Quantcast
Blogs

Newcastle can cope with anything – even losing their best player

|
Image for Newcastle can cope with anything – even losing their best player

Heading into Newcastle’s game against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium in the Premier League, I’ll admit that I was worried. Stoke is a hard place to go to at the best of times and without Cheik Tiote in the starting line-up, I thought something not far off a repeat performance of last season’s 4-0 drubbing could have been on the cards. How wrong I was, not only about the scoreline, but about Tiote’s importance to the team.

Now, I’m not going to say that Tiote isn’t arguably Newcastle’s best player (although there are plenty putting in performances this season that deserve that mantle), but I thought he was essential to our progress. Indispensable, irreplaceable, [insert another complimentary word beggining with ‘i’ here] – Tiote is a man mountain in the middle of the park for the Magpies. Alongside fellow star Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle have a central midfield partnership that is up there with the best.

[ad_pod id=’unruly-video’ align=’right’]

However, the strength of Newcastle’s starting eleven was shown by the fact that at the Britannia Cayabe wasn’t one of the standout performers – that accolade went to Demba Ba, Jonas Gutierrez and Steven Taylor. While Tiote’s stand in, Danny Guthrie, also performed well and was part of a defensive effort that couldn’t be faulted, even if his attacking tendencies had to be sacrificed.

The thing about Newcastle right now is that it’s extremely difficult to pick out someone who’s head and shoulders above the rest. Tim Krul has been exceptional in goal, Taylor and captain Coloccini at the back have been really solid, Gutierrez has worked his socks off every week and Ba has been banging in the goals. It’s an all for one and one for all attitude that Alan Pardew has to take much credit for.

Having said all that, I hope Tiote is back for the match against Everton at St James’ on Saturday, as in his role he’s one of the best. He’s tenacious and brings out the best in Cabaye, something that will bode Newcastle well in the long run and that the Magpies will miss when he goes to the African Cup of Nations at the start of next year. Not only that, but he’s due a goal like the one he smashed in against Arsenal, too!

NothingButNewcastle.com is looking for writers. If you love the Toon get in touch at nothingbutnewcastle@snack-media.com

Share this article