Papiss Cisse saved Newcastle on Saturday at Swansea, much like he did against Hull City at home, when he came on with 20 minutes to go and managed to score two good goals to get Newcastle a point.
Papiss Cisse somehow scores first goal – from a tight angle
Papiss started for Newcastle for the first time on Saturday, and he showed his goal scoring prowess with two opportunist goals, but the good news for Newcastle fans is that he says he is not back to his best yet.
Papiss had a poor season last term, mainly because Loic Remy was the number one striker at the club. but he’s now gone to Chelsea and finding it hard to get a game.
But Papiss is enjoying things at Newcastle – but he says he’s not yet back at his best – even with 4 goals in three appearances so far this season.
This is what Papiss said after the game on Saturday:
“I’m not on fire,” “I am not back to my best.” “I’m just working hard at the moment. I got an opportunity and I scored. I’m just doing my job, I’m happy.”
“My knee is strong now. I feel nothing. Sometimes I have to be careful with it, but I don’t have a reaction to the injury and it feels good.”
“This is not three points but it is one point – it’s difficult in Swansea so that is good for the team.”
If Papiss can get into the form he was when he first arrived from SC Freiburg 33 months ago, when he scored 13 goals in his first 14 appearances for Newcastle wearing the famous number 9 shirt, he could still save Newcastle this season.
Well at least until January, when we must get new strikers in to help share the load with Papiss.
And it could be that players like Manu Riviere, Facundo Ferreyra and Rolando Aarons could come through by then and have scored some goals for us.
Hope so.
We will also have Siem de Jong back in early January from injury, but our main weakness right now is that players other than Papiss, are finding it very difficult to score goals for Newcastle.
That’s a big concern at the moment.
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51 comments so far
mindshaft
Oct 6, 2014 at 2:02 PM
Comment #41Interestingly HBA can’t get on the pitch for Hull – how long before he falls out with Bruce?
Saying that he’s just running down his contract for a free move to France anyway
TacoFlavoredKisses ForMyBen-arfa
Oct 6, 2014 at 2:04 PM
Comment #42@mindshaft
give the guy time. has to learn the system and earn a place.
Average_Contents
Oct 6, 2014 at 2:16 PM
Comment #43Alan Pardew – Played 31 Won 8 Drawn 5 Lost 18 Percentage Of Games Won 25.80%
Thanks king.
martoon
Oct 6, 2014 at 2:30 PM
Comment #44mindshaft @41 – How a world class player cannot get in the Hull team is beyond me – he has obviously been Bruced 🙂
Ancientcoptic
Oct 6, 2014 at 2:37 PM
Comment #45martoon, that would be pretty funny if anyone on this blog actually stated Ben Arfa was ‘world class.’ I guess you don’t know how sarcasm works.
mag92
Oct 6, 2014 at 2:38 PM
Comment #46Pardews obviously Teflon coated as nothing seems to stick, as the league table stands the bottom 3 will be the ones relagated!
mag92
Oct 6, 2014 at 2:45 PM
Comment #47What’s Teflon going to do when Cisse and Tiote go away for the African cup, another nail in the relegation coffin!
gazzaforever
Oct 6, 2014 at 3:09 PM
Comment #48I rate Ben Arfa has world class, and he will play as soon as he s totally fit, says Bruce last week, so dont begin your lame sarcasm about the fact he is not playing , or maybe you should mention how much your beloved Cabaye is insipid and is hated by all the PSG fans who want him to leave in January.
Mag52
Oct 6, 2014 at 3:15 PM
Comment #49Mag 92 @ 47
That, of course, is if they haven’t been sold by our profit conscious owner. It would be par for the course for him to sell our best players if the opportunity arises.
martoon
Oct 6, 2014 at 3:23 PM
Comment #50Ancientcoptic @45 I know exactly how sarcasm works!
@48 – I would still wager HBA will not be a regular starter even when he is fit – more likely Bruce will use him as a an impact sub.
Ancientcoptic
Oct 6, 2014 at 3:37 PM
Comment #51Well, this is Steve Bruce we are talking about here.
If by some miracle, Guardiola had to manage the current Hull squad for the next 2 seasons, 100% he would coach Ben Arfa correctly, and play him.
Some players will not get game time under managers with limited ability, that does not mean said player isn’t good enough. Steve Bruce isn’t a visionary or overly interested in playing the game with a philosophy…. Bruce is just happy to scrape by another weekend with 3 points and get closer to safety.
Gouffran going backwards – Pardew’s fault
Sissoko going backwards – Pardew’s fault
list of others going backwards – Pardew’s fault
Ben Arfa going backwards – Ben Arfa’s fault
Can you spot the odd one out.