Papiss Cisse will prove his worth, says Alan Pardew

Posted on December 26, 2012 by adminsports

We don't know why he's not scoring but Cisse will prove net worth, insists Pardew

UPDATED:

22:00 GMT, 25 December 2012

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has backed goal-shy Papiss Cisse to re-discover his goalscoring prowess, and believes the 8million striker is a better player than last year.

It is nearly a year since the Senegal international joined Newcastle from Freiburg. He scored on his debut as a substitute against Aston Villa and finished the season with 13 goals in 14 games, while his partner Demba Ba found the net just once.

This season, with Ba claiming the central striking role in a new-look Newcastle, and Cisse playing mainly on the right flank, he has only found the net twice in the Barclays Premier League while Ba has 11, second only behind Michu and Robin van Persie.

Off target: Papiss Cisse has been below his best in front of goal this season

On Saturday, Pardew was booed by home fans when he replaced Cisse with match-winner Shola Ameobi and the unhappy striker reluctantly shook his manager’s hand.

But Pardew is insistent the 27-year-old will have a crucial role to play for the remainder of the season, especially when Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye return from injuries in the New Year, and he has new recruits. With Ba’s Newcastle future still in the balance as the club await the dreaded 7.5million bids which will invoke his release clause, Cisse could be back as centre forward very soon.

And Pardew admitted: ‘Papiss is a victim of our injury problems. Without Ben Arfa and Cabaye we have lacked quality in the last third and have not created a lot of moments for him to score.

Backing: Alan Pardew is confident Cisse will rediscover his form

'Hopefully we can create more moments for him and he will start scoring goals soon.

‘I can confidently predict Papiss will score more goals in the second half of the season. In some respects playing right has helped his game and his ball retention.

'He needed to improve on that as a striker and I thought, even last year when he was scoring goals, that was a weakness in his game.

‘He has improved that. It has taken the pressure off him to score goals that has helped a little bit. He’s still had chances.

'When you look at him in training, we are a little bit perplexed as to why he’s not scoring goals. But he is getting there, getting chances and that’s the main thing.’

Hatem Ben Arfa out of Newcastle"s Christmas schedule after hamstring injury

Posted on December 17, 2012 by adminsports

Christmas break for Ben Arfa as Pardew takes no chances on hamstring injury

UPDATED:

23:50 GMT, 16 December 2012

Newcastle United midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa is out of the club’s Christmas schedule.

The France international has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury, despite returning and scoring against Fulham last week, and he missed Saturday’s defeat to Manchester City.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew revealed the club had decided to rest Ben Arfa for at least three weeks rather than risk losing him for longer with his fellow Frenchman Yohan Cabaye out until February at least.

Injury setback: Hatem Ben Arfa will miss Newcastle's Christmas schedule after picking up a hamstring injury in the defeat to Manchester City

Pardew said: 'There is a danger he could tear that and if he did that he would be out for two or three months whereas if we do it the right way and be sensible about it, it may only be three weeks. And obviously that is the route we are going to take.’

The Newcastle manager made a point of praising supporters who had more than played their part in their side’s second half resurgence in an enthralling game, the best the ground has seen this season by some distance.

He called for more patience with his stretched squad for next week’s crucial home clash with Queen’s Park Rangers.

His team have still not overturned a half-time deficit to a victory in the Premier League for six years but they certainly gave it a go after a wretched first-half.

Singing the blues: Manchester City proved too strong for Newcastle on Saturday, winning 3-1

They were just fortunate, with City absolutely unplayable, the visitors did not hit double figures by the break.

Pardew added: 'When you have a mental hurdle like being 2-0 down to the champions, it is not easy to play under those conditions so a lot of credit to the players. I really find it difficult to say to them 'look you’ve only got three points for the last four games’ but that’s the truth.

'We have to keep believing in what we are doing. I know there is not much difference in terms of performance from last season but I do think we have gone through a period of conceding soft goals against us and that has been costly.

'You can change the mood very quickly at this ground, that’s the beauty we have with the fans we’ve got and we did come out. The crowd got behind us we got a goal and suddenly the whole atmosphere changed.

No risks: Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has said Ben Arfa will play no part in the club's Christmas fixtures

'You didn’t need to be a genius to work out that the fans would be patient with us today playing the champions but we need that same patience against QPR. The players are going to be edgy because of the position we are in.

