Source: Daily_Mail
Yohan Cabaye is destined to be a hit at Newcastle
Yohan Cabaye went back to school on Thursday night. It was a lecture theatre at Newcastle University to be precise, and the start of a course of English lessons with his wife, Fiona.[LNB] Also suffering first night nerves and mingling among the students were his Newcastle team-mates Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux and their partners.[LNB] Sitting pretty: Yohan Cabaye has settled in quickly at Newcastle[LNB]The language barrier has had its advantages for Cabaye since he made his Barclays Premier League debut against Arsenal on the opening day of the season.[LNB] The former Lille midfielder and his new central partner Cheik Tiote, an Ivory Coast international, have communicated in pidgin French in the six games they have played together, much to the bemusement of their opponents and amusement of their manager.[LNB] But, with seven French speaking players in his squad, Alan Pardew has actually banned them speaking the language around the training ground. [LNB]If he hears a word of it on the pitches, in the dressing room, round the canteen or even from the table tennis room, the players are fined.[LNB] Back in June, on the day he signed for Newcastle, and long before Pardew had imposed these strict rules, Cabaye had decided his first priority was to learn English. [LNB] New boy: Cabaye has helped fill the void left by Nolan and Barton[LNB]In fact, pull up alongside his car and you will see an international footballer merrily chatting away to himself behind the wheel . It is al l thanks to advice from Lille's fitness coach Gregory Dupont.[LNB] 'On the first day I arrived I only knew the basics,' Cabaye said. 'It was like schoolboy English. I could only say hello and goodbye or ask very simple questions.[LNB] 'Gregory told me to get some language CDs and put them on in the car. He told me it worked for him and although he is back at Lille now, when he was at Celtic he was the same as me. He was there for two years and now he is nearly perfect in English and he can also read English books.[LNB]'I also tried to put myself in someone else's shoes. If a foreign player came to France I would appreciate him making the effort to learn the language. As soon as I signed we found a home so we could settle in quickly and wouldn't have to live in a hotel. I like the northern mentality. It is a nice warm environment, similar to Lille.'[LNB] So would he expect Joe Cole to do the same now he has moved to Cabaye's beloved Lille, where he spent more than a decade as man and boy?[LNB] It is one of the few questions Cabaye is confident enough to answer without the interpreter and in the English hehas picked up since his ?4.6million move from the French champions .[LNB] French fancy: Cabaye wants to help Newcastle back into Europe[LNB] 'I think he knows a few words already,' he said. 'But he will need to learn French to communicate with all the squad. It is a tight group at Lille and they all get on really well, so it would be good for him to integrate with the squad.[LNB]'He will do well there. He is in a team which really wants to play football, he is a good technical player, so he should settle in very well. They have not started winning yet but he scored a beautiful goal last week. I am sure he will bring all his quality and experience to the team.'[LNB] Quality and experience. Cabaye has it in abundance, and while the sales of Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton caused much consternation among the Newcastle support, the arrival and early impact of the 25-year-old has more than compensated for their loss.[LNB] He can tackle, he can pass and he can certainly shoot. Shay Given's hands are still warm from the 25-yard strike the midfielder unleashed in the final minute at Villa Park two weeks ago.[LNB] 'I knew the name and I knew he was a good goalkeeper,' Cabaye said. 'But it was a very good save. [LNB]'I like to shoot from long distances and I like to score goals. I am pretty sure my first goal will come soon.'[LNB] Cabaye was brought up in the northern town of Tourcoing near the Belgian border, in a house obsessed with football. His grandfather played for Tourcoing FC - the team Yohan joined aged six before he was snapped up, aged 12, by Lille's academy. [LNB] Up for it: Cabaye wanted to test himself in Premier League[LNB]His father Didier also had a spell as player and coach with Tourcoing after his dream of reaching the top flight with Lens was ended when he suffered a double leg fracture, aged just 17.[LNB] There is also his younger brother Geoffrey, banker by day and footballer in his spare time. The midfielder - left footed to Yohan's right - is playing in the French fifth division with Croix.[LNB] Cabaye said: 'My mother Louisa was the only one in our family who did not play football, but she loves football. And it's just as well.[LNB] 'We played almost every day and then every weekend when I was younger. My brother would have his matches on a Saturday afternoon and then my father was my coach and we would go to our games on a Sunday. My dad was never too pushy. He just encouraged us.[LNB] 'Because he played and he was a coach, he always knows when I have had a bad game. If I have played badly, I don't ask him what he thinks because he knows how I am feeling. I like to think I am living his dream. The dream for all of us is for me to play in the same team as my brother. I keep telling him to work hard.'[LNB] Not even a French league and cup double and return to the Champions League could persuade Cabaye to stay with Lille for an additional season once Pardew and Newcastle came calling.[LNB] 'I wanted to discover the Premier League and see if I could play here,' he explained. 'Newcastle were the only club to offer me the opportunity.[LNB] 'It is a great club and for me that was enough. I believe we can get Newcastle back into Europe.'[LNB] So what did Newcastle United mean to Cabaye before June?[LNB] 'David Ginola,' he says and he beams. 'I can just remember watching him when I was a kid and he played against Manchester United and scored when Newcastle won 5-0.'[LNB] FIRING LINE: Brucey bonus for Kean as Sunderland boss is new favourite for the axeNorthern Exposure: Hartlepool show Newcastle and Sunderland how to pull in the big crowds[LNB] [LNB] [LNB]
