One of Newcastle’s best players this season has been our Ivory Coast International Cheick Tiote in central midfield.
Cheick Tiote – top player for Newcastle
Tiote has been little short of phenomenal for Newcastle this season and seems a terrific buy for just £3.5M from Dutch club FC Twente.
And the PL seems to suit Cheick’s physical style of play:.
“For me the Premier League is all about the physical battle, and it’s one that I enjoy very much,”
“In Holland, it’s a very different style, but already I know that the style in the Premier League suits me as a player.”
“Some games there will be a physical edge to them, and you have to stand up to them.” “I’m certainly not the type of player who will shirk those challenges.”
“All I do is my job, it isn’t just about the skilful players – everybody has a job – and I know mine is to be committed, but fair.”
“My English is getting better and better every day, and I feel settled at Newcastle United now.”
Tiote had a terrific game last Sunday against Chelsea, when he pitted against two of his Ivory Coast colleagues, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, but he was again very strong in the middle of the park and worked tirelessly for the Newcastle cause.
And Newcastle are due a win tomorrow, which would be their first in 5 games since we beat Arsenal 1-0 at the Emirates, and it’s certainly a game Newcastle can win if our best side turns up for the game.
We do have Joey Barton back tomorrow to partner Tiote in the middle of the park for Newcastle, so Chris will be able to field a strong side tomorrow.
Tiote continued:
“It’s important for us to win this game at West Bromwich Albion,” “We must play well, and be competitive, as a team.
“If we do, I think it’s possible to win this game. That is our aim.” “We played well against Chelsea, and took an important point, and we are confident as a team.”
All 3 points tomorrow would be terrific, but WBA are a food side this season under Roberto Di Mateo, but it looks like the snow has interrupted their training this week, and they’ve had to train indoors.
But we understand their indoor surface we very hard, and made it rather difficult for the West Brom players to fully prepare for the game.
Well, if we were selfish we’d say that’s good news for Newcastle, and we are looking for a win tomorrow, that’s for sure.
Comments welcome.
9 comments so far
Toonboy_84
Dec 4, 2010 at 12:56 PM
Comment #1“WBA are a food side this season”
Does this mean they eat alot? lol
jesus was a geordie
Dec 4, 2010 at 12:57 PM
Comment #2Talking about players leaving, I worry about Tiote going, he’s been unreal so far, drawing attention from opposition fans and managers alike. He’s ambitious and rightly so.
He would slot in seamlessly into United’s midfield and I genuinely think he’s better than Carrick and Hargreaves! Liverpool are severely lacking in midfield and we showed the lack of strength in depth at Chelsea.
I could see a 15m offer tempting our hand (unfortunately, ’cause I think he’s worth far more) but Ashley is a businessman, and if he could get 5x the money back on his investment within 12 months, it may just bee too tempting. PLUS I don’t see Tiote having the allegiance of our other lads.
With him (and if we sign him) Ben Arfa, I reckon they see us as a stepping stone. The only way I can see us hanging onto them is if our achievements can correlate with their ambitions!
Toonboy_84
Dec 4, 2010 at 1:11 PM
Comment #3Remember HBA seems to know alot about our club. Wanted to join us specifically and has had great support following his injury. I don’t think he will see us as a stepping stone (if we sign him).
Toto I’m not so sure about though!
We can only hope!
BiffBaffBoff
Dec 4, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Comment #4If he does leave at the end of the season, then as long as he keeps performing as he is now, untill the end of the season then I will have no qualms with that as long as get good money for him because hes obviously worth much more then £3.5m.
Thats not me saying I want him to go, I hope he doesnt because apart from Carroll, hes been our best player… but as long as he stays committed then I’ll be happy if we do cash him on him IF he wants to leave at the end of the season.
Brutooon
Dec 4, 2010 at 1:28 PM
Comment #5Our last best holding midfielder was Gary Speed (Sir Bobby Robson era)
craignufc
Dec 4, 2010 at 2:10 PM
Comment #6quality tiote like, best signing newcastles made for a long time instead of players who are goood at other clubs and shite at newcastle
moonraker
Dec 4, 2010 at 3:01 PM
Comment #7jesus w a g
Negative, negative, negative! I don’t know why you think Ashley will sell any of our best players unless they want to leave. Give us a break and post something positive. We’re doing ok and don’t need doom and gloom merchants!!!
jesus was a geordie
Dec 4, 2010 at 5:36 PM
Comment #8moonraker, if you read my other posts you’d see I’m hardly the doom and gloom merchant you’re portraying me to be:
“Every player has his price” Sir Bobby Robson.
“It was an offer that was a little too good to turn down” Kevin Keegan when we sold Milner for £13m.
I’m being realistic…And as I said, Tiote gives the impression of being VERY ambitious (as I also said, this is not a bad thing).
I desperately want to hang onto him as I think he’s been a great signing, but if a big club comes knocking with a substantial offer, I could see him going. How is that being simply negative?
cupiddstunt
Dec 4, 2010 at 9:05 PM
Comment #9JWAG I understand where you are coming from and to quote you,
“but Ashley is a businessman”
And he is a good one you do not make billions without having a good business head, he also said quite early on in his tenure as club custodian that he was prepared to lose 30 mill annually to do right by the club.
Taking all into consideration it makes a lot more sense to hold onto him as the squad consolidates and improves. Depleting the squad on a regular basis is not good business although there are plenty that come onto this blog with the firm belief that that is just what Ashley is going to do milk the club, I can only think that this is exactly what they would do which is why they voice such comments.
Although since taking over he has done just opposite and thrown in about 150 to 200 mil.
Which really goes to prove that they do not have any real grasp of business, the only way for Ashley to really start and recoup any of his investment is to get the club up to a respectable level in the league which improves its value far more than the few mill he would make on Tiote.
I can only see him selling players if he is short of readies which I do not think he is just now.
I must say though part of me has been getting more and more worried that we may very well lose some of our best players as every player really does have his price, like STaylor NUFC are in the 40g’s a week wages but the rumour is there are clubs going to offer 75g’s a week so anyone in their right mind should be looking at doubling their wages. Hence we might lose him.