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Out for a month - Hamstring :(

 

The Remy red card for the derby. Tiote with a hamstring.... It must be The Curse of the Kebab! Like the old curse of the Bambino and the billygoat curse in American baseball.

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Shane and Marv as the central midfield partnership.

:lol: Has there been a CM pairing weaker than that in Prem history?

It would be nice if we had a bloke like Jonas to play in that position for the month...

 

edit/ Just thought is Bigirimana still injured? he'd definitely be worth playing over Gosling.

Edited by Howay
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:lol: Has there been a CM pairing weaker than that in Prem history?It would be nice if we had a bloke like Jonas to play in that position for the month...edit/ Just thought is Bigirimana still injured? he'd definitely be worth playing over Gosling.

Bigrimana-Out

Obertan-Doubtful

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:lol: Has there been a CM pairing weaker than that in Prem history?

 

 

Yer man and Jamie McClen was a pretty weak partnership on paper but it worked (well, once). Wonder if we could persuade either of them to come out of retirement. :D

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Yer man and Jamie McClen was a pretty weak partnership on paper but it worked (well, once). Wonder if we could persuade either of them to come out of retirement. :D

:lol: Against Arsenal wasn't it?

Think I heard McClen is a joiner now, I'm sure we could get him to step up and play alongside Shane 'the muss' Ferguson for a few games.

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Yer man and Jamie McClen was a pretty weak partnership on paper but it worked (well, once). Wonder if we could persuade either of them to come out of retirement. :D

 

McClen and Clarence Acuna going toe-to-toe with Viera and Gilberto Silva and never taking a backwards step :good:

 

Sir Bobby had a squad with a bit of depth though...

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McClen and Clarence Acuna going toe-to-toe with Viera and Gilberto Silva and never taking a backwards step :good:

 

Sir Bobby had a squad with a bit of heart though...

FYP

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  • 6 months later...

 

 

Solid piece by Neil Cameron.

 

 

Why Newcastle United can't afford to sell Cheick Tiote

 

It may not be the most attractive position on the pitch but Newcastle United cannot under-estimate the importance of a defensive midfielder.

 

It is the position no young kid has any aspirations to play.

 

Full-back has all of a sudden become almost trendy. There are plenty of would-be goalkeepers about. Same goes for centre-halves.

 

Even they secretly want to be the main man up front or wearing number ten on their back.

 

But defensive midfielder? The guy who sits deep, runs about a lot, never beats a man and is not even allowed to shoot, or when they do draw massive ire from their team-mates - you would be hard pressed to find a 12-year-old who dreams of being that player, despite its importance.

 

Every successful team has one. Those who choose not to play such a specialist tend not to do so well these days.

 

World Cup winners Germany had Sami Khedira. When he does not fill that role for Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso takes a step back.

 

As Barcelona dominated European football, Sergio Busquets dominated the middle of the pitch, which allowed his more creative team-mates to do what they do.

 

Bayern Munich have Javier Martinez. Bayer Leverkusens Lars Bender is wanted by Arsenal, if they agree to pay the German club £30m.

 

Daniele De Rossi of Roma has been widely viewed as Serie As best player over the last few years.

 

All these men are superstars in their own right.

 

They are all absolutely integral to their respective teams success.

 

The playmakers and strikers who grab all the headlines could not do their job of the water carrier (that famous description given to Didier Deschamps by Eric Cantona) playing 30 yards behind them.

 

Cheick Tiote does not have a Champions League medal. He has never played in a World Cup final.

 

Yet when it comes to Newcastle United, the Ivorian is as important as any of the stellar names mentioned above.

 

The club should do all they can to keep this guy because Tiote is a superb, intelligent and skilful footballer; someone worth £20m at least according to Rob Lee - and he knows a thing or two about what makes a half -decent midfielder.

 

Arsenal were in the hunt for Khedira and now have turned their attention to Bender. Next on the list is Tiote and it seems he would not be averse to such a move.

 

At 28, Tiote is at the peak of his powers. A player such as himself ordinarily plays the best stuff in their early thirties.

 

Arsenals interest is unwelcome news.

 

Mike Ashley may be tempted to accept any big offer for a player whose market value would decrease as the years go on, but this would be a huge mistake.

 

Tiote has hardly figured in pre-season and is struggling to make the Manchester City game. Nobody else in the squad can fill in for him.

 

Jack Colback is not a defensive player. Neither is Moussa Sissoko. Not really. Mehdi Abeid could step in, but again he is more offensive-minded and he still has an awful lot to prove.

 

Vurnon Anita, maybe, but he lacks the physical attributes.

 

These players all have their plus points, but none have Tiotes discipline. None have his reading of the game. Nobody can tackle like him and, while he still gives away fouls, that side of his play has been transformed since the days of a booking every two games.

 

We live in an age of 4-1-4-1 and 4-2-3-1 and the guy tasked with linking defence and attack tends to be as important as the one who scores goals.

 

Alan Pardew will play one of these formations, or one not a million miles from it, but that system falls down without a hard-nosed midfielder who does not mind doing the dirty work.

 

That is Tiote for Newcastle United.

 

Two performances from last season stand out.

 

The 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool when much of the game saw Newcastle play with 10 men and the win at Old Trafford.

 

Nobody had more touches of the ball. Nobody did more for the team on those days. He was outstanding.

 

Tiote comes across as a reserved man but he is one who cares deeply about the club. Those who know him best say he loves being a Newcastle player and living in the city.

 

On a Friday afternoon last year, I watched him go through a series of drills on his own on the indoor pitch at Benton.

 

Someone at the time told me he did this ahead of every game to make sure he was sharp and ready before any game.

 

Tiote would be a massive loss if he was to go.

 

I have written more than once it is he rather than Fabricio Coloccini who should captain the club.

 

The young Newcastle fans might not see Tiote as their hero, at least not many of them, but their team need him more than ever.

 

Lets hope Arsenal and any other interested parties are told where to go.

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If there's a concrete offer over 10mill it'll be accepted iyam, giving Pardew the chance to play "no chance to sign a replacement" card.

Over £17m and I'd agree.
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Given that he's up at the top end of the age bracket that we want I don't doubt we'd sell him if the right offer came in (I suspect around £10m) but it would be a massive mistake. Before he came how long were we crying out for a defensive midfielder and at his best, he's been easily as good as any I've seen here.

He would do a decent job for Arsenal but I think (hope) he's a bit limited with the ball for Wenger to go for him (and I don't doubt after being linked with Khedira and Bender, Arsenal fans wouldn't be too impressed with signing him).

 

He'd definitely be a massive miss for us as there's no way Anita, Colback or Abeid could do his job for us. I'd hoped when he first came, that Bigi would be the man to eventually fill the position but he's dropped right off the radar in the last 12 months.

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