'Having said that I still think we have very good players in this group still to come back. I sense that between now and the end of January is the period for us to make sure we keep out of that bottom area, keep roughly where we are or a little bit higher and we will be ok.

'The QPR game I don’t know how you could put it on a scale. But if we play like we did today we will win.’

Hatem Ben Arfa out until new year

Posted on December 16, 2012 by adminsports

Ben Arfa out until the new year as Pardew gives Newcastle star time to recover from hamstring injury

UPDATED:

13:02 GMT, 16 December 2012

Newcastle United midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa is out of the club's Christmas schedule.

The France international has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury, despite returning and scoring against Fulham last week, and he missed Saturday's defeat to Manchester City.

Ruled out: Ben Arfa has a hamstring problem

The Newcastle manager made a point of praising supporters who had more than played their part in their side's second half resurgence in an enthralling game, the best the ground has seen this season by some distance. He called for more patience with his stretched squad for next week's crucial home clash with Queen's Park Rangers.

Pardew's team have still not overturned a half-time deficit to a victory in the Premier League for six years but they certainly gave it a go after a wretched first-half. They were just fortunate, with City absolutely unplayable, the visitors did not hit double figures by the break.

Pardew added: 'When you have a mental hurdle like being 2-0 down to the champions, it is not easy to play under those conditions so a lot of credit to the players. I really find it difficult to say to them 'look you've only got three points for the last four games' but that's the truth.

Outclassed: Man City were outstanding at St James' Park on Saturday

'You can change the mood very quickly at this ground, that's the beauty we have with the fans we've got and we did come out. The crowd got behind us we got a goal and suddenly the whole atmosphere changed.

'You didn't need to be a genius to work out that the fans would be patient with us today playing the champions but we need that same patience against QPR. The players are going to be edgy because of the position we are in.

'The QPR game I don't know how you could put it on a scale. But if we play like we did today we will win.'

Andre Villas-Boas in funny pose on touchline

Posted on December 10, 2012 by adminsports

AVBeast! Was Spurs boss firing up his men with Olympic star Blake's growl during Everton defeat

UPDATED:

20:13 GMT, 9 December 2012

Andre Villas-Boas was spotted on the sidelines in a strange pose as he tried to inspire his Tottenham side against Everton.

With a grimace on his face and hands outstretched, the Portuguese boss was animated on the touchline.

Wild: Andre Villas-Boas strikes a funny pose, similar to that of Yohan Blake or Tommy Cooper (below)

Maybe he was trying to replicate sprinter Yohan's Blake's 'beast' pose to scare his team into action

Or perhaps he was attempting to conjure some more fire in his Tottenham side, a-la magician Tommy Cooper.

But whatever he was trying, it didn't work as Everton ended up winning with two late goals.

Yohan Blake breaks car window as he hits cricket six

Posted on September 18, 2012 by adminsports

Sprint for cover: Olympics star Blake turns his hand to cricket… and ends up smashing car window!

UPDATED:

13:06 GMT, 18 September 2012

If you thought Yohan Blake’s sole purpose in life was to wait for Usain Bolt to retire and take over the throne of sprint king, then think again.

The Jamaican took silver medal in the 100m and 200m behind his compatriot at London 2012 but he also has another passion in life, playing cricket – and he’s not too bad either.

Scroll down for videos

Oops: Yohan Blake hit a six... but in doing so damaged the car below

Oops: Yohan Blake hit a six… but in doing so damaged the car below

Oops: Smashed window of the car

In his first match since the Olympics,
Blake featured for Bartley XI in a Twenty20 game as they defeated
Correctional Services by 36 runs at the Prison Oval in Jamaica last
weekend.

Blake batted at five and scored 20 off 21 balls before being stumped on the last ball of the innings trying to dance down the wicket to hit a six.

It’s just as well he missed because an earlier shot he sent over the boundary not only cleared the ground but unfortunately smashed the rear view window of a parked car.

Speaking after the game, Blake explained that he was willing to discuss the cost of the damage with the owner while also commenting on the match where he opened the bowling for his side.

Start at 4:25 for Blake's six

Blake said: ‘I was a bit nervous as I haven’t batted in a while but I just had to play myself in and with 20 off 21 balls that’s what I did today.

