I don't want to do this to death but there seems to be a bit more in this article than some of the other ones I've seen. ____________________________________________________________________ GABRIEL Obertan is ready for anything at Newcastle United – and not fazed by the weight of expectation on his shoulders. The powerful winger was pushing for a full debut in this afternoon’s derby against Sunderland after coming off the bench against Arsenal last weekend. Obertan was signed from Manchester United earlier this month in a £3m deal, adding to the French legion on Tyneside. The 22-year-old – signed as a replacement for Wayne Routledge, now at Swansea City – showed glimpses of his potential in the goalless draw. And Obertan’s hoping his pace, and ability to fashion opportunties in the final third of the pitch, will be a key asset to manager Alan Pardew over the coming weeks and months. However, the France Under-21 international is prepared to be patient as he settles into life at St James’s Park after two years at Old Trafford. “I just want to please the fans, and give everything for this club,” Obertan told the Gazette.
I hope it works out for him for his sake and ours, if what he says is true he'll be ok, I know we're not the easiest people to impress but we do need to allow him time to settle. He says he's going to be patient so he's clearly not expecting things to settle overnight. I'm surprised he's only 22, I thought he was a bit older than that.
I've got faith in him, it'll help having players around him who he can speak to in his own language, I know he has good English skills, but I think it can be a bit of a culture shock in the North east. Who knows who else we are going to get in, it may well be someone who totally compliments his style of play. I wish the transfer window ended before the start of the season, I'd probably end the January one as well, it's too disruptive.
He looks like the kind of guy that will be prepared to graft and I think he'll do well. We can only hope so.
