It has been clear for quite some time that Manchester United’s midfield is crying out for a new signing. If you follow me on Twitter you should know full well by now that I have long been a proponent of a defensive midfield arrival walking down the Old Trafford tunnel.
Daniele de Rossi is the man for whom I have long argued, a battler, a leader, a fighter, a world class defensive midfielder.
However, since this has always looked unlikely, is it possible that the answer lies much closer, 151 miles away at St James’ Park, where the Geordies very own midfield battler has begun to catch the eye with some terrific battling displays? Here I ask whether United should, in January, Cheik out a certain Ivorian midfielder.
Cheik Tiote joined Newcastle United approximately fourteen months ago, had a steady, and at times spectacular (see his equalising goal in the 4-4 home draw against Arsenal), debut season in English football, and has started this season in fine form, controlling the midfield and sitting in front of a defence that has shipped just seven goals, the best defensive record in the Barclays Premier League. Tiote’s disciplined play in the holding role has released the creative talents of Cabaye, Gutierrez and Obertan (remember him? he beats fullbacks now) further forward, powering this simply constructed but immensely effective Newcastle team to a stunning third place in the league.
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Positionally, Tiote is superb: shielding, tackling, intercepting, and distributing the ball simply but effectively. At United, he would provide the crucial holding presence in midfield that the side has lacked ever since September 2008, the fatal month in which Owen Hargreaves’ Manchester United career effectively ended. In taking on the “Hargreaves” role from that fantastic Double winning side, Tiote would release Anderson (who had his best United season pushing on with the insurance of Hargreaves’ covering presence behind him), Carrick, Cleverley, Young, Nani and Rooney to create further forwards, knowing that he was performing a simple but effective role in front of a fairly inexperienced backline.
Yes, I know he signed a six-and-a-half deal in February 2011, I know that Newcastle would fight tooth and nail to keep him, but I really believe United should take a determined stance on this young, Premier League proven holding player. As for the arguments that a defensive presence is not needed inmidfield, just think back to the darkest day at Old Trafford in many a season,23rd October 2011, the day the midfield was exposed for what it was: simply not good enough, and then try telling me that Cheik Tiote would not be a fantastic signing.
Written by Josh
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Well considered piece. Tiote will be at the Afrcian Nations in Jan however. Fergie never tends to buy in Jan, however he will not fancy losing a title to City.
Silly money required, I anticipate a deal matching the Andy Caroll Deal, £35m. Veron whom
was older and far less effective in the Premiership cost £28.1m ten years ago.
Get the cash out, Fergie could however do some scouting and buy some players like Tiote and Cabaye from the French or Dutch league for bargain nos.
Interesting piece and a good appraisal of Tiote’s attributes. However i have to ask why an article urging man utd to try and take one our best players is on a newcastle united blog? Surely we should be discouraging this kind of thing
Chris, just posted it to show that we might have a battle on our hands next summer.
I too would be interested to know why that is the case too Chris. Weve had a fantastic start to the season with some damn good team and individual performances why is a blog on nothingbutnewcastle trying to sell our players to Manu ???- is football that much about money now that the prestige of a club is how much they can sell their players for? Do you not think we have sold enough talent already??? what a bizarre article now jog on and support Manchester if thats what you want!!!
Nigel, not trying to sell our players to Man United, I feel it’s extremely important we keep Tiote!
I was thinking exactly the same Chris. Very well written article but did make me feel a little sick at thought of us losing another batch of our best performers. Mr Ashley you are slowly winning me over….. I think….. Please don’t spoil it now. Tiote has a five year contract, at least let us enjoy the player for a few years. I predict he’ll be worth £50 mill in four years.
He’s obviously not a Toon fan but a mackem if all he’s trying to do here is dismantle our midfield & sell them off at the highest prices to the Mancs… 🙁 You should be a shamed of yourself fella, no true Toon fan would even suggest we sell one of our best players to the Mancs, not in a million years… I used to like reading your level headed blog but this crap has turned it sour!!!!!
Toon69 – Josh isn’t a Toon fan: is a ‘view from the enemy’ if you like
Me thinks Josh has mixed loyalties!!
It’s fair to say that our better players will, without doubt, turn heads with the way we have starter this season, but to discuss Tiote in the man utd line up… on a Newcastle blog is just plain stupid… however well written the article is.
The fact is that both Cabaye and Tiote have only recently said themselves that they are happy at newcastle and want to focus on playing well.
Spurs kept Modric and Bale and there better players and they failed to qualify for the champions league last season, yet they look good again this season.
I use them because I think we will be fighting them for league positions this season, are a similar size club.
I think we need to build our team round the likes of Cabaye and Tiote, quality young players on long term contracts who could bring exciting and even successful times to SJP.
@ Chris
Exactly why is a NUFC blog bringing to the attention of our rivals certain players who we need to keep to maintain our efforts. Sounds like a betrayal to me. Why give fergie et al ideas?
Sell him for 30 million and its great business. Im sure we could get someone eager and keen with similar qualities and still pay them well.
Would prefer Mr T at Newcastle..but 30 million can help us buy more backup also.
Sure my opinion will be extremely popular….lol
just when you think your team is starting to come together, 🙁 someone writes this,
for what its worth, we are not a team that values our players and wants to build a successful team around our better players, i feel our players are just in a shop window called sports direct stadium, regardless how well pardew is doing right now, at the end of the day he is a yes man, unlike harry at spurs or arsen at arsenal, they fight tooth and nail to keep players, AP dont really have a say, the first decent offer that comes in, tiote will be off, probably against his and APs wishes,
sad but very true
Why advocate another club taking a key player from us? What concern is Man United’s midfield performance to you? Why write the title as fact and the article as opinion you have formed of your own accord?
Just a very odd article for a supposed NUFC supporter to write. Zero respect for your site now.
Apologies MooMoo – should have put ‘what we have to be wary of’ in the intro.
@ catchy
We haven’t been a club that built a team round our better players recently but we used to be, certainly in the keegan era we were and the most obvious being keeping Mr Shearer from Fergie.
I appreciate we had a different board in place at the time but I honestly think he has only got rid of the trouble makers or players who didn’t really want to be at the club.
I think the board do want to build a team, hence the scouting system in place and offering the likes of jonas and Colo new deals (fingers crossed).
Unfortunately other clubs have more cash than we do, and if stupid money is offered, I think, like most clubs, we would listen to offers.
A team is bigger than one player though and if any leave, it’s not the end of the world… we are living proof of that now!!!