Tyneside: Now a haven for sharks. As some of you regular readers may recall, I posted this blog a few days ago, asking readers for their views on 1. The Yohan Cabaye transfer situation and 2. Wonga’s sponsorship of Newcastle United now that the season has started.
I compiled the results into two seprate pieces for my blog on metro.co.uk and though the first one on Cabaye was published on there, the second one on Wonga was “rejected due to unsuitable content.” So, I am publishing it on here for your delectation and delight!
Hello and welcome to the third blog here on metro.co.uk where I take a look at what Magpies fans are thinking about the burning issues of the day at Newcastle United. In this one I take a look at what my fellow fans are thinking about the club’s latest shirt sponsors, the controversial payday loan sharks perfectly respectable ‘Digital Finance Company,’ Wonga.
As with the last one about the current Yohan Cabaye controversy, I published a blog on my own site requesting 50-60 word comments from readers on giving their thoughts. As space is tight though, I won’t waste any more space with my own waffle except to say that the comments have been arranged to gradually move through the spectrum of opinion from one extreme to another, so here goes! (more…)
More Cabaye cobblers?Tweeting on his Twitter page earlier today, the BBC’s James Pearce claimed the following:
I’m told Mike Ashley let Cabaye listen to phone negotiations last week + he heard Arsenal say: “25 million a lot for a reserve” #moodchanger”
Of course, it was rapidly retweeted all over the Tooniverse, with the story being repeated on quite a few web sites, based solely on the tweet you see above. However, none of stories I saw seemed to ask the obvious question. Presuming for a moment that Pearce is actually telling the truth and someone did actually tell him that, then who was it and WHY?
After all, the club have placed an iron wall of secrecy around what has really been happening with Cabaye. If someone did actually tell Pearce that, and I have doubts about that, I would also seriously doubt that it would be something that was picked up by a cleaning lady who was hoovering under the desk or dusting the shelves at the time. It would be far more likely that it would be someone FAR higher up the hierarchy at the club if they were privy to that information. It also fits in perfectly with the constant stream of carefully crafted but ridiculous and insulting innuendo put out by Alan Pardew in recent days suggesting that Cabaye has been on strike, but that he can’t say that outright because of his wish to “protect” the player from the fans, even though he is letting the cat of the bag merely by mentioning it. (more…)
Cabaye: The soap continues…There have been many baffling comments so far from Alan Pardew on the current Yohan Cabaye situation which have been about as clear as mud.
There have also been conflicting reports about Cabaye being on strike / Cabaye not being on strike, with Pardew speaking of Arsenal trying to drive his well maintained Cabaye 2.8 away from the car dealership (NUFC motors presumably) without agreeing a price, suggestive comments about how “there has to be a way back for Yohan,” how he is protecting the player and the club, how the club always comes first with him and much more…
Now, in his latest suggestive statement on the imbroglio, Pardew says that he “expects” Cabaye to be playing against Fulham:
“What I have said to Yohan Cabaye is I expect him to play this weekend. Until another bid comes in from Arsenal that is accepted or not that will be the situation.”(more…)
What’s the real story on Cabaye?My latest blog on metro.co.uk is now up!
Entitled “What is the truth on Yohan Cabaye and Arsenal? Newcastle fans may never know,” as you might guess, I take a look at current Yohan Cabaye transfer imbroglio. This includes conflicting stories in the media about whether Cabaye is actually on strike, or whether he is just being protected from injury in anticipation of a “world class bid” that would “blow the doors off” (to use two of Pardew’s recent terms).
I also look at Alan Pardew’s approach to the drama, where instead of either keeping his mouth shut and refusing to answer questions, or alternatively, making some kind of honest disclosure on what is going on, he has chosen to resort to innuendo and riddles, usually followed by something like “but I can’t say more than that”. Along with the conflicting media reports, especially the ones from the Evening Chronicle’s Lee Ryder about Cabaye allegedly refusing to play, this has led to alot of unhelpful speculation. (more…)
“From a commercial impact, Wonga have had the money on the table and have been a lot more aggressive.
“It’s massively important to have people on board that want to get involved with us in terms of what we do with the fans and the foundation and what we do with the younger players.
“Wonga have only really been here five weeks and they have actually done considerably more than anyone ever has done in terms of investment and support.
“The gates have been unveiled… they renamed the stadium back to St James’ Park. Wonga tick the boxes.(more…)
