The exact same thing is happening in this transfer window that happened last January that Cheick Tiote is trying to a make a move away from Newcastle but for one reason or another it may not happen.
In January Tiote was almost certain to leave to join a Chinese Super League club but it didn’t happen and so he stayed at Newcastle and Rafa used him in the side towards the end of last season.
The UAE transfer window is still open for a few weeks, so we suppose Tiote could still leave Newcastle.
Cheick Tiote – could yet stay – could yet go
And Tiote made his first appearance of the season in the second half yesterday and given his lack of match practice he did well.
Rafa was asked about the Ivorian and this is what the manager said when asked it Tiote could stay:
“To be fair, I still don’t know.” “We knew we had a problem in the middle because Jack had a little problem in the last training session and we didn’t want to take a risk.”
“So we decided to bring in Cheick, he is training really well.” “You could think maybe he won’t have the match fitness.”
“And we knew if we did have to use him it could be no longer than 15 minutes.” “He did well.” “The transfer window is still open in the UAE.”
“If somebody comes in with an offer we will analyse it.”
“If not, I am happy because he is a competitive player.”
If Cheick stays it seems certain that Rafa will want to use him in the team and utilize his vast experience.
The 30 year-old will be good in the second division and he trains extremely well as Rafa has said ever since the Spanish manager arrived on Tyneside.
Cheick is in the last year of his contract at Newcastle and if he doesn’t move in January he will become a free agent next summer.

Comments welcome.
53 comments so far
G
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:05 AM
Comment #1Spent force anyway. He has made it clear hd wants out so let him go.
Munster Mag
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:06 AM
Comment #2He didn’t do well.
Bambams
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:10 AM
Comment #3Charlie.
I am not sure myself over Sels. It’s just from my memory of Pav first signing he was a bit ‘eratic’ in the box and coming for crosses. But my did he become a great keeper.
Time will tell if Sels improves or drops down the list behind Darlow (who I rate) and Elliott.
I did not know his brother was training to be in goal for ‘that’ match either so thanks for that.
It does feel like a loss today mind, makes Norwich match more important and they are a good team.
Cheers for the craic fella
sing in the corner
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:11 AM
Comment #4That explains it about Colback. Hope it’s just a precaution.. This lad doesn’t usually pull out unless it’s significant.
Yedlin didn’t look too clever for Wednesday either.
And Jesus not showing any signs of a miraculous return.
Fingers crossed anyway..
SPRINGY
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:19 AM
Comment #5think clark deserves some credit for his performance considering how much grief he was getting when we signed him,really good yesterday,thought yedlin just shaded it though,mainly as he gave us something going forward….wonder what the craic is with yedlin.
sing in the corner
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:27 AM
Comment #6Springy
Yeah Clark is exceeding expectations,and his attitude seems good, which is nice to see!
Really like Yedlin too. Blistering pace, how long is it since we had a player with that?
SPRINGY
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:32 AM
Comment #7sing
its a shame,but if this was 5-10 year ago when most teams played two up front regular yedlin would be having a field day,he moves that quick he has to seem to wait for support in the box….maybe someone like murphy would get the most out him….he’s great to watch though and it is early days.
SPRINGY
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:37 AM
Comment #8sing
the good thing about yedlin was he has pace both ways,seems daft to say but plenty players have pace going forward…but magically lose that coming back!!lol
sing in the corner
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:37 AM
Comment #9Personally I think Murphy is ahead of Mitro at present. I just get a feeling Mitro is sulking just a wee bit. No solid evidence for that, but Murphy looks to have more desire and is applying himself more when he has come on.
Rafa will be having a word with Mitro about that careless flick in his own half when we were under pressure late on. Not a good sign to see him ambling around when he came on ‘fresh’.
sing in the corner
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:39 AM
Comment #10Springy
Again, I think it’s desire with Yedlin as much as pace going back over.
