L'Equipe: Modibo Maiga fails medical; transfer 'abandoned'

[Alberto2005]

If he does sign will he be available to play against Manchester United and Blackburn on the 4th and 7th.

[TRC]

Do we need him?

[Ronaldo]

Yes.

[Cajun]

Do we need him?

 

We will.

 

Can he play on the right wing btw? I thought he was a forward/winger...

[TRC]

Really can't see where HBA fits in if we sign Maiga. Not that I'm bothered about HBA but he's supposed to be one of our star players.

[Ronaldo]

We'll play Maiga up with Ba. Don't see the problem.

[NoU]

Nope, I don't think so. Think I remember Pardew saying that a striker needs to prove himself to be worthy of the number 9.

Does that mean Ba will get it?

 

Wouldn't mind that really, especially if it meant something to him.

[oldtype]

Us spending 7m on a player? What is this slanderous libel!

[Sifu]

Nope, I don't think so. Think I remember Pardew saying that a striker needs to prove himself to be worthy of the number 9.

Does that mean Ba will get it?

 

Wouldn't mind that really, especially if it meant something to him.

 

Hopefully. Though Ba doesn't mind what number he's got really.

[TRC]

We'll play Maiga up with Ba. Don't see the problem.

 

I just dont think we need him too urgently, I'd rather sign a right winger and 2 defenders first.

[oldtype]

We'll play Maiga up with Ba. Don't see the problem.

 

I just dont think we need him too urgently, I'd rather sign a right winger and 2 defenders first.

 

Obviously you'd rather have him than not have him though.

 

The decision to continue to push this deal while the window was closed to have him ready for Jan 1st was probably made at the beginning of the season, where ostensibly our biggest priority was a striker. It makes a lot of sense if you look at it that way.

 

Besides, this is the end of Lovenkrands. Somewhere out there Ronaldo is ing

[Cajun]

We'll play Maiga up with Ba. Don't see the problem.

 

Would feel a bit harsh leaving Best out, he has been fantastic for us since we needed a replacement for Carroll (imo).

[TRC]

Yeah i'd rather have him than not, but not at the expense of a defender.

[oldtype]

That's kind of the point, tying this up in December gives us the whole month to go look for defenders.

 

Plenty of time to sell Tiote, Krul, and Coloccini too

[Ronaldo]

We'll play Maiga up with Ba. Don't see the problem.

 

Would feel a bit harsh leaving Best out, he has been fantastic for us since we needed a replacement for Carroll (imo).

 

You know I like Best. Competition is important.

[Alberto2005]

Best is probably a perfect squad player, not good enough to start and not good enough to leave for a better club meaning he's likely to stay even if he's bench warming.

[ohmelads]

Makes you wonder what future HBA has here? He hasn't been given a shot on either wing and hasn't had a run up front either. Have we given up on him already?

 

I'd welcome an in-form forward who is quick, skillful and can play off Ba but it seems strange not to give HBA a run first. Ben Arfa may not have a goalscoring record but he is capable of providing the bullets and pulling defenders out of position while Ba will clearly be our top scorer. We've only seen them play together against the biggest sides when we were up against it, such as away to Man U and Man City, probably the two hardest fixtures all season.

 

It seems we've scouted Maiga for ages and are still keen which is a good sign that we know what we're buying and have done our homework. Let's hope that if he does sign he has the same kind of impact Ba, Cabaye, and Tiote have had. But sadly it does nothing for us over the ACN which will be the most crucial period of our season. All in all it seems strange timing but if the club see this as a bargain we can't pass up then why not? Our scouting network has unearthed some gems in recent times and let's face it if you want a prolific scorer from the Premier League you'll pay five or even ten times more.

[aussiemag]

Makes you wonder what future HBA has here? He hasn't been given a shot on either wing and hasn't had a run up front either. Have we given up on him already?

 

I'd welcome an in-form forward who is quick, skillful and can play off Ba but it seems strange not to give HBA a run first. Ben Arfa may not have a goalscoring record but he is capable of providing the bullets and pulling defenders out of position while Ba will clearly be our top scorer. We've only seen them play together against the biggest sides when we were up against it, such as away to Man U and Man City, probably the two hardest fixtures all season.

 

It seems we've scouted Maiga for ages and are still keen which is a good sign that we know what we're buying and have done our homework. Let's hope that if he does sign he has the same kind of impact Ba, Cabaye, and Tiote have had. But sadly it does nothing for us over the ACN which will be the most crucial period of our season. All in all it seems strange timing but if the club see this as a bargain we can't pass up then why not? Our scouting network has unearthed some gems in recent times and let's face it if you want a prolific scorer from the Premier League you'll pay five or even ten times more.

 

Or nothing in the case of Demba Ba.

