A Cheick-in with Tiote (Video)

Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote is regularly linked with a move to bigger teams in the Premier League but is the North East the right place for him right now?

Tiote has been in the Premier League for two full seasons, since moving from Dutch side FC Twente for £3.5 million in 2010, but Monday night against Fulham at Craven Cottage was the first time I have seen the Ivorian in live play and was surprised at the midfielder’s performance.

When Tiote made his Newcastle debut in 2010 it might well go down as the most successful first performances by a defensive midfielder of all time; all 64 attempted passes were completed, 2 interceptions and all 5 attempted tackles made in a 1-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park.

A fine start to his Toon career for the midfield man but in the next 49 league games Tiote received a remarkable 25 bookings, 14 coming of those coming in his first Premier League season, maybe even more remarkably however the midfield man knows how to toe the line once being cautioned with only a single red card in that period. This is not what you want to be reading about a defensive midfielder you would sign to breaking up play in the middle of the pitch.

During Monday night’s game at Craven Cottage everything Tiote tried seemed to go wrong for him, he was poor in possession and failed to get a hold of the game and spoil Fulham’s neat interchanges in the midfield. Surprisingly, however, Tiote was out of the game so much he failed to pick up another yellow card and failed to finish the game being hauled off by manager Alan Pardew in an attempt to earn something out of a game Newcastle eventually lost 2-1.

Magpies manager Pardew has recognised his team are struggling to repeat the form of last season, that saw his side finish 5^th, and Tiote may be one of those players through the spine of the time that is having an effect but after that performance I am far from impressed.

Sam Jewell

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