Jib
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:41 AM
Comment #11http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-opens-up-whether-11934467
SPRINGY
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:44 AM
Comment #12sing
think ya spot on about mitro,when he came on i was expecting blood and thunder for 20 mins chase everything,harass there backline to at elast hurry them,but if you had’nt watched the match u would of thought he played all game and was deasd on his feet….i did say earlier he’s a bit behind the other in sharpness but does’nt stop you chasing round for 20 mins though surely….so maybe he does have a lip on.
sing in the corner
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:48 AM
Comment #13I watched a couple of Serbias games – they looked a bunch of discontented misfits and I used to think he played at 3/4 effort for them. Maybe he lacks a little sharpness or is out of form, just hope we are not seeing this type of thing from him now.
AncientC
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:49 AM
Comment #14Good ol’ Tiote, has taken millions out of the club over the past 2/3 years, with little to no contribution. Perhaps Tiote should swap his Arsenal shirt for an Al-Ain one.
Tiote can be good on his day, but to bring him back into the side would be a big step backwards, what with the constant nursing him back into form from injuries and suspensions.
SPRINGY
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:54 AM
Comment #15sing
your views on gayle?
i think he looks lost on his own,he works hard,but because he’s there by himself he looks desperate and greedy at times,making wrong decisions…think maybe the rotation is having an adverse effect on him compared to other players…the he’s out the desperate he becomes,unfortunately,his last couple of games have been …..patchy.
SPRINGY
Sep 25, 2016 at 9:58 AM
Comment #16ancient c
i think tiote would’nt of even been on the bench yesterday,let alone played if colback was fit,he only got on coz of an injury,he didnt look fit,so i doubt we will see him to often even if he does stay tbh.
WWSBRD
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:07 AM
Comment #17Sels doesn’t have Twitter anymore? Idiots moaning directly to him but howay man thicker skin needed surprised it’s actually him that runs it though I suppose
Jib
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:08 AM
Comment #18Tiote plays like a 30 year old with 15 minutes left in his legs.
I thought we’d get moree out of him in the Championship
No way we are going to ship him out for 40k per week.
Just have to bite the bullet until next June on this one I’m afraid.
sparky55
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:11 AM
Comment #19He did well???? are we talking about yesterdays game here or the one against Arsenal 5 years ago?
For the avoidance of doubt IMO he was garbage yesterday…he ran around a lot but but his positional play was appalling and he was sucked in and left for dead far too often and didn’t do what he brought on to do and that was to shore up midfield…in fact he did the exact opposite…he left gaps all over the place and when he did get the ball his passing was so poor the player receiving the ball didn’t get the ball anywhere near where they’d like it.
I think was a shop window appearance that went badly wrong…no-one will go anywhere near him now
Jib
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:19 AM
Comment #20I hope Ginger Jack is fit for Wednesday , even in the first hour yesterday when we were so dominant there was no one really breaking up Villa’s occasional forays into our half.
Benitez is ruthless and if he thinks Darlow can do better than the incumbent , Sels WILL be dropped.
JamesToon
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:23 AM
Comment #21Totally agree with Luke Edwards tweet from the telegraph:
If #nufc really want to have the best fans in the country, they need to stop abusing players on Twitter & over-reacting to every setback
JamesToon
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:24 AM
Comment #22It was actually embarrassing yesterday reading some fans comments on here and Twitter. I don’t know why people think we have some god given right to win every game 3-0.
JamesToon
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:26 AM
Comment #23Springy
I thought he did alright, just think if he did score that 1 on 1, people would be saying what a great number 9 he is.
sing in the corner
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:27 AM
Comment #24Springy
Gayle…
I’m with the majority there. It’s tough for him on his own without someone to play off. It’s going to be unusual for Rafa to play two up top, so to get the best from him he needs a bigger, strong lad just off / deeper than he is. And Diame hasn’t got the mobility for it, or so it looks so far.
JamesToon
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:28 AM
Comment #25Rafa bingo v Norwich
Darlow
Yedlin-Lascelles-Clark-Lazaar
Hayden-Shelvey
Ritchie-Gayle-Gouffran
Murphy
Move Mbemba or Hayden to right back if Yedlin isn’t fit
Jib
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:29 AM
Comment #26Of the teams above us
Huddersfield’s loss at Reading a bit of a shock
Norwich beating Burton at home predictable as was Brighton beating Barnsley at home.