[Ronaldo]

Best is probably a perfect squad player, not good enough to start and not good enough to leave for a better club meaning he's likely to stay even if he's bench warming.

 

Best is one of the biggest reasons we were 3rd after 12 games. He's easily good enough to start.

[ohmelads]

Or nothing in the case of Demba Ba.

 

True that but I think we've punched above our weight by signing well from the foreign leagues.

 

Ba was a gamble I guess the bigger clubs were not prepared to take. He had a prolific record with West Ham but over just a handful of games so lacked the domestic pedigree, not to mention major doubts over his injury record. Generally signing a player prolific in the Premier League won't be cheap at all so for clubs like us we have to look to Europe, go for young English strikers or pay massive amounts for the likes of Darren Bent which Ashley is clearly reluctant to do.

 

Unless this is a smokescreen then we've been watching this lad for absolutely ages and if it's the same scouts who recommended Cabaye, Tiote and Ba then I trust their judgement. It just leaves you wondering what future Ben Arfa has here because we're not exactly a club who stockpile expensive signings.

[Ikon]

Best is probably a perfect squad player, not good enough to start and not good enough to leave for a better club meaning he's likely to stay even if he's bench warming.

 

Best is one of the biggest reasons we were 3rd after 12 games. He's easily good enough to start.

 

There's as many as 4 even bigger reasons imo, Ba, Krul, Colo, Taylor.

[Ronaldo]

Perhaps.

[Guest]

France Football just saying he'll arrive this week, and that we want to check his left knee.

[Christmas Tree]

MODIBO Maïga will undergo a Newcastle United medical today as he moves a step closer to completing his January switch to St James’ Park.

 

The Journal understands the medical is taking place in London with Newcastle’s club doctor and, although the Sochaux striker has been sparingly involved with the Ligue 1 side of late, it is expected to pass without any hitches.

 

Paris, where the club were hoping to tie up a deal in August, is the alternative venue for the procedure – which would be a huge step towards confirming a deal that has been in the pipeline for several weeks.

 

A fee and terms have been agreed with Sochaux and Maïga will then only require a work visa before the deal can be wrapped up – with a possible announcement as soon as the January transfer window opens.

 

The deal is understood to be worth around £6million, and part of the reason for Maïga’s limited involvement with Sochaux appears to be that advanced talks have been going on behind the scenes for several months.

 

Alan Pardew will be delighted to see another striker come through the door, but Maïga will be away with Mali for the start of the African Nations Cup in January. Even though Mali’s qualification for the tournament was not assured when United made a breakthrough with Sochaux, he is so well thought of at St James’ Park that the club are prepared to make that concession for a player who possesses the one thing Newcastle crave – pace.

 

 

Primarily left-footed, Maïga is tall and wiry and seen as a good foil for their crop of taller hit-men like Demba Ba and Shola Ameobi.

 

Again, the club believe he will be able to hit the ground running like Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tioté.

 

The 25-year-old came on as a half-time substitute during Saturday’s 1-0 reverse against Paris-Saint Germain – his first appearance since November 20. He has scored four goals so far this season, despite falling foul of Sochaux’s supporters and picking up an injury earlier in the campaign.

 

With one new player through the door, the club will re-focus their efforts on trying to lure a centre-back in January.

 

Although Pardew would ideally like two defenders to join in January there is no appetite in the boardroom for extensive spending above the budget – which means recruiting a second centre-half remains very much in the balance.

 

In an indication of the difficulties the club might face sifting through viable targets in January, The Journal understands that over 50 names were put to the club as soon as it became clear that Steven Taylor’s injury was serious. Versatile PSV Eindhoven defender Erik Pieters is a priority target.

 

Meanwhile, a source close to Tioté has told The Journal the midfielder has “no intention” of quitting St James’ Park next month, despite mounting speculation surrounding his future.

 

Weekend stories again linked Tioté with long-term suitors Chelsea, while Tottenham and Manchester United have also watched the Newcastle midfielder, but the player is said to be “very happy” at St James’ Park.

 

Of course the same was said of Andy Carroll before he completed his move to Liverpool, but the Tioté camp is emphasising that no discussions have taken place with any other club and the African has stated both publicly and privately that he has no intention of moving on.

 

He has just moved house and is understood to be grateful to United for the way he has been treated since moving from FC Twente 18 months ago.

 

After an absence of nearly two months, Pardew hopes to have Tioté fit for the weekend clash with Swansea. The United manager said: “Tioté is a possibility, and that’ll be a big lift.”

 

 

Seems like an eternity ago those last few days of the transfer window scratting around for a striker. Credit to the club for getting there eventually though. Sounds like a good prospect.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

France Football just saying he'll arrive this week, and that we want to check his left knee.

 

To check it's knackered.