EthiGeordie

Name: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa Age: 23 Club: Montpellier HSC Position: Centre-back Nationality: French Stuart MacFarlane/Getty Images Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, left, could be joining the Arsenal side his Montpellier team met last fall in Champions League play The Sunday newspapers once more revived an old rumour with reports that Montpellier captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa could be set for a move to Arsenal during this January transfer window. The centre-back was an integral cog in La Palliade's shock Ligue 1 title win in the 2011-12 season and has already been considered one of the best young centre-backs in Europe for some time, with links to the continent's biggest clubs now a regular occurence. Following Montpellier's title success last summer, rumours of Yanga-Mbiwa's impending Ligue 1 exit were at their strongest. Both Milan and Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for his services and some reports even suggested he turned down the Gunners. However, the situation has developed somewhat since that point, when there was only a year remaining on his contract, with the centre-back now committed to Montpellier until 2015. In this context, suggestions the asking price has been cut to £3.5 million seem absurd. Far less absurd is that the North Londoners would show a serious interest in the three-time France international, or that the player would be keen to move. The reigning Ligue 1 champions lie in 11th and bombed out of the Champions League in the Group Stage, with Yanga-Mbiwa helpless to prevent his side's plight. The captain has been fighting a losing battle and has continued to impress individually, but may consider it time to take his next step. Technically gifted, the Central African Republic-born defender has plenty to offer any side. Arsenal like to retain possession and have encouraged defenders to get involved in the construction of play. It is certainly easy to see how he would fit in Arsene Wenger's plans in that respect. In Thomas Vermaelan's early days, he was praised extensively for carrying the ball out of defence—a trait that Yanga-Mbiwa shares with the Belgian. However, the Montpellier man is arguably the better defender of the two. Blessed with pace and power, the Frenchman is a master of the interception and has made this quality a defining feature of his game. His positional awareness is, for the most part, very good, leading to a high number of interceptions and clearances (stats via WhoScored). However, even if caught slightly off-guard, he normally has the speed required to mop up the situation. Although not particularly tall at 6 feet, Yanga-Mbiwa has enough strength and spring in his jump to be considered good in the air, even if his talents demand that he should score more. His strongest attributes, though, lie more with the ball on the ground—both with and without the ball. There has been talk in the English media that, with Bacary Sagna likely to be moving on from the Emirates in the near future, Yanga-Mbiwa may instead play at right back for the Gunners. Indeed, there is reasoning behind such a suggestion. He started his first-team career in the position back in 2007 and has filled in as a full-back on a couple of occasions this season. However, despite the logical idea that Yanga-Mbiwa could offer the side extra protection in the position, it is highly unlikely the player would consider leaving his preferred centre-back role on a regular basis. It is simply not where his attributes are best utilised and would likely affect his future with the France national team. With Montpellier set to miss out on European football in 2013, it is logical Yanga-Mbiwa will look to move elsewhere in the next six months, with the 2014 World Cup in mind. At present, he and PSG defender Mamadou Sakho look favourites to form a long-term centre-back partnership for Les Bleus. For the moment, though, it is Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny occupying that spot, alongside Sakho. Unfortunately for Arsenal supporters, the defender recently spoke of his preference for a move to Manchester United should one come about. However, unless the Red Devils were to act upon their reported interest, his preference matters little in reality. While recently quoted prices seem to be on the low side, any deal that would see his services secured for under 10 million euros would represent good value for the buyer. There are very few sides worldwide who would not benefit from a player of Yanga-Mbiwa's quality and Arsenal, with their strong French influence, may be the ideal place for him to continue his stready rise to the top of European football.

Why on earth AP didn't like the idea of snow cancelation. Isn't it better to play this game in Aprile when everyone is fit and we potentially add couple of players in our rank.

