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Should Newcastle cut their losses and sell to Swansea?

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Image for Should Newcastle cut their losses and sell to Swansea?

Gabriel ObertanIt is being reported that Swansea City are lining up a £2.5 million bid for Newcastle United winger Gabriel Obertan, but should the Magpies cut their losses and sell the Frenchman after just one season?

Newcastle signed Obertan from Manchester United at the beginning of last season for an undisclosed fee after failing to impress at Old Trafford, but the 23-year-old didn’t fare much better last season in the north-east either.

In his third season in English football, Gabriel Obertan was given a decent amount of playing time at the start of the campaign, but drifted out of Alan Pardew’s plans as the season went by, largely having to make do with a place on the bench.

There’s no doubt that Obertan has pace to burn, but his quality in the final third leaves much to be desired, with a solitary goal against Blackburn Rovers all the Frenchman had to show for 25 appearances for Newcastle last season.

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Obertan knows he has to contribute more in the upcoming campaign, previously telling the Evening Chronicle that: “I am looking forward to finding some rhythm and coming back fully fit. You are always looking to improve and catch the manager’s eye.”

Pardew himself is looking for more from Gabby, as well as Sylvain Marveaux, and stated: “I’m expecting Gabby Obertan and Sylvain Marveaux to be back and raring to go. They are two players that can have big seasons for us next year.”

However, whether Obertan gets that chance remains to be seen, as new Swansea manager Michael Laudrup is rumoured to want to take the Frenchman to South Wales and provide competition for the like of Nathan Dyer and former Newcastle winger Wayne Routledge.

So, should Newcastle persist with Gabriel Obertan and give the Frenchman another season as St James’ Park to prove his worth, or should the Magpies cut their losses and sell up to Swansea this summer?

Everyone deserves a second chance…

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14 comments

  • david says:

    A dilemma for me…

    I think we could benefit from selling him now and replacing him with someone who has a clear final product – something he clearly lacks at present

    Pros – better cover for the wings and hopefully an improved threat arial threat from both wings, especially with the inevitable injuries as the season goes on. A fresh pair of legs with real impact and goal threat for a substitution around 60-70 minutes to exploit opponents tired legs.

    Cons – would we (with our current transfer policy) be able to replace him with anything better at this stage? How well and quickly would any replacement settle in? Would we regret it as he develops a better final ball with another team (for me he’s still young, so might still develop one…)?

    I don’t have any clear ideas of who could make an affordable replacement if he was sold – any realistic suggestions out there?

  • Lyle says:

    Sell Sell Sell!

  • Duncan says:

    let him go He did not fit the bill last year and Man u let him go for the same reason.

  • BeeGuy says:

    It seems obvious that the Newcastle defense favors Obertan to get the ball up field. There has been a visible reluctance to pass to H B-A. This is not to say I would favor Gabe over Hatem, just to point out what an important defensive cog Gabe is to the protection of a lead.

  • Bob says:

    Not at all, per season he’s looked great and his confidence is rising, people forget he’s only 23. He’s relatively cheap and a great relief player who’s pace does scare defenders. I say keep him, when he hits full flow everyone will be thankful

  • Ash-out says:

    Cut our losses and sell him?
    We can’t even bring in new players to replace the ones we need to without selling ANOTHER first team squad member.
    If we keep on selling players and bringing no one in we may all get a game if we turn up with our boots.
    Ridiculous suggestion.

  • Harry says:

    We don’t want him, so please keep him. He’s not very good!

  • Archie Brand says:

    Obertan is what we so lovingly refer to as a “squad” player.
    Or to put it more plainly, he’s not good enough to play every week but if someone good is injured he’s our plan B. Well actually more like our plan C.
    We need a replacement first, then he can go.

  • BillytheFish says:

    Gabby has had more than his chance to show what he can do and is a touch better than Wayne Routledge, but like Routledge has no end product.

    Taxi for Gabby!

  • DJG says:

    I wouldn’t sell him to them yet. He has looked decent so far in pre-season, has potential. There is always a scapegoat player at the club and last season it was Obertan. Can you remember what Coloccini and Enrique were like in their first seasons! Now Colo is captain fantastic and can do no wrong. We don’t have enough options at RW to just discard Gabby and he is a decent outlet sub and one of the few with any real pace.

  • Aaran says:

    If we keep him another season clubs will see his true value (£0) and not buy him sell him now and put the money towards some quality. (if we keep him I hope I eat my own words and he becomes world class but from what I have seen he is woeful)

  • Jonatan says:

    Dont sell him, he will show you why this season, I think Obertan has the potential to be a great player. Im frustrated at times, but I have faith in him.

  • Julio Laker says:

    Decent squad player

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