Alan Pardew may well have reacted with fury when Arsenal submitted their comically low bid for French fulcrum Yohan Cabaye before Newcastle United's Manchester mauling but-distasteful timing aside- should Newcastle not be welcoming the start of a bidding war? Cabaye has arguably failed to show the form that propelled United to the fringes of the Champions League places in 2011/12 for over a year now, and it could well be a blessing in disguise for them to be able to cut their losses. Here is a handy list of reasons for Pardew to remain cheerful.
6. The Tiote Conundrum
Remember how magnificent Ivorian destroyer Chieck Tiote was in Newcastle's first season in the Premier League after promotion? He strode the pitch like a particularly cross colossus, breaking up attacks and dictating the rythm of Newcastle's counter attacks. Talk soon followed of £20 million bids from clubs whose midfields had been laid waste to, only for Tiote to then spend the next two seasons performing like a blurry facsimilie of an imitation of that player, and his market value has plummeted accordingly. If Newcastle can deal at £20 million for Cabaye and maximise his value to a rebuilding effort, then it may well be a case of now or never. Which brings us to...