No Cabaye tonight [+Match-Day thread seeing as it's heading that way anyway....]

According to BBC Ceefax a deal has been agreed with PSG and he is flying to Paris today for a medical and definitely won't play tonight.

 

A good time to play the Toon (touch wood)?

 

Could be. Just seen this on BBC website - Borussia Monchengladbach striker Luuk de Jong is travelling to Newcastle United for a medical. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25927695

 

Too late! The BBC has now confirmed the Cabaye absence tonight:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25917101

 

No mention of his absence on the BBC match preview page, Rick, updated yesterday lunchtime.


Edit - I was typing while you were posting. Best bit of news so far today - I wonder if PSG would like Loic Remy while they're at it

 

ceefax?

 

Never question Ceefax.

 

I can no longer locate it, never mind question it

 

yohan kebabs
in seriousness i assume they will play Ben Arfa instead

 

Blasphemy!

 

Is this a case of "Good-byeee Cabayeee!?"

 

You doubting skeptics! As I pointed out above, try this for confirmation:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25917101

This is the bit you want: "Cabaye, who has scored 17 goals in 79 appearances for the Magpies, will fly to Paris for a medical on Tuesday and will not play a part in Newcastle's Premier League game with Norwich."

The bad news, as Max points out, is that they will play Hatem Ben Arfa instead!

 

I could see Tettey coming in for Van Wolfswinkel tonight. Tettey and Johnson would be holding, allowing Fer to roam forward and provide support to Hooper, but with Cabaye not in the squad I think Hughton will go for 442 again

 

I don't really see how that would help. Leroy is at his best when he's playing box to box with an attacking mid to play off as he's not an out and out attacking mid.
I'd replace Johnson with Tettey and leave Hooper and RvW upfront. Redmond likely to come in on the left.

 

Because it would allow him the ability to move forward with the ball which he has clearly felt unable to do whilst playing with only himself and another in the middle, he is also our most likely to thread through balls to the striker. He can also close and tackle players higher up the pitch thus relieving pressure on the defence.

Your suggestion is what I have gone with for tonight's game anyway, it was more of a suggestion to deal with the threat of Cabaye but since he won't be there it is irrelevant

 

Does Ceefax still exist? I thought the plug had been pulled on it?

 

More BLASPHEMY!

 

No Gouffran or Colocini supposedly either.

 

Hopefully Joe Kinnear will be up front

 

i think it could be a tough battle in midfield, they've got some units in there (sissoko springs to mind) so i'd go to start with

johnson tettey
Snodgrass Fer Pilkington
Hooper