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
Fostino
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:27 AM
Comment #41Catchy in Norway.
Maybe you should read my first comment. I said sunderland have acted correctly by sacking him but I then got called out for saying it and that i should be careful as he hasn’t been convicted yet etc. Anyway. Il going to bow out of this discussion.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:29 AM
Comment #42Sitc,
The last time I looked he had a bioking for every other game he’d played. Does this make him the most booked player in the PL?
sing in the corner
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:30 AM
Comment #43Oops, I am reliably informed it’s triple Salchow ( well actually I googled it would you believe? 🙂 – someone has to fill in for Tyneside’s silver tongued cavalier while he’s on a little break)
sing in the corner
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:31 AM
Comment #44Alright Jail?
Ha ha as you well know wor Jack has that honour you wag.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:36 AM
Comment #45Sitc,
Does Colback have more?
sing in the corner
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:37 AM
Comment #46Oh yes, 9 I thought…
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:47 AM
Comment #47I mean in general, not this season
sing in the corner
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:50 AM
Comment #48Apparently Norwich’s Tettey has one more yellow. I could get addicted to this, so I’m gonna stop it before it gets outa control!
It’s either that or googlers anonymous.
hibbitt
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:50 AM
Comment #49dont care if we get beat today but do hope we turn up and at lest have ago at chelsea…… we need a performance today anything more then that would be great
SUTTY1978
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:51 AM
Comment #50Catchy,
Read your defence of McClaren. I tend to agree with you 50%. Yes we look to play decent football at home but away from home it’s the same defensive crap that Pardew had us playing. It has the same or worse results as well. Multi goal hammerings and only 6 goals scored away from home.
Also although we have played some good stuff at home there have been plenty of games where we have been useless. Hence the woeful league position.
Missed chances have cost us but there have been many games where the oppositions lack of finishing has either enabled us to grab a point or three or stopped us from getting an even bigger roasting.
SUTTY1978
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:56 AM
Comment #51We shouldn’t have anything to fear from Chelsea today, they are only a handful of points above us and have been every bit as bad as us at times this season. Need to treat it like a home game and go at them, if we sit back they will win.
There’s no point us trying to play on the counter as you need to be clinical to do that. We might get 15 chances and score 1 or 2 if we really attack them. If we play on the counter we will probably get 4 or 5 chances and score none.
Blackley and Brownlie
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:59 AM
Comment #52Anyone at Little Benton this morning? NUFC v Man City u18s about to K.O. Old Blackas is in the high viz.
No Defence
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:00 AM
Comment #53I have a feeling Steve mc might even start the game with Colback in along side Tiote and move Johjo further up Cabye role and drop Winaldum for the first half, and leave young Aarons at left back.
check the toastie
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:06 AM
Comment #54wwsbrd – only because the young lass didn’t want too, so it seems in the messages between the two.
mister smart arse you are. bloke has a serious problem and is a complete assh0le and you think the best thing to do is to score a point based on semantics, deserves Jail. Sexual activity with her and implying it was just a matter of time before he had his evil way with her.
Sunderland as a club should be ashamed of themselves for playing him whilst he had been charged. playing a player whilst charged with grooming, great example to set.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:09 AM
Comment #55Blackas,
Is your macaw jacket in the wash
Ian Toon
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:09 AM
Comment #56martoon- I have always enjoyed the craic as well. Not guilty, but he is the only character the usual suspects have linked me with that I had actually met. It was soon after Pardew pushing a linesman, in the Spurs game I believe. He was joking about it in a group having just been involved in negotiating to buy a share in a nearby gym. I was on a stag do. He’s a colourful outgoing type as his entries on the blog showed.
You thinking that does show that If you repeat something enough times people believe it. Like Gordon Brown’s no more boom and bust.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:09 AM
Comment #57Who’s mister smart ar$e ?
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:10 AM
Comment #58BREAKING NEWS ! Adam Johnson wants to sign for Manchester United after hearing they have players who are Young, Blind and Keane !!
Blackley and Brownlie
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:14 AM
Comment #59Jail
I’m giving the macaw a rest today. 1 -0 to City who’ve had most of the play.
LGFUAD21
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:14 AM
Comment #60If dummet was fit I’d say I think we have a chance today.
However, I just don’t think Aarons can do the defensive business.
On the plus side it’ll do him the world of good playing there.
