Newcastle pair the best outside the top four?
Plenty of kind words have been sent in the direction of Newcastle’s Yohan Cabaye since he signed for the club in the summer. The focus seems to be on how the club can get the most out of him and his midfield partner Cheik Tiote. It’s fair to say that Cabaye wasn’t permitted to play his expansive, creative football against QPR, as his side favoured a more defensive set-up. The balance was altered, however, for Newcastle’s game against Aston Villa where he proved to be the dynamic force that drove the Magpies forward and led them towards a 1-1 draw away from home.
With the physically more imposing Tiote enforcing the midfield, Cabaye was able to appeal to all the best aspects of his game. His excellent vision and ability to pick out a pass in combination with his ceaseless desire to get forward and take a shot whenever the opportunity arises is starting to make him look essential to this Newcastle United midfield.
This shoot on sight approach has given Newcastle more threat from midfield and will give their goal-hungry forwards a chance to pounce on any resulting rebounds.
Best of all, he seems to have boundless energy. I’ve seen some describe his partnership in the centre of midfield with Cheik as the best outside of the top four and I’d find it difficult to disagree. The two work so well together and only look to be improving.
If he can add goals to his game, he truly would give opponents cause for worry.
Newcastle United may well have lost Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton over the summer, but it looks like Alan Pardew made the right moves to right these wrongs. Let’s face it, at £4.5 million Cabaye was an absolute steal and is up there with any other footballing bargain you could care to mention from this summer.
Some have claimed that he is struggling to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League, but with Tiote in tow, bossing the midfield, that appears to be something of a moot issue. This is something that Pardew himself has noted, whilst singing Cabaye’s praises:
“He is the sort of player you pay good money to watch. He was beautiful today in some of the things he did,” said Pardew. “He needs to get a grip on the hurly-burly of the Premier League and he has struggled a couple of times, but if we can get him on the ball he is an outstanding player and that is why he is in the French national team — it is not a mystery.”
If Cabaye continues to perform on a weekly basis, then there’s no doubt the French national team will come knocking. One thing’s for certain however, when Newcastle United persuaded this 25-year-old to leave Lille, they picked up an absolute bargain.
Written by Harry Cloke
NothingButNewcastle.com is looking for writers. If you love the Toon get in touch at nothingbutnewcastle@snack-media.com
Newcastle News 24/7
September 19th, 2011
Newcastle pair the best outside the top four?
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September 19th, 2011
go on then mate name a better two
September 19th, 2011
I don’t get the ‘best outside the top four’ nonsense.
The Toon are IN the top four.
September 19th, 2011
Barton and Derry proved it a week last Monday the toon boys werent in the game out mussled and out played!
September 20th, 2011
Who the f*** is Derry?
September 20th, 2011
Here we go again, as soon as Newcastle appear to be on the up, all the tossers crawl out of the woodwork and make a noise.
Listen Betty Boop or whatever your name is, no-one will deny you played well against the Toon, but you may play all the fancy sh!te you like but the score was 0-0 which tells me that nobody was better than the other.
You undoubtedly have a good side in the making but one swallow does not a summer make.
Post again around Christmas and if, If you guys are above us I will kiss your butt on the centre spot at half time. HTL.
September 20th, 2011
“If Cabaye continues to perform on a weekly basis, then there’s no doubt the French national team will come knocking.”
Erm, he already has six full caps and is now a regular fixture in the French squad.
September 21st, 2011
True, but maybe he can become a regular starter
September 20th, 2011
Oh deary me Toon army…….you lot just can’t help yourselves can you!!! Your midfield got owned at Loftus Rd by a team that was playing for with each other for the ofirst time and should have easily won but for woeful finishing. Taarabt spent his time nutmegging Tiote and Faurlin, Derry and Barton ran the show.
Then you play Villa and draw 1-1, so where exactly is this stellar midfield partnership that is the best outside the top 4?
Always the same problem with you lot (and i know I lived up there for 4 years) you think coz you have a massive following you are a massive club. I would start puckering if I were you jachin.
September 20th, 2011
panicking were in the top 4 u numpty lol
September 20th, 2011
Name a better two?
Titus Bramble and his mum (assuming you weren’t already including them in your top 4?)
Even playing out of position I’m sure his positional sense and pace (sic) would soon expose them
Still when you are used to the likes off
Babayaro, Charvet,Hamilton, Dumas, Serrant, Cacapa, Marcelino et al
I can see why you are so excited :0)
In the country of the blind the one eyed man is king
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September 20th, 2011
Anyone can name bad players from any team, with all the ha ha ha how old are you? 13
Still waiting for you to name a better 2 outside the top 4
September 21st, 2011
Don’t think they can Mags
September 22nd, 2011
You dont agree with Titus Bramble then?
Current index
1 Young
2 Silva
3 Nani
4 Anderson
5 Murphy
6 Toure Yaya
7 Faurlin
8 Larsson
9 Adam
10 Nasri
and what about
Modric, Bale, , Arteta, Wilshere, Parker, Malouda Joey B :0)
Who are “the top four” in your opinion?
ps
“Anyone can name bad players from any team”
Gotta admit its much easier to pick them from Newcastle though :0)
barrel a like shooting in fish
No Ha’s
September 22nd, 2011
Just thought
Is the editorial a(nother) example of “journalist” without a basic grasp of the English language?
Does he mean pair or pairing?
If “pairing” I am (a bit) more likely to agree since they do complement each other quite well, however what happens when one cannot play?
On their own, my original comments apply (bit like Quinn without Phillips or any 90′s Man U midfielder without Keane)