It’s been surprising to us that Cheick Tiote has played so well for Newcastle this year at both Arsenal and last week at home to West Brom, when he combined so well with Jonjo Shelvey.
Both players were Newcastle’s best two performers on the day in our Man of the Match poll, with Shelvey topping the poll.
Jack Colback is back in training now and maybe he will come in at left back for Rolando Aarons to add more experience at the back today?
Cheick Tiote – Newcastle’s unlikely savior?
But we cannot see Jack getting his midfield position back anytime soon, assuming Cheick keeps performing like he’s been doing this year – when he’s played for us.
And if Cheick is replaced Jack will have to fight it out with new boy Henri Saivet for the position, and Henri’s looked good when he’s played for us.
His move to Shanghai and the Chinese Super League broke down in January, because he couldn’t agree to personal terms and that deal is now unlikely to be resurrected this month.
This is what Steve McClaren has said about Cheick:
“I hope he stays – I’m certainly recommending that.”
“He showed his value, although I also thought he had been playing well before he left to negotiate his deal with Shanghai.”
“He came back and played well, even though he’d only had a few days training.”
Cheick has massive experience in the Premier League and these are the types of players we need to have in action during the run-in to what has been another disastrous season for Newcastle.
If Cheick can stay fit and keep playing like he’s done at Arsenal and last Saturday – that will go a long way to helping Newcastle survive this season – for the second season running.
That’s the only thing that really matters at the moment.
Comments welcome.
125 comments so far
Ron Knee
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:03 AM
Comment #1Morning jesper
I like Ed’s typo from an earlier post: Crustal Palace!
Lindisfarne
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:05 AM
Comment #2He needs to play with a smile, not on his face but with happiness inside and none of us have had much of that, since the turn of 2014.
Ian Toon
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:05 AM
Comment #3Ibizatoon – Earlier in the week as requested. This was forwarded to me and provides additional information. Can we please concentrate on football.
35Ian Toon // Sep 29, 2015 at 6:16 AM
Jail / Dr Ed Harrison –
There will always be people who will endlessly repeat your lies about me but Ed conclusively absolved me of any blame on the 17/10/2013 @ I believe 10.14. The email was posted on the blog at the time. Feel free to check it out and also contact Ed for verification but he has said that he wants to close down the whole silly saga. Incidentally, I recommended this almost two years ago.
He categorically said that I had never posted under any other name than Ian Toon. You can keep up your dirty tricks along with a few of your band but your fighting a losing battle because posters are bored by your crusade and don’t care for your attempted victimisation.
I would much prefer to post solely on football related matters but I am not going to let you constantly tell lies about me. I hear some say why bother – well maybe because I like the blog and like the engagement with all things toon.
El Sleeve
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:06 AM
Comment #4I’d just like to announce that I’m coming home Newcastle, after a 4 year absence, I’m off back to my spiritual home. A place I lived for 7 years. Gonna be getting on the plane in my 1999/2000 home shirt, Newcastle Brown logo on the front, then gan down the Free Trade later on.
Excited doesn’t even cover it!
Now for a good performance today from the lads! HWTL!
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:12 AM
Comment #5carl,
I also posted an e mail that held you 100% accountable of posting under at least four different user names.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:13 AM
Comment #6El Sleeve
Welcime back to your spiritual home!
cestriasteve
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:13 AM
Comment #7Jesus, we’ve only scored 6 goals away from home!! Scary!!
MassiveG
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:14 AM
Comment #8Why is everyone so surprised about Tiote – yeah he’s getting on, but he’s one half of what was our best midfield combo (Tiote cabaye) since Solano speed dyer Robert graced our pitch
catchy in norway
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:14 AM
Comment #9Jail
I assure you, I treat them both very differently,
It’s very simple in my book, and it has been the same msg for a long time now, I LOVE FOOTBALL, under p45 it wasn’t football , under Shteve it is.
One tries not to lose the game , and one tries to win the game, and for me there is a huge difference in the 2.
I have also said many times now , I am not employed by the club I have no say in who we buy, who we sell, and I don’t care how much we make it lose, I can not influence anything. What does that mean, it means I want to be entertained, I want to watch football that ultimately brings us some success but should it not bring success I want to remember something about the game that is positive, I want to see us try, I will forgive anyone who tries, I don’t like whiners that cry that they didn’t win , but never put any effort in in the first place.
I don’t care if we are in the championship or the prem, I will still support my team, for to many it’s more about just being in the prem, wrong attitude for me,
Now I’m not stuppid enough to think we should go out and be gung-ho with everyone we play, no but at home we should try and win every game, and away you pick your fights wisely, mentality has more a say in how you play than position in the league, and for me that’s been out biggest problem all season, P45 turned us into losers, always thinking defend , Shteve is trying to turn things around, but it was never going to happen over night.
