 100mph at the start and finishing at 5mph , others keep the same steady pace the whole race and that can win and be effective too. Just not as exciting as a short sharp burst
Bobbybee
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:00 PM
Comment #10The same people moan and groan every time we lose. To me that tells me one thing; which is that they expect us to win every game. We get exactly the same reaction, regardless of whether we’ve played well or not. Anybody who expects their team to win every match is following the wrong team and probably the wrong sport. Why does anybody think we should win every game? Are we something special? Do we have a divine right to win that nobody’s told me about? Are teams somehow expected to roll over just because they play the great and almighty Newcastle United? Saturday was shocking, nobody in their right mind would be happy with that, but shyte happens in life. It’s how we respond that really matters and we won’t know that until Saturday. We can’t win every game. We’re a Championship club now because we’re not good enough for the PL. That’s just life. On the flip side, we are still top and I imagine every other set of fans would be happy where we are now. Top not good enough though. By all means complain about Saturday because it was the worst this season, but it does come at the end of a very tough week with a lot of travelling involved. Let’s calm down and see how the lads respond to this defeat. I’ll bet a pound to a penny we won’t play like that again. If we do, we might have problems, but frankly, I can’t see it. As for changing the manager? That is exactly why we get called deluded Geordies and it’s embarrassing.
jayphoto
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:05 PM
Comment #11@bobbybee – imagine being a championship club and thinking you could get better than Rafa Benitez… This is why other fans LOVE it when we lose
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:11 PM
Comment #12jay,
Like someone pointed out, those fans that wanted rid of SBR yet moaned when Sourness came along, who better did they think we could attract after the way we treat him.
Munster Mag
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:15 PM
Comment #13That poor fellow does look like e worries a lot 🙂
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:15 PM
Comment #14@Jayphoto
Have watched Burnley a fair bit this season and Gray has always impressed!As I dont think we will be back in for Wilson now he has been injured again he might struggle to come back from the latest set back!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:17 PM
Comment #15http://www.themag.co.uk/2017/03/newcastle-star-retires-admitting-23-better-options-national-squad-mohamed-diame-newcastle-united/
I suppose this is good news ?! Although Rafa stop playing him as a no 10 if you are going to play him !
Bobbybee
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:18 PM
Comment #16Jay, tell me about it matey! 🙂 We finally get a top level manager, something we’ve been crying out for over the last God knows how long, but for some, even that’s not enough. Anybody who thinks that’s how Rafa told them to play hasn’t been paying attention. We couldn’t string three passes together, which is nothing to do with tactics or set up, it’s the players failing. No matter how well prepared you are, if you don’t carry it out it can’t work. I’d love us to be more attacking, but this is how Rafa does it. He might change, but it won’t be because we want him to, it will be because he sees something he can change. Rafa turns out workmanlike teams that win things. Not the most exciting in the world, but they tend to get the job done. Set backs are normal for any side, that’s, football. But wanting rid of him is ludicrous! 🙂 Embarrassing mate. There was a poll on talksport asking ‘who do you want to miss put on promotion?’ We topped it by a landslide. People hate us because of that attitude and I can understand why. They can go f*** themselves like, but I do get it. 🙂
Munster Mag
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:18 PM
Comment #17Bobby,thankfully it feels better a couple of days later. That said, whatdid you think of Charlies post looking at out home games and how poor we have been , and a bit lucky. I don’t care once we keep getting points in some way, but the last few games have seen little from us attacking wise, even allowing for hard games away from home.
posada
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:25 PM
Comment #18I’ve read all of the comments on here since Saturday.
I don’t recall anybody calling for Rafa to go.
Charlie, perhaps eluded to it.
He’s since come on and said he went too far, so fair play to him for that.
Do we say more after a poor result that a win. Yeh we do. It’s human nature I suppose.
Some are getting concerned. It’s not just one season. The future of the club for the next 10-15 years perhaps rests on this campaign.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:25 PM
Comment #19http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11682/10800595/manager-warren-joyce-sacked-by-wigan-athletic
We always seem to face a team that has a new manager or a manager fighting for his job!
Bobbybee
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:30 PM
Comment #20Munster, just got interrupted there with some bollox about winning a prize. As I was trying to say, I think we got used to playing with Gayle’s pace and simply haven’t adapted well without him. Luckily we’ve kept going, but I think that’s why we haven’t looked as fluid as we did before he got injured. Changing style hasn’t really suited us, but we’ve got through. I’m sure once he’s back up to pace we’ll be fine. When you play with a lone big striker you’re reliant on the midfield bursting through and missing Hayden hadn’t helped either. Saturday was just awful. I couldn’t see us getting back into it once their second went in. It was just disjointed and the passing woeful. Made to look even worse by their qualities. They were good like. Very good in fact. We’ll see how they respond next week. I expect a big response resulting in Zola losing his job.
posada
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:32 PM
Comment #21Pro Rafa’s Vs Knockers So Called.
Lets bring the above conflict to an end.
We need a performance at Birmingham. Then a break.
Then it will all unfold very quickly with 7 games in April.
5 of the last 8 at home.
Time to support.
Time to think we are going to do it, even if it is by the playoffs.
Time for some of the players to step forward.
It has to be won. It won’t be gifted.
kimbo
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:35 PM
Comment #22Well Rafa, have you analysed the game yet?