Tusday night could be interesting
Brighton and Reading both away and Huddersfield’s derby at home against Rotherham (half an hour down the M1) deemed to need a PL ref – Stuart Attwell.
Given a modicum of luck with the fixtures on Tuesday a win against Norwich on Wednesday could see NUFC lying very handy in the league.
JamesToon
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:29 AM
Comment #27Sing
Diame’s got the athleticism and the work rate, he just needs to keep things simple. He does little step overs too often and needs to either drive into space more or do more give and go’s
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:55 AM
Comment #28If Perez was presented with those 2 chances that Diame missed no one on here would be complaining about Sels or Tiote playing!!
WWSBRD
Sep 25, 2016 at 10:58 AM
Comment #29LCBP
We’d be complaining about Perez missing instead?
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Sep 25, 2016 at 11:05 AM
Comment #30@WWSBRD
Wouldn’t have been able to mate as Perez would have finished them no bother its the only thing he is good at!!
🙂
WWSBRD
Sep 25, 2016 at 11:17 AM
Comment #31LCBP
Not so sure mate
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Sep 25, 2016 at 11:19 AM
Comment #32@WWSBRD
Not so sure about Perez or not so sure there would be nothing for people to complain about?
jimmysmith
Sep 25, 2016 at 11:22 AM
Comment #33I thought Tiote was good, shutting down players, getting challenges in, put in a decent cameo for his first appearance of the season. Mitrovic was also fine, gave us more of an outlet. We are more exciting when they feature. Perez behind Mitro for Norwich. Tiote on the bench and twenty minutes at the end. Sels had a couple of flaps, but was far from rubbish. Diame and Gayle aren’t doing enough to warrant starting ahead of Mitrovic and Perez in my view.
WWSBRD
Sep 25, 2016 at 11:22 AM
Comment #34LCBP
Haha both I suppose but mainly Perez
Belfast
Sep 25, 2016 at 11:27 AM
Comment #35He looked rusty as ferk yesterday.
I agree with a few others regarding playing Gayle just behind Murphy. Drop Diame deeper or bench him. I’m not convinced Diame is a number 10 at all.
stuart no9
Sep 25, 2016 at 11:40 AM
Comment #36people cant blame sels for the defeat , the blame lies with benitez for sticking with him , If he wants to rotate the team then fair enough but that also goes for the keeper or bench him untill he has put countless hours in on the traini ng pitch with a coach studying his every move untill then , bring back darlow
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 25, 2016 at 11:57 AM
Comment #37I’m pretty much in agreement with the consensus about Sels and Diame, they need to be replaced with Darlow and someone else, Murphy or Mitrovic!
Wondered why Colback didn’t play, perhaps he and Hayden should start with Hayden replacing Diame.
Do we still have that shooting coach, if so what is he doing?
Essex Geordie Bill
Sep 25, 2016 at 12:02 PM
Comment #38Having read what has been said about Sels, he was rubbish.
He was about twenty minutes too slow in reacting to shots and had no presence in the area. I can’t see what Rafa see’s in him.
Tiote not sure, I don’t think he was much different to how he was playing last season, very good at times and not too good at others. Mind you it doesn’t help having a shaky GK at the back.
JamesToon
Sep 25, 2016 at 12:04 PM
Comment #39I love how just because mitro kisses the badge and that sels had a bad game, all the s*** gets put onto sels. Mitro was awful when he came on, hardly won anything in the air, couldn’t hold the ball up, did a stupid little flick that gave the ball away.
Really does annoy me though the way fans overreact to things like this, we dominated for 60 mins, and should have been out of sight. But thats the championship, people need to realise that we dont have a right to win every game.
As i said yesterday, that result will paper over the cracks for villa, and will only make us learn from our mistakes and improve.
Beat norwich on wednesday and we’ll be flying
sing in the corner
Sep 25, 2016 at 12:05 PM
Comment #40Lee @ 28
Oh I think people have been fretting about Sels for a while now, regardless of the results. Tiote has drawn criticism, in my view fairly too, although I accept some people rate him highly. I think it’s based on what he did 2 yrs ago though.