Archive for tag: Gabriel Obertan.

Where would Santon fit in our starting XI?

August 29th, 2011 | 41 Comments |

Ball watching is not a good trait from a defender.
From Inter to Newcastle for £5m?
With talk of Davide Santon to Newcastle seeming ever likely, the obvious question is where will he fit into the squad?

The 20 year old started plying his trade on the wing and gradually moved back to his current position as full back, or to be more precise, wing back and despite being right footed, can play on either flank and is always willing to terrorise both defenders and attackers with his raw pace.

You’ll all be glad to know that unlike most Italian players, this lad actually has strength and doesn’t go down screaming about how the wind knocked him off the ball and how it should be red carded for violent conduct. So there’s a bonus.

Of course, the title is a little bit sensationalist – he could walk into the squad in either full back position and he probably knows it. He fits into the continental style of right footers on the left wing and vice verse and as far as I know he could very well prefer the left flank – that is, after all, where he gets the most games. (more…)


Will Ashley’s gamble pay off?

August 13th, 2011 | 23 Comments |

One throw of the dice
Mike Ashley: Playing a dangerous game at NUFC?
With the new season just a few short hours from kick off, Toon fans everywhere take stock of the events of the past few months and are no doubt wondering what kind of start we’ll have given the merciless squad upheaval.

Since the transfer window opened Geordies have sat around with baited breath hoping for some good news to pop up on the Sky Sports News Ticker. Needless to say, it’s been a rollercoaster ride. [Neil] Taylor, Gervinho, Gameiro, Cabaye, Erdinc, Nolan, Marveaux, Ba, Barton, Routledge, Enrique, Crouch, Defoe, Long, Beckford, Lovenkrands, Bendtner, Benayoun – and that’s just the players we’ve bought, sold, are supposed to be selling or been linked with that I can think of off the top of my head!

Toon fans are a rugged lot and we’ve put up with enough of the proverbial for us to be able to pick apart a rumour from a genuine story and gladly celebrate when we are linked to a top player; at least somebody out there thinks we can sign Messi for an estimated £8m.

Still, taken into account our outgoing transfers (Nolan, Enrique, Routledge) and comparing them to our incoming (Cabaye, Marveaux, Abeid, Ba, Obertan) – I’d usually say we’ve done pretty well! (more…)


Obertan to join Toon on Monday, allegedly – undiscovered talent or offloaded dud?

August 6th, 2011 | 54 Comments |

Gabriel Obertan allegedly joining Newcastle United in £3m deal.
Delight or dud?
According to some press reports a deal has been struck which will bring Gabrial Obertan to Newcastle United

Yesterday I reported the Toon’s alleged interest in Gabriel Obertan and if today’s Daily Mail is to be believed the transfer is all but completed.

The Mail are saying that personal terms have been agreed and we have signed Obertan on a five-year deal for £3m. Apparently the player will be with us on Monday.

There’s nothing official yet from the club and the report of Obertan’s transfer seems to have started and ended with The Mail, so I have no idea how reliable it is.

If the report is true, what we’ll have signed is a 6ft 1in 22 year-old Frenchman who has struggled to make a name for himself at Man Utd since being taken then from Bordeaux in July 2009. Some reports are suggesting Obertan joined Man Utd on a free whilst others say they paid around £3m for him themselves. (more…)


Barnetta or Obertan as possible Barton replacement?

August 5th, 2011 | 34 Comments |

Gabriel Obertan allegedly a Toon target.
Surplus to requirements at Man U?
Newcastle United are allegedly looking a two midfielders who could be seen as Joey Barton replacements.

I’m guessing that since Barry McIntosh – the guy claiming to be the UK representative of Tranquillo Barnetta – actually isn’t his representative after all, the Toon’s interest in the player is still valid.

And given that it turns out his current salary with Bayer Lederhosen is allegedly £27k/week, if we have indeed offered him a salary of £40k/week then I would guess he’d be tempted by a switch to Newcastle.

Pardew has said that he hasn’t considered replacing Barton yet, which would suggest that Barnetta is not seen as a direct replacement for him. Furthermore, Pardew seemed to intimate that Joey could still have a future at Newcastle if some judicious ‘bridge-building’ is undertaken. (more…)