I have thought about what I saw on Saturday and have carried out my analysis and guess what…it was your fault, you pick the players, the tactics and played Anita. You have made us have 30% possession in the last 4 games and wonder why teams dominate us at home as the players are so used to negative football. Why can’t we attack attack attack and entertain us for a change, we might just win at home this way.
jayphoto
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:35 PM
Comment #23@Lee Charnley – Yea, apparently my mate reckons he’s a bit full of himself, bit of a nob, likes the money and the lifestyle etc, enjoys the club scene and all the hang onners but agree, like him a lot as a player. Reminds me of vardy but with more quality (guess that’s who Leicester wanted when vardy looked off to arsenal)
Not too worried about wigan. Not sure that new manager thing kicks in when its the 3rd or 4th manager you’ve had in 8 months…
Lindisfarne
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:43 PM
Comment #24I moan when we win also, so on balance I think I am consistent. Ignoring the last result, we do not look like a PL team in waiting and before you say, “that’s because we play in the Championship”, I know! I had imagined this season would be about establishing a style of play that would take us forward and yes, being solid, difficult to breakdown and good on the counter goes some way towards this aim. But my goodness, there is still a lot to do to get the team up to even challenging a PL team.
Ok, the lack of transfers in January is not Rafas fault and I am not even suggesting he should be given the boot. He has exceeded my expectations in turning the club around, although he could do with changing a few things on the pitch. We have all said Diame should play a central midfield position, even swap him and Shelvey. Lascelles needs a break, Lazaar needs to play, Ritchie should be tried at #10, etc. etc.
That does not mean that those changes should all be made in the same game, but playing 433 at home and with two strikers, would be monstrous.
Bobbybee
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:49 PM
Comment #25Kimbolton, yes, but he’s also got us top of the table, something you seem to be forgetting. It was a bad game, we all saw it. Anita played because of injuries. We’re all aware Yedders is the better player but he can’t play when injured. The whole team played badly on Saturday and were beaten by the better side. It is allowed you know? Like we beat Spurs 5-1,the better side on the day won. They finished third though, we went down. Who would you rather be? Third and lose 5-1 or relegated and win 5-1? Strange game football, shyte happens. We’re top for a reason. It’s a 46 game marathon, not one game sprint. We lost, get over it.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:50 PM
Comment #26150MAUTITOON // Mar 11, 2017 at 4:19 PM
we need to change manager now
West Lancs Geordie // Mar 11, 2017 at 4:23 PM
Please offer Benitez the Arsenal job.
60stuart no9 // Mar 12, 2017 at 10:25 AM
don’t know who is at fault , the players or raffa but if we cant get promoted with this squad , then maybe a change of management is what we need
Bobbybee
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:51 PM
Comment #27Bloody spellchecker kimbo!!!
posada
Mar 13, 2017 at 1:58 PM
Comment #28Jail
Don’t recognise those names as regular posters.
It takes all sorts.
Think I might have picked a bad time to encourage a bit more togetherness.
Hey Ho.
RUNAWAY777
Mar 13, 2017 at 2:00 PM
Comment #29Jail i never said I want him to be said all I said he need to earn his wages
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2017 at 2:00 PM
Comment #30Posada,
You won’t recognize them as they only come on when we lose which isn’t often.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2017 at 2:02 PM
Comment #31RUNAWAY777,
No, you just called him a tosser is all.
posada
Mar 13, 2017 at 2:05 PM
Comment #32Jail
It could be anybody.
It could be Lee Cattermole working his ticket.
Lets ask them.
Are you Lee Cattermole ?
WWSBRD
Mar 13, 2017 at 2:05 PM
Comment #33I can only assume when Rafa is told to earn his wages he just directs people towards the league table and takes another swig of his beer
Average_Contents
Mar 13, 2017 at 2:06 PM
Comment #3418 my hairy arse.
Looks about 40 and out of shape.
Could just be that baggy shirt though….
WWSBRD
Mar 13, 2017 at 2:06 PM
Comment #35Nar thats wrong it’ll be wine won’t it
Bobbybee
Mar 13, 2017 at 2:07 PM
Comment #36Runaway, we’re top. I think he is earning his wages. You can’t win every game. He assembled a team to get us out of this division, not play ticky tacka Barca style football. Workmanlike teams get promoted in general. You can play better football in the PL than you can in the Championship, but we need to get there first.
hibbit
Mar 13, 2017 at 2:17 PM
Comment #37RUNAWAY777
,like i said yesterday you need to go back and read exactly what you wrote before you get prickly when folk pick you up on it you were were well over the top
got to say it wasn’t just you and the others have either gone back in there holes in pennywell or swansea !!!!!!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 13, 2017 at 2:18 PM
Comment #38Looks like Sterry is having a groin operation so he probably wont be used this season again!
Belfast
Mar 13, 2017 at 2:32 PM
Comment #39Wigan deserve to go down after sacking Caldwell who brought them back up after 10 games and replacing him with Man United’s reserve team manager. That worked out well.
Munster Mag
Mar 13, 2017 at 2:40 PM
Comment #40Bobby, we aint going to get tiki taka football with Rafa, That’s not the end of the world. I think we need to be more expansive at home and in fairness it needs to happen soon. There is no sign that Brighton of Huddersfield are going anywhere . We lack attacking threat but I’m beginning to wonder if he wasted 8mill on a shit goalie and a shit left back because he clearly doesn’t trust them.