Cabaye v Barton: Yohan says he’s up for it!
Posted on September 5th, 2011 | 52 Comments |
Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye muses on the English game and is looking forward to playing against Joey Barton in our next league game.
Things seem a bit flat of late. By which I don’t mean that they’ve been run over by a passing steamroller, but rather since the transfer window closed – and without a game last weekend – there just doesn’t seem to be a lot happening on the ‘Toon News’ front.
I’m curious to see how Pardew will attempt to talk around the abject disappointment of the late transfer window dealings. Or lack of them in our case. I actually feel for the guy as I reckon his disappointment will be equal to ours and yet – if history is any guide – he’ll be tasked with trying to put a positive spin on things.
He could start by mentioning Yohan Cabaye, who has been speaking to The Journal to tell them he’s all fired up to play opposite Joey Barton in our upcoming game against QPR.
Yohan said: “I am looking forward to it. I’m sad to see Joey go. I will be happy to see Joey again next week – and to win against him!”
Well, hopefully, although I don’t think QPR will be pushovers by any stretch of the imagination.
Yohan continues:
“We’ve taken seven points from three games in the Premier League. We’re pleased to have kept the momentum going by beating Fulham. It’s perfect for the team.”
Which is true enough. Amidst the furore of the final 3 weeks of the transfer window, we have managed to grab 6th place in the Premier League, which is not to be sniffed at. I’m well aware that start of the season results aren’t always indicative of things to come – and I tend to think the slog from January onwards is the ‘telling’ time – but we have 7 points from 9 chalked up on the board and that’s a pretty good start.
Anyway, Yohan (note how I’m on first name terms with him) goes on to contrast the Premier League with Frances Ligue 1:
“It was difficult to adjust to English football at first. I have had to adapt but the only way you can get more experience of it is by playing. That is how I will get better.
“The Premier League is more physical and faster than French football. In France it’s more tactical – a lot of short passes. Here it’s different.
“Here there are no easy games. In France you have a few games where it’s easier – here, never!”
I have often wondered why the Premier League is so different. Teams like Arsenal have in the past tried to play a more European style of football but, overall, we do seem to play faster, more physical football and that trend continues despite the number of foreign players and managers we have in the Premier League.
Yohan seems to be getting a handle on things at Newcastle United anyway:
“Now I understand better what it means to be a Newcastle United player. After the [mackems] game I wanted to thank the fans, because they were fantastic in the derby. We really wanted to win that game for them and for us.”
I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Yohan so far, bearing in mind that there’s bound to be a period of Premier League adjustment for both him and the summer’s other foreign recruits. Hopefully he (and we) will come out on top of the battle against Joey a week today.
He will run rings around Barton. Only way Joey will be able to compete in the middle against Tiote and Cabaye will be by fouling.
Barton joins a crap club for more money after we stood by him during his “dark years”, and now thinks he’s the voice of the Geordie Nation? Nah mate, you’re just another sell out trying to stop us getting 3 points.