Shteve was not my first choice , but he was on my list , because he plays the game right, and all in all , I think he has done a good job..
I base all of what I think on what I see out on the pitch, not by what I see on a league table, we kept p45 based on a false position in the league, your eyes told you that the football was poor , but the table said it was ok because we were 5th, well it’s the total opposite for me right now, the table says we are in trouble, but my eyes tell me the football is good and we be ok.
All I want is decent football with people who try
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:16 AM
Comment #10Ian/carl/sack/pushy
If you just stuck to one name and stopped you’re vendetta against certain posters then the matter would quietly go away and you could get back to discussing football and fawning over Belfast.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:18 AM
Comment #11Massive G
I could not believe the amount of people on here who were happy to see him sold in January, I was very much in the minority
Fostino
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:21 AM
Comment #12Just giving my 2 cents regarding the Adam Johnson case. Think Sunderland have finally acted correctly by sacking this sick individual. I know it’s a sensitive issue but the Las was clearly guilty and I was at the anfield game the weekend and I couldnt understand how the Sunderland fans were cheering him on and singing his name while he warmed up in the sideline. I read the details of the case yesterday online. Shocking stuff. He has really let himself and his club down. I find it amazing he was allowed to continue on playing for so long after his conviction.
WWSBRD
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:26 AM
Comment #13The case of Tiote a man who took the league by storm then tried to become more than what he was now seems to be back to just kicking folk and being a human wall
I’d of sold him in Jan and brought in a younger version of him but I am not disappointed he is still with us by any stretch of the imagination
BandB
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:26 AM
Comment #14El Sleeve
You’ll need some long ones.
Though Chelsea are favourites, this is the type of game we should be looking to for bonus points. A point would be decent, but our away form has been poor.
There’s always a chance Chelsea won’t show up as they have made a habit of it against us recently.
Despite the improvements in our general style, we tend to look best when the other team fails to show.
And if we keep it even we might mug them with a late goal. Reasons for hope, though we shouldn’t be expecting a re-run of West Brom.
Respect to all the travelling fans on another long trip.
HWTL
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:27 AM
Comment #15Very good catchy and a good post too. But the simple matter is the dross under the hapless tuft has far outweighed this pure football you think he plays, there is simply no getting away from the fact that he is a failed and sacked Championship manager who didn’t want to be anywhere near us, he is not up to the job and I can’t see it being any different next season with him in charge.
Average_Contents
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:34 AM
Comment #16Belfast from lastnight.
That could very well be the case, just find it odd that jiblet hasn’t posted for a few days (I don’t think anyway, unless I’ve missed them) and this Rhys blurt is regurgitating the same inane drivel as it used to.
Ian
Give it a rest. That proves fcukall and certainly doesn’t absolve you of anything. A post typed up by you and then forwarded to you.
Yer right.
BandB
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:35 AM
Comment #17Fostino
He hasn’t been convicted. He has admitted to a couple of charges before the trial. That’s not the same as being convicted.
The trial on the other charges has just started, and it’s contempt of court to say he’s guilty until the trial is over. Normally people posting on the internet will get away with it, but if the judge decides Johnson can’t get a fair trial because of public comment, he may stop the case.
So if people want justice done, they won’t do anything to prejudice the trial.
sparky55
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:40 AM
Comment #18been working away in Orkney this week so have missed the JIB saga…what happened?
BandB
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:43 AM
Comment #19AC
There’s always the chance no-one has mentioned that all of it might be just one very determined and well tooled person. All of “them” know the blog and its regular posters over the past three years, which is when the serious efforts started.
Genuine new posters are as rare as hens’ teeth. New names popping up right now should be treated with s bit of caution as some of them have taken less than a few hours to reveal what they are about.
sparky55
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:45 AM
Comment #20re game tonight…a draw’s a win, a win is a win win, and a loss after having played well is also a win.
The performance today is far more important than the result…the lads need to come away from this game really believing they can comfortably stay up or we could come unstuck.
Fostino
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:46 AM
Comment #21Band b
Are you suggesting I might be jepridisimg the case for offering my opinion. You realise there was a guy at the trail yesterday who shared all the facts of the case.the things Johnson did and said minute by minute via twitter. I can share the link if you like.
Surely Sunderland sacking him too before his conviction will prejudice the trail. I don’t understand your point.