Great stuff from .com In the bleak mid-season Much like his team's performances this season, Alan Pardew's latest press comments on Thursday did little to improve the prevailing mood round these parts. Noticeably less strident than earlier in the month when it came to the subject of incoming transfers, a cynical interpretation would be that he was trying to dampen expectation post-Remy: "It was a little strange (that Remy went to QPR) as we had obviously put a lot of work in and made the club (Marseille) an offer that was accepted, a good offer. "We made a fantastic offer to the player and then he didn't arrive. This club is on a financial footing that is strong, but we're still not going to pay silly money. "We're going to pay what is correct and that is what we offered. We made a fantastic offer, a fantastic Premiership offer to that player - trust me. "I don't really want to criticise the player. The player makes the decision and he stands by it. I don't really have anything else to say on it. "We're going to sit down next week and hopefully iron out the issues and come to the conclusion that Colo stays and obviously that's what I hope for as a manager. "It's obvious that there is a problem there in his life - the best way of dealing with it sometimes is to be on a football pitch and play your best football and he certainly did that last week. "Players play through unbelievable situations. I can think of a player at Southampton who got a man of the match award whose cousin had died two days previously in a stabbing. I had a player at West Ham who had gambling problems and another with big gambling and drinking troubles, but both found sanctuary on the pitch and played well. "I think we shouldn’t be lost to the fact that we could be relegated. Better teams than the one I manage have gone down before. We definitely need a player or two in this window to make sure of our Premier League status. We’re under a little bit of pressure. "I think it’s important the club goes forward in the right manner and we don’t make any knee jerk decisions, but we’ve also got to be conscious of where we are in the division and we are in a precarious position that we hope to strengthen on Saturday with a positive result. "Our full accompaniment of players hasn’t been enough for a club of this size and we have been tested by injuries and suspensions, as well as the loss of Demba Ba. "Some of the teams I’ve put out, in my opinion, haven’t been strong enough for Newcastle. We’re such a well-run club, financially. But we know that we’re going to need to invest in our team. We know that other clubs will. "I don’t say think we have one of the weakest squads, but our squad is too weak. I’m being realistic. I’m not trying to say we’re a great team, that we’re going to cruise through the second half of the season because in my experience that won’t happen. "We’re going to have to battle down there and it’s about time we realised we’re going to have to battle. The job for us is to make sure we're strong enough in the second half of the season." The manager also contributed some patronising waffle for the official site, but refrained from repeating his earlier ludicrous comments about the SJP crowd having a part to play in convincing Colo to stay at the club and honour his contract. That didn't work with Demba Ba did it? "I think our fans have been particularly faithful and loyal to us because we've had a tough spell with things going against us. "I think now we've just got to find a way, that's what we're going to have to do. Our game plan that we had last year and the way we played a little bit might need to change to just make sure that we continue being a stable Premiership side and then look to next year to start going back to attacking the top of the league. "I think that's really where we're at and I think our fans recognise that. For us, it's now about getting the right complement of players and making sure we're strong and put some excitement on that football pitch between now and the end of the year. "Because in the first half of the season I don't think it's been good enough - and I'm the manager saying that. "This weekend we've got some horrendous weather coming in and I think it's an important game for the fans to turn up and be strong for us. They've been brilliant all year. "The snow's coming but we've got probably the best workforce at the ground to clear it and a good relationship with the council and we're doing everything to make sure it's definitely going to be on. "I think some games will get called off this weekend but I think ours will definitely be on and I'm hoping we go and make our fans happy which will be a nice change." That's despite ticket prices, ridiculous kickoffs, reduced away allocations, rotten performances, transfer market misadventures and broken promises. Still faithful and loyal, yes but starting to openly question just what is happening on Barrack Road - and not getting answers. Despite presiding over what is statistically our worse league campaign at this point since 1988/89, the manager remains free from public criticism - despite attempts of numerous national newspapers to suggest otherwise. That's a reflection of what he achieved personally last season, sympathy with his current plight and a certain belief that we shouldn't repeat previous misadventures of the Owen, Viduka, Luque, Boumsong and Xisco variety. Pardew can count himself remarkably fortunate that his team's dreadful run has yet to provoke fans into abusing either him, his players or his employers. Far from being fickle and impatient as routinely portrayed by others, the stoicism of our following is both a benefit and a curse. However that patience and goodwill will evaporate should the inactivity of last summer be repeated in the remaining days of January. As the man said, we're keeping our side of the bargain - 100,000 people watching successive home defeats at the hands of West Ham and Swansea. Don't mistake an absence of bedsheet protests and abuse for a lack of concern as to our current plight. The jury is out until this window closes and then he'll be judged on whatever team he's able to field. Bemoaning his lot in February as he's done since August will no longer be acceptable - failing to get deals "over the line" becomes Pardew's failure, regardless of the context and detail. Bland platitudes about great support will count for nowt if results don't pick up in the next few games, as will trying to pass off the return of injured players with that old chestnut about being like a new signing. At the risk of repeating ourselves, when our first-choice XI took the field earlier this season, their performances were still under-par, but obscured by the goal grabbing ability of the now-departed Demba Ba. That particular get out of gaol card is now longer in the manager's deck. And similarly to blame the young players for not stepping up is a simplistic approach - yes, we continue to lack quality at youth and reserve level, but unless a club has a golden generation of prospects, then expecting to prosper with more than one in the side is unrealistic. A further influx of Abeids, Amalfitanos and Bigirimanas would be evidence that we're prepared to reduce the wage bill to a level that would render the side not only incapable of reproducing last season's finishing position, but even remaining in this division. We seem intent on proving the old adage that if you stand still you go backwards. For Nile Ranger to be in an NE postcode, never mind on the bench is symbolic of the drift we've suffered and if the most infamous comment of Pardew's reign is the one about not selling Andy Carroll, then his "no way back for Nile" line is on the podium. If we go to Spurs with the same holes in the same areas that 52,000 of the "faithful and loyal" can see now, then fans are entitled to consider their position - and Pardew should similarly take a long hard look at himself. Here endeth the lesson.

