Hatem Ben Arfa has captured all the headlines for his amazing winning goal on Saturday at Goodison Park but there were good performances all over the pitch for the Newcastle side.
Cheick Tiote – challenges Fellaini Saturday
One player who had a huge impact for Newcastle was new boy Cheick Tiote, who played a huge part in the Magpies’ victory.
It looks like another great piece of transfer business for Newcastle, as the Ivory Coast International looked like he had been playing in the Premier League for many a season – and yet this was his debut.
More displays of ball-getting for Newcastle like the lad showed on Saturday, and Cheick will become a big favorite on Tyneside, that’s for sure.
The 24-year-old, who starred for the Ivory Coast in South Africa and played in all their three games, described the feeling as a dream come true for him.
Tiote spoke to Sky Sports today:
“I am settling in the North East very well,” “To be honest, I am happy to be here.””Playing in this league is a dream of any child so I am very happy about that, my debut in one of the great stadium of English football was amazing.”
“I am happy with my debut, the refs let the tackles fly in this league and that is one of the strong parts of my game. I can take tackles but I am a good tackler as well.”
Tiote was also given praise his midfield team-mates Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan, and the Barton – Tiote partenrdhip looked a great potential partnership with Tiote keeping things steady at the back and allowing Joey to do what he’s best at – moving forward.
Cheick continued:
“With Kevin Nolan and Barton around, our midfield will cherish any battle,”
“I am happy with the win; if we play compact like that then Ben Arfa will make all the difference for us.”
“He is a top talent, someone you pay to watch, on his day he is unplayable.”
When two of our new boys star in their full debuts for the side, and Newcastle deservedly get a famous win at Everton, things have to look good for the future of Newcastle United.
Here’s hoping.
Comments welcome.
36 comments so far
Howay The Lads
Sep 20, 2010 at 5:43 PM
Comment #1Tiote looked brilliant on Saturday.
Him and Barton are incredible together. They’re both quick and have so much energy it’s unbelievable.
I thought in the all-round game, Tiote was only second to Barton.
Very good display 😀
Geordiedoonsooth
Sep 20, 2010 at 5:49 PM
Comment #2Let’s wait until we play the really big boys. But it does look hopeful
slazberger
Sep 20, 2010 at 5:56 PM
Comment #3stop worrying about the big boys, they are not our competition this season.
i was really impressed with him on this performance he looked composed on the ball and always made himself available for others. long may it continue.
if he continues to show he can keep hold of the ball, we will see barton bombing on more and more, as i think midfielder’s make forward runs if they think we aren’t going to give the ball away such as the last few years with smith and butt
ebol
Sep 20, 2010 at 6:03 PM
Comment #4Hear hear – Tiote will be a great signing and has shored up our weakest area. Great spot by Hughton – even if we don’t do well this season (which is looking less and less likely), we will probably sell this guy on for way more than we got him for.
Ha, we must have the toughest-tackling midfield in the Prem at this stage and let’s not forget Andy Carroll who was flying in to tackles on Saturday!
atom
Sep 20, 2010 at 6:18 PM
Comment #5Amen slazberger. For that being Tiote’s full on debut in English football- he was amazing. He allowed Barton to get forward and Ben Arfa to roam all over the place, which was the difference in the game. He was quick on the ball, powerful in breaking up play, and read the game very well. Some of the best stuff being played out of midfield that I have seen us play.
photocox
Sep 20, 2010 at 6:24 PM
Comment #6That photo of him shielding the ball from Fellini is hysterical. He is half his size! I haven’t seen him play yet, but given the comments I am willing to see Smithy on the bench for a long time.
Can someone type – phonetically – how to say his name, as I’ve not seen a broadcast as of yet since I live in the States. Thanks!
slazberger
Sep 20, 2010 at 6:27 PM
Comment #7all commentator’s and pundits i heard over the weekend seemed to be saying tay-o-tay
Howay The Lads
Sep 20, 2010 at 6:27 PM
Comment #8photocox, I’m pretty sure it’s ‘Sheck Ti-ot-A’, but I’m not 100% – I don’t think anyone is, but that’s what I’m calling him
Howay The Lads
Sep 20, 2010 at 6:28 PM
Comment #9Actually, yeah it sounded more like ‘Tay-ot-A’
photocox
Sep 20, 2010 at 6:41 PM
Comment #10Ah “Sheck”. I had a good idea about his last name but I wouldn’t have guessed correctly on his first. Thanks.
