Newcastle fans have been simply delighted with what they have seen of Papiss Cisse so far.
Cisse heads first goal on Sunday – brilliantly
But the way Papiss has started his Newcastle career suggests if there is one up front striker it could be Papiss rather than Demba Ba.
But playing out wide is probably one reason Ba has not added to his 16 goals recently, and the main thing is that Newcastle keep scoring goals and there’s no “I” in team, as they say.
In truth, they are both top-class strikers and make Newcastle look like a very dangerous side, as Liverpool found out on Sunday when Cisse was able to rifle in two great opportunist goals.
Liverpool’s strikers cost £60M – Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez – and they could get little change out of James Perch And Mike Williamson.
The two center-backs cost Newcastle about £1.5M in total – but to be fair we understand it was also plus three packets of crisps – or was that three packets of peanuts?
This is how Alan described Cisse’s performance on Saturday:
“You could have blinked and thought it was Alan Shearer – he put that sort of performance in against Liverpool.” “I could not pay him a higher tribute than that.”
“Alan Shearer would have been purring about him.” “He has been tremendous in everything he has done.” “His first goal saw him take the defender short, stall and then go again before scoring – that is clever play.”
“His second goal could have been rushed, but he is supremely confident.” “Overall, he was excellent for us and long may that continue.” “We created a lot of problems against Liverpool – we could have had four goals really.”
“When you have a striker doing a job on the left-hand side the opposition will get in a few times.” “We have a striker playing on the left but we have done that to allow our flair players on the pitch.”
“If you are at Newcastle and you put teams under pressure something will give.” “We have to continue creating pressure like that.” “We are doing that and controlling games.”
Newcastle’s 4-3-3 looks more lethal than the usual 4-4-2 – and it’s what Kevin Keegan used four years ago when he started to get Newcastle looking good and had them scoring some goals, after joining in January of 2008, after Sam Allardyce had been fired.
And Cisse is not only scoring goals but his link up play and passing is improving all the time, and he looks a top class player and striker.
Another great buy by Newcastle, and for only £8M, according to Chief Scout Graham Carr.
Comments welcome.
417 comments so far
Vask
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:28 PM
Comment #41So if we get into Europe next season would the league still be a priority for supporters. What are our chances of taking one of the cups? Would anyone take 8th in the table and an FA or coca cola cup final over league position?
HOVIS (the poster formerly known as cheick norris)
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Comment #42Guys. As good as our players are, who would pay our asking prices?
I don’t think we’ll sell anybody important
papiss_on_your_parade
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:31 PM
Comment #43Anyone else think jonas struggled a bit at LB against Bellamy?
It might be wise to replace jonas for guthrie in LCM, and stick Santon in left back.
check the toastie
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:32 PM
Comment #44Think some of the ‘big’ clubs who would offer us big money for Tiote,Krul,Cabaye, Cisse etc etc, will be very cautious in doing so.
It has been proven that giving 30 million to a team such as ourselves can benefit the selling club far more than the buyer, ala Berbatov spurs, Carroll – Toon. Only person i see leaving in summer is Ba and that s due to the clause, hopefully if he does move on we can get more than the rumoured 7 million pound, however if he doesnt want to leave and we are improving his contract, dont think anybody would leave, and if they do then it will be for lots of money, ideal really.
Vask
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:32 PM
Comment #45I hope not hovis, I would love to retain all our important players and bolster our numbers. The longer our squad plays together the better they’ll get especially if we continue in the stable manner that we have been lately. I sense a cup run next season if we take lower league opposition seriously.
martoon
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Comment #46papiss_on_your_parade (love the name) @43 – I agree and said the same on this blog yesterday. Only question would be whether Raylor or Santon plays at LB. Of course when Colo is fit again (which I very much doubt before Easter) Perchinho might be first choice for LB!
check the toastie
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Comment #47Papiss – agree totally with that, Jonas to sit with Cheick, and Santon back in at full back, Jonas will give Santon plenty of cover, should be gud game friday eh, 2-2 me thinks.
Dont think ive commented on sunday yet, must say the atmosphere was the best this year, i would say considerably better than mackem game, loved the whole game, everything went right for us, and i must say 2nd half we were in total control.
Also wud like to add Perch was excellent, his best game in our colours, always on his toes and always anticpating any attacks, real classy performance.
And as for Cisse the boy is worth a fortune, not just his goalscoring but workrate and touch are fantastic, we have just bought the new Samuel Eto for 8 million pound, unbelievable, totally unbelievable.
HOVIS (the poster formerly known as cheick norris)
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Comment #48@40 ba is my one small doubt with this clause thing. The club aren’t in the business of discussing contract clauses with the media so they won’t confirm or deny.
And lets not talk about the Carroll money which is being invested soundly in the club and not squandered immediately on 2-3 big signings. Pay only the right prices for players and develop our youth
ihighfivedtioteandbrokemyhand
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Comment #49I can see a lot of clubs bidding for our better players but I do believe Ashley will try to keep our squad together and it will take crazy money to sell, I also hope we hold onto Guthrie and Simpson as I believe it important to keep the few Englishmen we have!
HOVIS (the poster formerly known as cheick norris)
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:42 PM
Comment #50@44 pre-empted ne there lol
papiss_on_your_parade
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:45 PM
Comment #51@Martoon and @check
Yeah it would be nice to see Perchy left back, and maybe even Santon right back to benefit him on his stronger foot.
