Lee Ryder has an article in the Chronicle with some comments made by our new signing Allan Saint-Maximin.
Before coming to Newcastle, Allan apparently sought out advice from a few of Newcastle’s former French contingent. They all seem to have had a positive effect on Allan’s decision to join.
One player, in particular, was former crowd favorite Hatem Ben Arfa. This is what Allan Saint-Maximin has said about Hatem’s advice on joining Newcastle.
“Hatem spoke to me. He said to me ‘it’s amazing – the supporters and atmosphere are amazing’.
“For his dribbling, I love Hatem so much.
“I love a lot of players, but, for me, it’s Ben Arfa.
“”He told me to come and said to me a lot of good things. He scored a lot of good goals.”
It sounds like Allan Saint-Maximin really admires our former star midfielder. Ben Arfa, now 32, spent five years at Newcastle and was certainly a fan favorite. Allan will follow in his footsteps as a French number 10 and we hope that he can surpass the exploits of his compatriot.
There were other players that also had an impact on Saint-Maximin’s decision. The report in the Chronicle mentions both Remy Cabella and Florian Thauvin as former players who our new signing sought out about their experiences at Newcastle.
According to Lee Ryder, both players had positive things to say about the club and its supporters. Remy and Florian both had tough spells at Newcastle and would return to France soon after joining Newcastle
Remy Cabella would leave on loan to Marseille after one disappointing season while Florian Thauvin came in the opposite direction. He too would have a short spell returning to Marseille on loan in January before the move became permanent the following summer.
They both still, however, had positive things to say about the club. This is how Allan responded when asked about those former players.
“I know them all – I know every player.
“I talked with a lot of players.
“They said to me it’s a great club, a great city and the supporters are great.
“Everything is great. This is why I came. I said ‘I know I want to be there’.”
Allan seems to really be happy with his move and seems like he is settling in nicely. He possesses the ability to get the crowd out of their seats and we hope to see some exciting times with him in the side this season.
95 comments so far
Moonraker15
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:34 PM
Comment #41Baloney
With that squad 13th was an achievement especially as more points than when finishing 10th the season before!
one fine day
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:35 PM
Comment #42Munster
What you have just said though in a nutshell is why I think,sadly ,we are returning the pre Rafa model of stepping stone club .
So the only thing we are selling these young French lads is don’t worry about the paddling pools ,work hard and you can be at Spurs in two years ..kerching!
I will change my tune if we sign a 29 year old prem proven player on a 4 year contract this week but not holding my breath .
Sad thing about thauvin is we seemed to spend a year trying to convince him and from the get go he didn’t seem interested .
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:35 PM
Comment #43Too true Moonraker. If you bump into Ashley can you explain that to him?
Tony Baloney
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:36 PM
Comment #44Dyche took Burnley down before.
The next Mike Williamson
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:38 PM
Comment #45Could you imagine Ferrari or Mercedes at the F1 spending millions n a car, then saying let’s get that fat cabbage head over there to drive it because he’s a canny bloke and he’s always wanted to drive a fast car.
Tony Baloney
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:40 PM
Comment #46Bournemouth are a strange team as well. They could easily struggle. They will win 4-0 one week and lose 4-0 the next.
one fine day
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:40 PM
Comment #47Munster
Was from Shannon banks
On the Clair side as I recall
She got me over to Ireland but we worked in cork /kinsale so only got up there the odd weekend but mother was on the phone everyday lol
Saying that 5 mins from her parents was one of the best salmon and pike fishing spots I have ever found so every cloud and that 🙂
Jib
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:41 PM
Comment #48Munster were you labouring for Wimpey ?
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:43 PM
Comment #49So, have any of you Rafa nut-huggers come up with a figure on how many points difference Rafa would make relative to Bruce yet?
I still think it should be 15 given you consider Rafa an elite manager and Bruce a Championship manager, but that’s just me, I’d like to hear whether you think it should be higher or lower.