Sav
Sep 20, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Comment #11Its pronounced Chee-key Tw-at. And I’m hoping he’ll be a right one in our midfield.
Mags
Sep 20, 2010 at 7:59 PM
Comment #12Photocox at 6. The club reckon his first name is pronounced Shake.
I must admit I thought it was Chike.
Hatem Ben Arfa
Sep 20, 2010 at 8:51 PM
Comment #13Shake Ismael tay-o-tay I’d say 😉
Hatem Ben Arfa
Sep 20, 2010 at 8:59 PM
Comment #14I watched the match on Tv and i thought
Krul: Calm, good and 2 good saves
Perch: Same old same old
Willamson: Good with the arieal threat but nearly conceded a pen
Colo: Good
Enrique: Same old Enrique superb
Routledge:good
Barton:Impressive and was unlucky not to score from that free kick but he’s corners weren’t that good “/
Tiote: Eye catching with his tackling Keep it up!
Nolan: Good, Calm and unlucky not to get a pen
Ben Arfa: MOM! Great Goal and every time he touches the ball he produces pure magic
Carroll:Good
Hope for more of the same against Stoke
Howay the lads!! oh and sorry if this is abit late….
slazberger
Sep 20, 2010 at 9:05 PM
Comment #15there were a few people on here over the last couple of days who mentioned their might have been a problem between ben-arfa and jonas when they swapped during the game, it was suggested they completely blanked each other and jonas refused to high five ben-arfa. just watched a highlights link and i didn’t see that at all.
http://www.livefootballtvs.com/england/everton-newcastle-united-18092010.html
gunnarnufc
Sep 20, 2010 at 9:09 PM
Comment #16My man of the match for last Saturday. Did you know that his passing was actually 100% in the game? He tried 44 passes and all of them were successful. He also made two interceptions, was successful in all his 3 tackles and his one shot was one target. Show these statistics to Hughton and make sure he never plays Smith again in favor of Tiote.
Sgt. Heagerty
Sep 20, 2010 at 9:15 PM
Comment #17their was no problem between geordie toon arfa and
jonas. it was after the game and they just walked by each
other. it looked as if jonas was looking at somebody
else as they walked past and arfa was just wondering
around soaking it all up i imagine. they showed mutual
respect when jonas came on the pitch.
to further the topic we have to get jonas and arfa on the
the pitch at the same time. i would like to see jonas replace
routledge for a game and see how that plays. routlede
could be a super sub bringing energy to the game in the 2nd
half.
Sgt. Heagerty
Sep 20, 2010 at 9:21 PM
Comment #18well lads 4 more days and i will officially retire
from the us army and start planning my trip to tyneside.
sorry havent been on here regular but ive been busy.
as for tiote, great game, lad is a warrior in the midfield
and looked a absolute coup for us to scoop him up
in the window. him and barton look real good together
in the engine room. not sure if hba needs to be on the left.
jonas and enrique link up too well on the left side
to break that up. think maybe he should play of carroll
in the middle and push nolan back or maybe play him on
the right. routledge is good but jonas is better and
we would look real dangerous with jonas and hba ripping
defenses.
the real test is not the big boys, its 7 and up. we
need to come home and show the league we are back and
beat stoke decisively at sjp. if we are gonna be mid table
or even just survive we have to win games at home against
teams like stoke. im hyped up about the squad. great
team win and colin and the gaffer are looking the part
running the team….
hwtl
slazberger
Sep 20, 2010 at 9:22 PM
Comment #19probably people trying to get some negative gossip going, although i have no idea why they would do that unless its the reporters from the dailymail on the blogs again. trying to drum up a negative story because we won
jonas hasn’t given a good account of himself so far this season, i think he will probably start against chelsea, but if he fails to show any quality in that (which will be a very tough game) he may struggle to get back into the team imo. at least until we fail to win/preform well in a game we are expected to get something out of anyway.
tom tomb
Sep 20, 2010 at 10:35 PM
Comment #20The 2 new boys were great and actually helped Nolan and barton to raise their games. I thought they had their best ever games for the toon.
Howay The Lads
Sep 20, 2010 at 11:03 PM
Comment #21Sgt, will it be your first game?
If so I’d recommend a home one AND an away one. I’ve always preferred away games’ atmosphere – so it’ll be good to get a bit of both in 🙂
Howay The Lads
Sep 20, 2010 at 11:07 PM
Comment #22tom tomb, I also thought HBA and Routledge had great link up, as well as the new boys raising Kev and Joey’s games.