Bony sounds great..

12-16m i reckon. who is Bony?

If we sign quality players it is OK... Mbiwa, Gomez or Seim De Jong type.

not really it is just DL retarded style. taking ages to sign players.....

I wish he had some boiling blood in him. QPR snatch his target go and get M'lla he is having second thought about it. Make us proud. I use to have his back even when we relgated but I don't right now. until MA sells us we dont go forward.

Southampton a point clear of us now

I settle with Danny if we sign top quality Cb like Mibwa and midflder like Sissako or M'Villa. It is not ideal but it will keep us up for this season.

"Gouffran was offered an extension but he did not like it. He only wants to go to England," (via Infosport+) Given the comments of the Bordeaux president, I think we might see Gouffran at NUFC either now or in the summer. Player is eager to move.

Galliani: "We are not selling Abate, so Santon will not come"

Love it. Chelskiee and Man Shity can ....

Thanks Love back at you

This is my source. https://www.facebook.com/098u7y6t

Since August 2011 Loic Remy has a conversion rate of 13% - lower than Zamora (16%) & Mackie (15.5%) but above Cisse (12.5%)

Bid accepted

We can play Debouchy as right winger. He played there when France play Spain at the Euros He is much better option than Oberton.

Where is this butland story came from?

Love your post Merlin...

I never disappointed like this since our relegation. I am fuming.

According to La Dépéche du Midi Marseille and Toulouse have reached an agreement for Sissoko, worth 3€M.

Francois Piraux ‏ Loïc Rémy doesn't want to sign for QPR. It's Newcastle or Marseille. Good project and friends at Newcastle with Cabaye and Debuchy.

With all the players we have from France. It is important even if Colo stays to put Cabaye as Vice captain.

I am not worried but whats Harry's problem with us? I just dont get it.