It’s just so we can add that difference at the end of the season to see roughly (of course us picking up more points would mean less for some other clubs) where we could have finished with Rafa and this squad relative to where we finish with Bruce and whether that would have constituted progress under Rafa, thus contradicting his claims of a lack of desire to go progress as his reason for leaving.
If Bruce gets 45pts with this team, then by my calculation based on your own opinions of Rafa and Bruce we would finish on 60pts, usually a tally which would put us in the mix for Europa League.
ronaldo aarons
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:43 PM
Comment #50Thing is, the model of buy good young players and selling is something that I can on board with if it’s done correctly and the main focus isn’t about money. Done correctly, the money comes.
Dortmund should be our template. They always buy young players, play to set method, have actual football people in positions from top down. No yes men, incompetent fools or jobs for the boys.
The key is buy quality young players that have been thoroughly scouted and pay what’s required to get them. Invest in the club, stadium, facilities and importantly the fans.
When you do sell players, sell big and reinvest in quality not quantity. For eg, they just sold pulisicfor big money. Using that money they have brought in thorgan hazard and Julian Brandt with money left over. Not gambles but serious young players that have proven themselves.
Next big one will be sancho and they will make a killing on him.
Many other teams can provide a template.
Tony Baloney
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:43 PM
Comment #51I am getting really annoyed with people comparing Bruce to a cabbage. I have a few cabbages in my back garden and they are much better looking than Bruce. They would be offended.
one fine day
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:44 PM
Comment #52Tnmw
Charnley would have that motor in the garage pronto to get it fitted with a Diesel engine to stay in budget .
ronaldo aarons
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:46 PM
Comment #53Tony
Yes dyche did take them down but only after over achieving in getting promoted. Fans didn’t get on his back and neither did the club as it was expected. The fact he got them back up and have kept them here for a few years now should say a lot about his abilities as a manager.
Lindisfarne
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:47 PM
Comment #54He maybe a Saint and perform the odd miracle, but can he run about for 90 minutes?
Tony Baloney
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:47 PM
Comment #55Ed had a t-shirt for sale on here saying “In Carr we Trust” when we last had the policy of buying young-ish players with potential and looking for soon to be out of contract players. Like we do now!!!!
Tony Baloney
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:48 PM
Comment #56Ronaldo: I think Bruce got Hull promoted.
ronaldo aarons
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:49 PM
Comment #57Andrew Musgrove
@ADMusgrove
Been told that Neil Redfearn is making an excellent impression with the U23s – hopefully a positive season to come. #NUFC
This isn’t surprising as he has a really good reputation working with young players.
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:49 PM
Comment #58I just want you to put up and quantify how much difference you think Rafa would make to us.
To use a doom and gloomers analogy above. Lewis Hamilton is worth a second a lap relative to a Nico Hulkenberg. So I’m asking for the football equivalent.
If you go on record and put a figure on it are you afraid you would then have to confront the reality at the end of the season, that Rafa left for the cash?
Mo Drysdale
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:49 PM
Comment #59——————————————————————Dubravka—————————————————————————————————Schar———————————-Lascelles————————————–Lejeune——————————-Yedlin——————Hayden————————–Shelvey————————————Longstaff————-Willems————————————————–Joelintonn————————-Almiron————————————————————
Not bad with the Obvious players as subs
Lindisfarne
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:50 PM
Comment #60When Burnley were relegated they used £20M to build a new training ground. Rafa made £30m profit changing the squad and a lick of paint.
Tony Baloney
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:50 PM
Comment #61Ronaldo: I am not really supporting Bruce here. I have never really watched any of his teams so I don’t know what to expect. I only hope that he is better than McClaren.
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:52 PM
Comment #62Mo
Definitely a formation that will surprise the opposition!
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:54 PM
Comment #63Schar at left sweeper, 2 CBs, Yedlin Shelvey and Hayden in CM with Longstaff and Willems supporting Almiron and Joelinton.
I think you might be on to something! No width though.
ronaldo aarons
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:55 PM
Comment #64Tony
Yeah we weren’t talking about Bruce, that’s cool. Just adding to the Burnley or other teams to be relegated discussion.