I remember di Maria crediting his development to playing left back for a while at benfica.
I honestly don’t think Colback has a first team place anymore.
We need Shelvey and Gini and we need a dm which has to be tiote or Saivet.
Ian Toon
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:18 AM
Comment #61Colback has a big part to play to ensure our survival in the PL.
WWSBRD
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:18 AM
Comment #62check
Its not semantics is fasts, Johnson didnt plead guilty to having sex with an underage girl
As for Sunderland pretty sure the agreed ideology is innocent until proven guilty, am sure they questioned him about it and he denied it and once it became evident he had done something wrong they quickly moved to sack him
And u can call me what u like bud
WWSBRD
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:20 AM
Comment #63JfA
Least he thinks am smart I suppose
sparky55
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:22 AM
Comment #64cheers Jail
not before time to be fair
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:22 AM
Comment #65Ian Toon,
I thought you met him while staying at a travelodge, colourful out going type, Jeezus H Christ. What about carl who got you a job. The funny thing is I was reading some of you’re posts under Pushy, the spelling of your, the fawning over Tsunki, not Belfast note, the saying I am told and you’re telling certain posters they are good value or are upgrades and who can forget Pushy and Pushy talking to themselves. Coincidence. Yer right!
lesh
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:25 AM
Comment #66Fostino
Johnson ain’t been convicted yet. He pleaded guilty to two charges and that would’ve been enough to sack him.
Ian Toon
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:26 AM
Comment #67Jail – It was a Premier Inn in Team Valley. A gym is next door. I won’t respond to the rest of your garbage.
What are you so afraid of!
banjax
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:27 AM
Comment #68After spending in excess of £80 million on players this season there is no excuse now for McLaren to get a result at Chelsea today and if I were Mike Ashley I would be expecting a minimum of a draw. If we get beat (which is more likely) then Mike Ashley has an 18 day window to bring in a manager who can get the results to drag us out of the relegation mire. ‘Judge me after 10 games’ McLaren – has had more time and money than any manager over this period ever at Newcastle. He has been backed with the support of the board, who at other clubs he would have been sacked long ago. The time to act is now Mr Ashley because if the Newcastle players can’t get themselves up for the fight on this one, then the Manager simply isn’t good enough.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:34 AM
Comment #69Ian etc,
Premier inn, travelodge yatter yatter.
pawl250
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:35 AM
Comment #70We should have bought Luuk De Jong in the window. I was never convinced he got a fair chance on his loan here, and was constantly played behind the striker opposed to leading the line.
His goal record albeit in Holland is phenomenal.
As for Adam Johnson, its dodgey ground to comment on and ongoing case, but I believe the club may have sacked him as 30 minutes before the announcement Adidas his own personal sponsor sacked him. It would have onlu increased the pressure on Sunderland.
Please note I have not said he is guilty or not as it’s an ongoing case, just my speculation as why Sunderland acted why they have.
Ron Knee
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:37 AM
Comment #71banjax
Who would you replace McClaren with?
Ian Toon
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:41 AM
Comment #72Jail – You don’t have an eye for detail. Your powers of retention are extremely limited and yet you feel free to sound off. Hope you have not ever served on a jury!
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:45 AM
Comment #73Ian etc,
You have been found guilty on indisputable evidence.
Ian Toon
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:46 AM
Comment #74I’m off before Tonto turns up.
Hoping for at least a point which with a positive attitude and taking the game to Chelsea is achievable.
Ian Toon
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:49 AM
Comment #75Jail – You don’t have an eye for detail. You ‘re easily confused. You wear slip on shoes and elasticated trousers. You barely know what day it is but your the court of public opinion. How many fingers am I holding up?
Ian Toon
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:50 AM
Comment #76You’re -LOL. That was for you !
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:52 AM
Comment #77At least they are my trousers Ian etc.
Ian Toon
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:55 AM
Comment #78Jail- The one thing we both want is at least a point. Enjoy your day. I bare you no malice.
Blackley and Brownlie
Feb 13, 2016 at 11:59 AM
Comment #79Half time at Little Benton. 0-1. NUFC have more than a toe hold in this game but City’s wingers always a threat, although our back line looks fairly solid.
We’re creating very little. One decent ball across the box which McNall failed to connect to. Heaney is the stand out player for us.
Jail for Ashley
Feb 13, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Comment #80Fruitcake