But my only worry with that would be the space for swansea on that side with santon pushing forward with benny. We could put Raylor at RB, then either way we have someone at RB who can play in a decent cross to our boys up top!
papiss_on_your_parade
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Comment #52@Hovis
Fair point, I am definitely happy with the signings we have made since the Caroll departure, it just took a while to see the results of the investment.
Not necessarily a bad thing! We’ve got to think long term, it would be foolish to do a Liverfool and squander our money on shite players.
~Perchinho the Pheonix~
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Comment #53If liverpool thought Perch was over dramatic. I’d wonder what they would say about their Hand of god messiah.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAHRHT4A9TE
Granted, Suarez wasn’t playing for liverpool at that time.
check the toastie
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Comment #54papiss – not a fan of simpsons, however to drop him now for snaton or Raylor would be wrong and very cruel, wud have done it 3 weeks ago mind.
HOVIS (the poster formerly known as cheick norris)
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:55 PM
Comment #55@papiss yeah i agree. Some clubs get big money and go wild. They just papiss it up the wall.
In the summer some people were demanding a big striker signing with that money. And trying to tell them that we had got a striker (ba) was futile like papissing in the wind
~Perchinho the Pheonix~
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Comment #56Oh my… stumbled across this vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knW7iyiYAsY
HOVIS (the poster formerly known as cheick norris)
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:56 PM
Comment #57And in the end we got cisse for 3-5million less than the summer asking price. Great business
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:57 PM
Comment #58The answer my friend…was papissing in the wind, the answer is papissing in the wind
Just thought I’d add my input 🙂
papiss_on_your_parade
Apr 3, 2012 at 1:59 PM
Comment #59@Hovis
Indeed. Graham Carr makes this scouting business look like a piece of papiss.
ihighfivedtioteandbrokemyhand
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Comment #60Graham carrs got nowt on Dennis wise! :/
papiss_on_your_parade
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Comment #61@ihighfivedtioteandbrokemyhand
I do hope you are taking the papiss.
HOVIS (the poster formerly known as cheick norris)
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:11 PM
Comment #62And our players are more professional. More strawberry syrup and less going to blu bambu and getting papissed
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:12 PM
Comment #63If anyone tried to buy cisse this summer they’ll be taking the papiss
ihighfivedtioteandbrokemyhand
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Comment #64Ha c’mon he brought us xisco the man has an eye for talent he spent hours trawling the FIFA 09 archives
papiss_on_your_parade
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Comment #65The difference between strawberry syrup and paying a visit to blu bambu; the latter causes papissing like a racehorse.
papiss_on_your_parade
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:27 PM
Comment #66@ihighfivedtioteandbrokemyhand
Apparently Dennis Wise used to scout primarily based on videos he saw of players on youtube.
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:31 PM
Comment #67Papiss…To be fair to Wise I believe he checked them out on wikipedia too.
Oh how I miss him. Would swap him for Carr anyday….maybe Pardew for Kinnear also 🙂
HOVIS (the poster formerly known as cheick norris)
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:32 PM
Comment #68@66 so like half the armchair managers on here then?
HOVIS (the poster formerly known as cheick norris)
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Comment #69@codarm dark days. Showed ashleys naivete
Spuggy
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Comment #70http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17600227
BBC Willo interview – newly posted.
theleckworthbird
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Comment #71The two Dembas are becoming one of the best strike forces in the division
ihighfivedtioteandbrokemyhand
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Comment #72Aye but to be fair to Dennis its not like he Agnes his players on crazy long term wages tho! Oh wait……. In Graham Carr we trust 🙂
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Comment #73@ Hovis….Dark for the club yes. But Joe was good for a good old laugh 🙂
ihighfivedtioteandbrokemyhand
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:38 PM
Comment #74Agnes = signs
dreamboat
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:40 PM
Comment #75New poster here!
Just wanted to know how much we would get if we get into the Europa League next season?
Would it be worth the extra games? Although it would attract more players and attention. Also with the added benefit that there will still not be a mackem in Milan! 😀
papiss_on_your_parade
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:43 PM
Comment #76Aye @Codarm, but I’m assuming none of them will be given the ‘Director of Football’ role at NUFC. In Graham Carr we trust.
GeordieGesus
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:45 PM
Comment #77Welcome to the house of fun dreamboat. “Just wanted to know.” Sounds as if you just want an answer to that question and that’s it. You’ll disappear again?
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:45 PM
Comment #78Papiss. Wise and Kinnear? I was only joking, can’t let them anywhere near the club. Between Pardew and Carr we’re sorted and they both have my trust!
krijo
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Comment #79Andy Carroll has turned down being
the new face of L’Oreal hair products as
everyone burst into fits of laughter
every time he uttered the words
“Because I’m Worth It!”
papiss_on_your_parade
Apr 3, 2012 at 2:47 PM
Comment #80@Dreamboat
Each team that qualifies for the Europa Leagues collects a €640,000 participation bonus and also a match bonus of €60,000 for each match that is played in the group stage. That makes the minimum amount earned for Europa League qualification €1m, but ever team receive €140,000 per win and €70,000 per draw in their group games onto of the first €1m.
If a team wins all their group matches, they earn a total of €1.84m, just from the group stage of the competition.
A team then receives €200,000 for reaching the round of 32, €300,000 for the round of 16, €400,000 for the quarter-finals and €700,000 for the semi-finals.
The prize money for the clubs that go all the way to the final will be €3m for the eventual winner and €2m for the runner-up.