‘The owner of the car said ‘that’s just cricket’ and I said ‘you know if anything, we can always talk’, it was a wonderful six but I know the owner of the car, he’s a good guy.

‘I’m working on the bowling, I start off
well but I tend to lose concentration later on. The skipper made me
change ends which I didn’t like but I go with it because I don’t want to
go against what the captain says.’

So serious is Blake on his cricket, he claimed he wants to quit the track in six years so he can play more of the sport.

Big hitter: Blake was good with the bat

The 22-year-old was also lost for words trying to describe the honour of ringing the bell at Lord’s last month in the third test between England and South Africa.

‘With this hard training in track and
field, I know that cricket training is not that hard and I can make the
team and it is my first love,’ Blake said. ‘I want to finish this
(athletics) as early as possible, so I can play my cricket, like
somewhere around 30, 29, 28, in that region.

‘To
be the first non-cricketer to ring the bell at Lord’s, the greatest
sports ground in the world, with two top teams and get a standing
ovation from the crowd, words cannot explain how I felt.’

Blake interview after the match

Blake’s first target would be to travel to Australia and play in the Twenty20 Big Bash League along with Bolt, who also has eyes on appearing for Manchester United.

He added: ‘Usain and I said let’s go to Australia and play some cricket, let’s check out the Big Bash and see what it is all about.

‘I know those guys are really quick, but I am always ready and I am always playing cricket. I have my bowling machine and my batting machine at home, so I have been practising and getting ready for that.’

Yohan Cabaye happy at Newcastle despite Barcelona and Manchester Utd interest

Posted on September 17, 2012 by adminsports

Cabaye committed to Newcastle despite Barcelona and Man United interest

UPDATED:

23:01 GMT, 16 September 2012

Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye has dismissed claims he is unhappy on Tyneside.

The France international was linked with moves to Barcelona, Manchester United and Arsenal during the transfer window but Newcastle fought hard to keep him, Cheick Tiote and injured pair Tim Krul and Fabricio Coloccini.

Happy in Toon: Yohan Cabaye (C) playing for France in midweek

Cabaye, who was sensational in his
first season, said his slow start to this campaign is down to his
fatigue after an outstanding Euro 2012 with France.

He said: 'I'm very happy here, I've
never thought any different, and I'm very happy to play for Newcastle.

'It has been difficult for me so far this season, I don’t want to make
excuses, but I’m getting back to full fitness.'

Yohan Cabaye committed to Newcastle despite Barcelona and Manchester Utd interest

Posted on September 15, 2012 by adminsports

Cabaye committed to Newcastle despite Barcelona and Man United interest

UPDATED:

22:28 GMT, 14 September 2012

Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye has dismissed claims he is unhappy on Tyneside.

Happy in Toon: Yohan Cabaye (C) playing for France in midweek

Cabaye, who was sensational in his
first season, said his slow start to this campaign is down to his
fatigue after an outstanding Euro 2012 with France.

He said: 'I'm very happy here, I've
never thought any different, and I'm very happy to play for Newcastle.
It has been difficult for me so far this season, I don’t want to make
excuses, but I’m getting back to full fitness.'

Andy Carroll not joining Newcastle from Liverpool – Alan Pardew

Posted on August 29, 2012 by adminsports

Newcastle bid to bring back Carroll is dead in the water, admits Pardew

UPDATED:

12:35 GMT, 29 August 2012

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has all but admitted defeat in his audacious attempt to re-sign striker Andy Carroll.

The Magpies have tabled a cut-price offer for the man they sold to Liverpool for 35million in January last year, and sources close to Carroll have indicated that if he had to leave Anfield, he would only do so for Tyneside.

However, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has dismissed Newcastle's proposal and the England international looks destined to remain on Merseyside, for the time being at least.

Out of favour: Andy Carroll (left) has struggled since his 35m move to Liverpool

Asked if Carroll's arrival was still a possibility, Pardew replied: 'Not as far as I'm aware, no.'

It has proved a frustrating few weeks for Pardew. He has bolstered his squad with Vurnon Anita, Romain Amalfitano and Gael Bigirimana, but several of his major targets remaining tantalisingly out of his reach.