They are both really quick they seem to know where the other one can get to before the ball goes put. They were also great at stroking the ball across the pitch to each other
baro
Sep 20, 2010 at 11:37 PM
Comment #23Cheik Tiote was awesome at Everton. He has speed, strength, and a wonderful tackle with a great feel for the game. We were dieing for a player like that at this club. He will only improve, imagine when they settle in!! Him and Ben Arfa will dominate.
baro
Sep 20, 2010 at 11:38 PM
Comment #24http://www.footballtransfertavern.com/2010/09/premiership/everton-celtic-and-newcastle-interested-in-freebie?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TransferTavern+%28The+Transfer+Tavern+Home+Page%29
Andy body seen this?
shearermania
Sep 21, 2010 at 12:12 AM
Comment #25cheick tiote..never heard of him before we signed him and to be honest i didnt expect much…thought he was a poor man’s viera……
boy its nice to be proven wrong….i was so impressed especially with his passing…it was very crisp moved it instantly…no heavy touches aka smith……mom for me by a country mile….
i thought bartons set pieces were very poor..apart from one free kick.
but his second half display was a peach.
Perch – thank god he will be supended for at least half the games this season…total liability
Brutooon
Sep 21, 2010 at 12:47 AM
Comment #26The good thing about tiote is that he can pass, he can tackle and he is always available.
Compare to Alan Smith, Smith can do simple pass (everyone can right?), CANT tackle and always anonymous!
austoon
Sep 21, 2010 at 7:24 AM
Comment #27So we compared Smith and Tiote in terms of how they play…now let’s look at their wages. Smith is a huge dent to our wage budget..with 7mil and those wages, we could have room for another quality midfielder or 2. does anyone know how much tiote earns btw?
WesJameson
Sep 21, 2010 at 8:02 AM
Comment #28Tiote had a cracking game, just re-watched, the game, keeping a close eye on Cheick in particular…… That man runs like a horse,and has a great eye for a pass, what an engine,what a player
davis_toons
Sep 21, 2010 at 8:29 AM
Comment #29Him and Barton are incredible together, Yes!
Barton is not afraid to tackle and take on any tackle as well.
It is good for the team to have players of this caliber
And not forgeting they both have skills and can pass. Alan smith can really rest well at reserves. Hope to see more young player sub when winning.
davis_toons
Sep 21, 2010 at 8:37 AM
Comment #30After watching Tiote play, I’m SO afraid that he might get himself injured.
I hope he stay fine for this season and for Newcastle.
How i wish smith was like him. Cant really understand why Alex Fege will wanna change smith to a DM, if he stays on as a stricker he might have score a few more goals or improve much.
His height and built and mindset was not a DM player. I think Alex Ferge spoilt his career.
Stuart
Sep 21, 2010 at 9:42 AM
Comment #31As much as Ben Arfa is going to be immense this season I still believe that Tiote will turn out to be our signing of the summer like. Although I feel abit sorry for Smith it makes our midfield alot more solid having an out and out defensive midfielder bossing the centre.
Hope he does turn out to be the next viera!
balubas1
Sep 21, 2010 at 10:16 AM
Comment #32Barton got alot more freedom to go forward in the Everton game.
Tiote is definately the holding CDM we (did not even know we) needed. Keep it up Cheik!
slazberger
Sep 21, 2010 at 11:00 AM
Comment #33i agree balubas1, when we signed him alot of people said we don’t need another centre midfield player, but he showed in the everton game what we were missing, i defended smith a bit because i thought we needed a player to play in this position and he was the obvious choice, but this guy showed just how to play it.
balubas1
Sep 21, 2010 at 11:12 AM
Comment #34slaz:
well.. smith isn’t a BAD player. But he is not a natural CM or CDM for that matter..
He is a striker. Born & Raised. But he did’nt make it.
I’m kinda playing with the thought of trying having him back as a striker 😉 what u say slaz?
slazberger
Sep 21, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Comment #35yeah its worth i try. he was always an attaqcking player at leeds, i know fergi thought he could play as a CM player but he sold him so did really rate him that highly in that position. i would only look at it in a cup game or reserve game though for a few matches to see if he was up to it. if it worked it would be like having a new signing so why not give it a go?
Penguin PJ
Sep 21, 2010 at 4:53 PM
Comment #36I like the idea of using Smithy as a striker. He’ll be behind Ameobi, who is behind Loverboy but he’ll defo be infront of Xisco.
Smithy as DM? Way,waay behind Cheik ‘Bad Ass’ Tiote