In short, when he plays well the whole team seems to play well. Consequently when he has a more subdued game the rest of the team seem to follow.
This may be cause for concern given that Tiote will be away with Ivory Coast at the turn of the year as the African Cup of Nations gets underway. However it seems that plans are already in progress in terms of finding an able replacement for Tiote, and that replacement will come from within our own squad.
Now don’t panic. Alan Smith is not the one who has been earmarked to replace the temporarily departed Tiote. Instead we will apparently be looking to young Mehdi Abeid as cover for Tiote.
“He’s in my thinking when Cheik goes away. I’m gearing him up for that period,” Pardew told the Sunday Sun.
“His progress continues. He scored two for the reserves the other day and he could find himself jumping ahead of one or two others, we’ll see.”
Abeid started the game against Nottingham Forest in the “Tiote” role, and I imagine he’ll be doing much the same in midweek when we face Blackburn in the Carling Cup. In fairness he played rather well against Forest, although he did tire towards the end, and I can see why he is being groomed as a stand in for Tiote.
To me it makes sense. Abeid is highly rated and is impressing behind the scenes, more so than the likes of Dan Gosling and Danny Guthrie it would seem. Personally I thought that one of those two would be the top candidate to fill in for Cheik.
Apparently not.
Is Mehdi the right man to replace such an important player? Do you think it should be somebody else? As ever let us know your views.
stevewraith steve wraith
Harper to brighton on months loan as he needs the games he says.hes gutted
batty(Quote)
Steve Harper going on loan to Brighton for a month…Hardly news. 🙄
The Kid(Quote)
stevewraith steve wraith
Player in isnt done deal though ive just been told.interesting to see how that develops
batty(Quote)
stevewraith steve wraith
Season ticket holders to be offered an extra season ticket for this season at 50% off. Gud idea.
batty(Quote)
Can’t understand those that want to see us play Kadar and Perch in defense against Blackburn unless we want to be out of the cup. Maybe play Kadar with Colo but no Perch please! Really important to get Williamson back as cover but still a month away. Start Marveaux, Santon and Hatem and maybe Kadar if he has been playing good enough but leave the rest alone and we should progress. Otherwise we will be out. Pardew is claiming a cup run is a key goal so let’s see him field a team that will get us to the quarter finals.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
G2 aye perch is not even a good ccc player ime hopeing hoots mate hangs on to his job and goes up to hibs (please) hes about that standard 😉
icedog(Quote)
This anti-Perch stuff is getting a bit ridiculous. He was one of our best players against Forrest and isn’t anywhere as bad as what some people are saying.
The Kid(Quote)
Batty “Chucky and the doom-mongers” bring out the best in me 😆 😆 ….but don’t pin the ape **** phase on org on me mate…. 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
KID everyone to there own views m8 😉
icedog(Quote)
Batty – great gesture that by the club about the season tickets if true
Toonsy – definitely brace yourself for some bad news 😉
re incoming player, not too pushed, loads of time. If a deal is announced as done happy days that its done this early. If not, no big deal
Dubtoon(Quote)
Could player coming in be loan deal agreed for Tevez in January?
A chicken can dream! 😀
Toon Chicken(Quote)
Agree with Geordie2, if a cup run is our top priority, then we must field our best 11 to start. Maybe have a few younguns on the bench.
Not convinced that Rob Elliott is of sufficient quality to start either. Would have been fine with Harper, but if he is away on loan for a bit, then it must be Krul in goal.
Hopefully B’burn will have other priorities, considering their league position. 😳
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I’d be disappointed if our reserves couldn’t beat blackburn’s first XI home or away.
They are *****, we are class. Simple as.
Toon Chicken(Quote)
So after a quarter of the season is over, we find ourselves 1 point behind Manure and equal on points with Chelski 😯
Still pinching meself tbh.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
TC – its a difficult call for Pardew tho, especially as he has said Ashley wants a cup run. Does he risk the reserve players cocking it up for him.
I’m glad its his call not mine 😆
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
BB – true but we need to get used to squad rotation in prep for Champs League next season 😉
Toon Chicken(Quote)
TC Blackburn will beat us if we put out a complete B team. Hopefully it will be a good mixture of experience at the back and B team players further up the pitch…
Shamrock(Quote)
Shamrock – don’t agree. The only starter from Sat I have in my team is Raylor, but there is Benny, Marv, Santon, Sammy, Mehdi, Gosling – still much stronger than relegation contenders Blackburn
Toon Chicken(Quote)
Batty where you hear that mate?
Liam southern toon(Quote)
Harper to Brighton on loan then.
Anyways I said a while back on here Mehdi would be the one for me to play when Cheik does leave for the ACN, he will probably be the player to slot in when Tiote does eventually leave for one of the top clubs. Every time I’ve seen him he leaves a good impression and his goals for the reserves the other day were top draw.
Really hope he starts in the cup on Wednesday.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
He looks too much like a 1978 Cortina, with a dodgy Capri bodge bonnet.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Perch & Kadar at centre half, who have no experience playing together in a competitive match will be our undoing if that is the case… Each to their own but I sincerely doubt our B team is as strong as their A team – especially away from home. It took extra time against Forest, who are aweful – a lot worse than Blackburn…
Shamrock(Quote)
I met a Geordie lad while out walking in the Hollywood Hills a couple of months back who had been to all three games United played in the States in their pre-season tour. I asked who had impressed him the most and was very surprised when he said Mehdi Abeid. Maybe Pardew’s hint will come to pass.
Paul in Hollywood(Quote)
Hate MOTD these days they give us no credit what so ever. Q.P.R were outstanding they say coudnt believe it they were shocking nearly every single decision the ref made was wrong and thats how they got the points but us against wolves we were the lucky team because the ref. Haansen and Dickson are both knobheads.
apart from that I would love a David Luiz/Colo partnership at the back for us 😀
Icke(Quote)
Paul, from watching him in Orlando, he definitely impressed a lot of people. Plenty of pace, great dribbling ability, and a suprising ability to read the game.
Icke, that’s ridiculous from the pundits. Watched the whole game and was apalled at all the decisions against Chelsea. David Luiz was outstanding, and had a huge hunger to get the game back!
AndrewT(Quote)
Yeah tbh attacking wise we look pretty decent on the reserve front, midfield of Gosling – Abeid – Vuckic – Marveaux, Up front Shola/Nile/Sameobi and Benny off the striker.
It’s in defence we have no depth
Tbh Pardew knows that, against Forest he left a few experienced players in like Colo, and I think he will again/
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
I once knew a man named Pat
His ideal pet wasn’t a cat, so he changed his name.
Rodzilla(Quote)
what the what? Harper out on loan? Must be a recall option in there surely…. starting fatboy Elliot in the Prem would be suicide
M(Quote)
I watched him for the reserves against Liverpool the other night & I wasn’t impressed. Maybes he had an off day.
Martyn(Quote)
they are all going on loan………..good for nufc!!!!!!(reserve footy is kidys stuff to get first team players up to fittness usually)
john(Quote)