The manager hopes to fend off any late interest in the likes of Fabricio Coloccini, Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye, but admits a late flurry of incoming activity is unlikely.

Pardew said: 'We are just watching the market and seeing if anything pops its head up that's appealing to us.

'Agents keep ringing me and giving me all sorts of names – they must think we don't scout – but we are aware of the ones we are watching and if they decide to move on, then we might trigger ourselves.

'But at the moment, the targets we have are all very much secure at their clubs.'

Cut-price: Newcastle had tabled a bid for Carroll far lower than they received

Arsenal plot Yohan Cabaye transfer

Posted on August 27, 2012 by adminsports

Arsenal plot late move for 15m-rated Toon ace Cabaye

UPDATED:

21:30 GMT, 26 August 2012

Arsenal are considering a 15million move for Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye as Arsene Wenger looks to bring in two players this week.

Though the Arsenal manager ruled out a move for Cheick Tiote, his clubmate Cabaye is understood to be on a list of targets which also includes Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila. Wenger is also keen to bring in a defender.

Wanted man: Yohan Cabaye battles with Eden Hazard in Newcastle's defeat

Wenger said: 'I'm pleased with what I have, but yes I anticipate that we will do something. Defensive midfielder It depends on the quality of the players available. Tiote is a good player, but he's not on the way to Arsenal.'

Cheick mate: Tiote won't be joining Arsenal, according to Wenger

Newcastle have yet to receive a bid for Cabaye. However, an offer of 15m may not be enough as there is little time to bring in a replacement.

Newcastle boss Pardew said: 'All my players are important, and they are hard to replace now. You lose a big player now and you try and take someone out from somewhere else and they want a replacement and time is suddenly running down. You can't get anyone in and we want to avoid that.'

Manchester City and Tottenham are also keen on M'Vila.

Newcastle"s Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye wanted by Chelsea and Manchester United

Posted on August 19, 2012 by adminsports

Newcastle fear Chelsea and United could pounce for Tiote and Cabaye

UPDATED:

10:04 GMT, 19 August 2012

Newcastle are bracing themselves for a nervous final two weeks of the transfer window as they battle to hold on to stars Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye.

The Magpies, who opened their season with a 2-1 home win over Tottenham on Saturday, are aware of interest from Chelsea and Manchester United.

Both Tiote and Cabaye rose to prominence last term as Newcastle finished an impressive fifth in the Premier League.

Star attraction: Cheick Tiote (left) has a host of admirers among the big clubs

Boss Alan Pardew, who was sent to the stands for shoving Peter Kirkup at the Sports Direct Arena, admitted he is on alert.

'We are on our guard in case some really big bid comes in and we need to react because if someone goes out, another player will come in,' he said.

'But success for me in this transfer window would be losing none of our stars.'

Despite the reported interest in the duo, Tiote himself believes Newcastle have already scored a major victory in keeping hold of their key players.

Here to stay Yohan Cabaye (right) celebrates with Demba Ba on Saturday

The Ivory Coast star said: 'It is good for the squad and it is good for the manager.

'It’s a team thing and we are not Arsenal, Man United or Chelsea. We
are Newcastle, so if we can keep our best players then it will be good
for this club.

'Had we lost two or three key players then it would be difficult to do the same as last season.

'It’s good for the Newcastle family going forward.

Spat: Alan Pardew was sent to the stands after a touchline incident

'This season will be bigger than last season. We did great last season and everyone is waiting to see how we will do.

'It will be hard but we are all ready for this season and for the first game against Spurs.

'The team spirit here is great. That’s what helped us have such a
good season. We still have that spirit going into this season.'

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Tag Archives: yohan

Papiss Cisse will prove his worth, says Alan Pardew

Hatem Ben Arfa out of Newcastle"s Christmas schedule after hamstring injury

Hatem Ben Arfa out until new year

Andre Villas-Boas in funny pose on touchline

Yohan Blake breaks car window as he hits cricket six

Yohan Cabaye happy at Newcastle despite Barcelona and Manchester Utd interest

Yohan Cabaye committed to Newcastle despite Barcelona and Manchester Utd interest

Andy Carroll not joining Newcastle from Liverpool – Alan Pardew

Arsenal plot Yohan Cabaye transfer

Newcastle"s Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye wanted by Chelsea and Manchester United