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As a result of a diabolical run of form, the mood on Tyneside is as bleak as the weather heading into this game. With Coloccini, Tioté and Rémy expected to be back though perhaps some rays of sunshine can break through those dark clouds.
This horrific run of form has to come to an end sometime and the sooner the better as Newcastle United haven’t won a game or scored a goal for over a month now, Saturday 18th of January being the last time we managed to do either, and even that was preceded by 4 losses in a row. That day influential midfielder and fan favourite Yohan Cabaye stole the show; he was serenaded by the Newcastle fans singing his name long after the final whistle in East London.
How times change, flash forward a little more than a month and the mood amongst the Newcastle fans couldn’t be any more different. Yohan Cabaye, the last player to score a goal for Newcastle United, is no longer with the club. Sold and not replaced. From that moment on the Newcastle United train has well and truly derailed. A goalless draw at Norwich is as good as it has got, standing out above thrashings from the mackems, Chelsea and Spurs. In fact the presence of Yohan Cabaye has been so vital to the team this season that they have failed to record a win in the 7 games he hasn’t played.
It’ll be no surprise to hear that Cabaye is our joint highest rated player this season according to the ToonForumIndex, sharing the honour and an average score of 6.61 with fellow midfielder Tioté. Unfortunately the Frenchman is no longer at the club, and there is nothing that can be done about that. He is a man with ambition, a desire to succeed and a hunger to achieve, whereas the Newcastle board are the opposite, and he has gone on to bigger and better things. It is down to the manager and players currently at the club to respond and get their season back on track. Continue reading