Tony Baloney
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:55 PM
Comment #65I doubt many on here watched Bruce’s PL teams They weren’t exactly glamour clubs – Wigan, Brum, Hull, Mackems. You could say they were his level or you could say he overachieved by averaging 42 points at those clubs. Rafa averaged 44 and a half with us in the PL.
one fine day
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:56 PM
Comment #66Hwa
It’s pretty hypothetical now but if Bruce hits 45 point I will be ecstatic only because we avoid the champo .
If Rafa was given the same cash we are seeing now then yes you are right we would be pushing for Europa rather than looking at a long season hovering around 12 to 17th
Plus we would know pressure was still being applied behind the scenes to get the infrastructure and the academy up to scratch .
Something I have zero confidence is happening now .
Even in the horrible start last year I knew Rafa would keep the players together and get through it .
If we start like that under Bruce I have serious doubts we will pull clear again
Rotonda heights
Aug 6, 2019 at 12:58 PM
Comment #67Ronaldo
Exactly the model works if, as you say, you have good quality coaching and management throuhout.
Could have partly accepted Rafa going if an Arteta, viera or howe type was coming in who could develop young players but bruce is yet another 2 fingered salute to the fans.
Tony Baloney
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:03 PM
Comment #68Bruce has kept pretty crappy underfunded teams in the PL before.
I have no idea what to expect based on no real knowledge of how his teams played.
He does have 3 players who broke our transfer record – Almiron. Joelinton and St Max.
#BleachTheLeech
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:09 PM
Comment #69Hibbit
You about?
Tony Baloney
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:09 PM
Comment #70There is no way we will finish bottom though so I think this McNulty guy at the BBC predictions dept is off his nut.
MrMojoRisin76
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:10 PM
Comment #712 players,St Max wasn’t a record.17m wasn’t he?
Hail Wor Ashley
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:10 PM
Comment #72Brief synopsis of Bruce tat Hull.
Bruce got Hull promoted twice, leaving the second time before the season kicked off because of a lack of incoming transfers. He also got them to an FA Cup Final – all against the odds. Signed them Maguire and Robertson.
He achieved more there than expected by giving an unfancied team an adventure in the PL, promoted in his first season and surviving the first season in the PL and when relegated getting them back at first time of asking. With a shoestring budget and a worse owner than Ashley who renamed the club against fan wishes and created a toxic atmosphere.
conily
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:11 PM
Comment #73One fine day, the playrs which have been bought are the same players who would have been bought with rafa, bruce, pardew or whichever other person you could have put in charge. In my opinion we could be in for an exciting season this season after the anti-football which was deployed by rafa over the past 3.5 seasons.
Yes, we will be on the receiving end of a few 3/4/5-0s but with bruce in charge and a bit of confidence running through the team we could also beat teams by that amount, which was never going to happen under rafa.
#BleachTheLeech
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:11 PM
Comment #74Two peas in a pod then eh Tony
Mister Tuff
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:16 PM
Comment #75Didn’t Mr Tubbs have some building works/sites in Chelsea.
Moanster did you “graduate” as a dumper truck driver.
Jib
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:16 PM
Comment #76I hope toon2 is OK
🙂
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:17 PM
Comment #77Two buys and a loan
Two buys and a loan
Ashley did, Just enough to stop the fans from having a moan
Viva our owner, long live the parasite
#BoycottAshley ( OP)
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:18 PM
Comment #78Having a moan…
Damn, ruined my poem, been working on that for 3 mins
Tatforsale Mikey
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:19 PM
Comment #79There’s a lot of media reports of signing right backs etc. Cabbage patch reckons we are good up top. Well I reckon we’re going to struggle like hell for goals if we don’t get in a proven goalscorer.
BOYCOTT ARSENAL
geordietom
Aug 6, 2019 at 1:23 PM
Comment #8012th for us this coming season . what time are these players making their decisions ? …