Fostino
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:49 AM
Comment #22*jeopardising
corkypants
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:52 AM
Comment #23Tactics today same as against the baggies but a few tweaks
1. Target whoever is playing next to mikel put pressure on him make him go sideways to mikel as mikel is very error prone and doesnt have the best passing ability.
2. Start rolando at left back use andros and rolando to pin back ivanovich as he is slowing at his age and is lacking confidence at the mo
3. Use sissoko more tday as its a absolute miss match against azpilaqueta down that side socks is a beast of guy where as azpi is quite small also get andros to stand up balls to the back stick surely socks can beat him in the air
BandB
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:55 AM
Comment #24Fostino
You can report a trial. But the report has to be “fair, accurate and contemporaneous” or it risks being held in contempt of court.
All online comment which claims he is guilty of the offences for which he is standing trial is in contempt of court until the verdict.
If this link is in contempt, it would be a breach of the Contempt of Court Act just for you to re-publish it.
It can have consequences. Be warned.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 9:57 AM
Comment #25Sparky,
The trolling got unbearable last week and Ed has has had a cull of shared IPs and trolling usernames by the looks of it. Jib has stopped posting, coincidence. Maybe.
catchy in norway
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Comment #26How can Sunderland predudice the case by sacking him, he pleaded guilty, that has a bigger say in eventual events. Sacking him whilst he had not pleaded anything would have been harmful
nat1981
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:01 AM
Comment #27Why does edd keep saying we have spent the most this season didnt man city spend 56m on de brouner and 49 on sterling
Fostino
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:01 AM
Comment #28Band B
Ok fair enough. I take your point regarding posting comments. What about Sunderland sacking him yesterday though. Is that not prejudice?
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:01 AM
Comment #29On Johnson, he’d have got away with it if he was playing for Herenveen !
martoon
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:03 AM
Comment #30Ian I’ve no axe to grind with you at all and I’ve always had good debates with you. However I’m absolutely sure you once admitted you were Pushy Pardew – nothing wrong with that because it was quite a funny name at the time. However it makes your denials now look a bit absurd!
WWSBRD
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:05 AM
Comment #31Johnson apparently misled Sunderland over his plea which brought about his sacking
BandB
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:06 AM
Comment #32Fostino
No it isn’t.
He admitted to some of the charges earlier this week, which were clearly a sackable offence in themselves.
That’s why they didn’t sack him until he did.
He on trial now for serious charges he has denied.
And the proceedings of the trial are covered by the Contempt of Court Acts.
Fostino
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:06 AM
Comment #33Catchy in Norway.
I understand that now after Band B explanation but should they wait now until he’s convicted to sack him. Not that I’m sticking up for him now…im learning here. I will be reserving my judgement on the case from now on.
Fostino
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:07 AM
Comment #34Band b
Ok. Fair enough. Makes sense.
geordieboy83
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:09 AM
Comment #35Morning all
Think the key today is to get Chelsea turned around. Ivanovic and azpilicueta both have there strong points but I think if the tag teams of aarons and Townsend on left and daryl and moussa on the right attack them then that’s when they can come unstuck. Hazard tracking back can be an issue for Chelsea and can take him out of the game. It’s also key to stop corners needlessly being given away.
Also with Chelsea’s ageing defence I would unleash doumbia with about 20 mins to go regardless of if we are winning or not. Cahill ivamovic amd terry will hate seeing him come off the bench.
But I think we have to remember this group of players won the league at a canter last year so would not be surprised to see them turn it on as hey are more than capable
Fostino
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:15 AM
Comment #36P.s.
I think society is crazy that when I say he is guilty is seen as an act of prejudice when he has admitted that he is guilty himself. Crazy stuff.
sing in the corner
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:16 AM
Comment #37Hells teeth, didn’t know Cruyff has lung cancer…
Not another one. It’s been a bad run lately. Good luck to everyone with this thing, famous or not.
On today’s games, can’t see too many of our ‘rivals’ getting too much from their matches. So a draw would be great. Still dreaming of Mitro’s fortunes turning further and romping to a win though!
catchy in norway
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:17 AM
Comment #38Fostino
I’m not sure which part of guilty you don’t understand, regardless of what a court of law decide his future is, the guy pleaded guilty to having sex and grooming an under age girl.
There is no need in my head to wait for them, what he did was wrong. And I think he should be made an example of, the jail term should be a long one.
WWSBRD
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:22 AM
Comment #39Johnson didnt plead guilty to having sex with an underage girl
sing in the corner
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:26 AM
Comment #40Tiote.
Keep your head together in the early period. We really need him not to get a daft booking or Chelsea will hone in on him, theatrical triple salco’s every challenge he makes thereafter.