I find that staggering to be honest. I’m not saying that the lad is beyond criticism, but I am questioning whether he actually deserves the stick that is flying his way at the moment.
Of course Cisse hasn’t hit the heights he achieved last season when seemingly everything he hit found the back of the net. Realistically it was never going to be replicated. The guy broke Premier League history with his rate of goals and scored at a faster rate than legends like Supermac and Hughie Gallacher so to expect the same again is foolish at best.
However I will concede that his goal return from this term hasn’t exactly been sparkling although there are mitigating circumstances that explain at least part of the reason for his lack of goals this season. Put simply we’ve played with one striker for the bulk of the season and that striker was Demba Ba with Papiss Cisse being pushed out on the wing. You know, the same position where Demba Ba’s goals dried up from last season or were some people blinded by the sun shining out of Ba’s **** that they forget this fact?
Since Ba left Cisse has been back in his natural position scoring two goals in seven appearances. It should have been three in seven after last night and could have even been four in seven with some benefit of the doubt. Cisse has been robbed of his 1 in 2 goal rate (a rate he has carried all the way through his career) since his return to the centre basically by some shoddy decision making.
People are saying that he is wasteful and that he should be putting chances away, and I agree to a point. Some of them have just been bad misses but some of them have just been plain bad luck combined with good goalkeeping. It’s just one of those things that happens when you’re luck is out.
His all-round play has improved immensely in recent weeks and now he contributes to the team in other ways aside from goals. Scoring should be his main priority of course, but are those who are having a moan about noticing how deep he is dropping to link up play? Probably not…
I actually think it’s only a matter of time before Cisse starts finding the back of the net again. For me the key thing is that he isn’t going into hiding and keeps on getting in to goalscoring positions. Combine that with the more effective role he is playing in attack these days and we could actually have a better, more rounded, Cisse as a result providing the masses stick behind the lad.
Just my opinion anyway…
No worries about Cisse myself. For me he has been looking better and better since he has moved back through the middle. The goals will come. His goal scoring record speaks for itself.
Oblong(Quote)
Totally agree Toonsy,
He’s had one legitimate goal chalked off in the Europa and one in the league.
Also as you say he’s looked far better since being moved back to the centre and his link up play has been superb at times. Far far better than Demba Ba’s. Cisse is much more of a team player.
He has missed chances yes. But so did Ba. Ba’s scoring rate was only one goal per eight shots at goal. The difference was he shot from everywhere, often to the detriment of the team.
He has clearly lost his finishing boots, but his career record suggests he will get it back. He is getting his shots on target now, whereas before he was shooting miles over and wide. Its only a matter of time before he starts putting them away. (and the ref doesn’t screw him over).
Even he is takes time to come right. With Ben Arfa returning, Gouffran returning and Sissoko and Cabaye in good form. There are now goals elsewhere in the team.
Those saying Shola should be starting ahead of him, have clearly lost their minds. 😯
JJ(Quote)
I find it staggering that people slag off individual players, apart from Nile Ranger !!!! Cisse is quality an that always shines through. My biggest issue is the constant barraging of Guitierez & previous to that Simpson. They both work hard and give 100% on the pitch. It was good to see Jonas get some positives after the Chelsea game, because he was outstanding. He also had a good game against Spurs, in line with the standards of the rest of the team, but it was back to abuse. And then after all of this people wonder why players have no loyalty !!!
NUFCdown South(Quote)
I think this is a joke after last season goals we ain’t got no strikers in depth so why abuse the clubs best striker so what if he’s been rusty playing out of position will do this carry on and you we will be abusing Nile ranger
Tooooned up est93(Quote)
Toonsy – it depends what is classed as ‘harsh words’ and what is seen as ‘criticism’ mate.
I personally consider Cisses all round game to be very good. He does a lot of graft in 90mins and doesn’t just stand there waiting for the ball to come to him. But if he’s being judged as a striker, then I think it’s fair to say its pretty poor reading.
I accept what you’re saying about him being played out of position but the stats I found on ESPN site say EPL games played 24, shots 48, assists 0, goals 5.
The point I’m making is regardless of position, a player like Cisse should be scoring more than 5 out of 48 shots. It’s a similar arguement to Ba 2nd half of last season. He wasn’t scoring coz he was out of position – but he was still getting chances and should have been putting them away.
I think those people calling Cisse **** are just stupid because another stat is Cisse toon career shows 38 games 18 goals – which ain’t too bad.
But this seasons return is certainly critical IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Toonsy agree 100% some of the **** he gets is unbelievable, for me it was obvious that his confidence was knocked out of him, and would take a while for him to get it back, and you can see that he is starting to get it back’ I have no doubt that he will start banging them in again, and the sameones that are giving him stick now will be fully behind him.
Big Dave(Quote)
Sharpy,
So many people have been going on about Demba Ba and how we miss him, did you read his goals per shots stats?
98 shots and 14 goals.
So basically a goal every seven shots.
Cisse has a goal every nine shots. That’s playing from a position unfamliar to him. I’m sure that will come down over the next few games.
In fact, if Cisse can score 10 goals from his next 50 shots at goal, he’ll have a better record than Demba Ba, who so many are now calling a 20million pound (30 goal a season striker).
JJ(Quote)
Been saying this for ages.
We would never have beaten Chelsea if Cisse hadn’t played.
Unfortunately the internet is full of clueless muppets.
EvilFranky(Quote)
Agree again with this , I’d be more worried if he wasnt getting into goal scoring opurtunities than him not scoring , didnt the Reading keeper play out of his skin? Cech pulled off a few decent saves , Dont think he had that many clear cut chances against Spurs , if he had a bit more luck he’d have gotten a few more goals and we wouldnt be having this discussion.
Johno Toon(Quote)
By the way. Ben Arfa…
32 shots at goal from playing out wide. Only three goals. So it does make a big difference playing out wide because you are usually taking shots from far more difficult angles.
JJ(Quote)
Toonsy ,glad you posted this article. About time we addressed this Cisse baiting issue. He served this club well last season and it’s down to him and Ba that we finished so well . His reward was to get shoved out to the wing so Demba could put himself in the shop window ready for a top 4 bid this january. That’s my opinion on the situation and nobody will change my mind on that so don’t bother trying to 😉 . Imo Cisse should of played up front from the start and ****** Ba ,he was off anyway .I really think it sapped Cisse’s confidence and he clearly wasn’t comfy out on the wing ,yet we never once saw the bottom lip like we did with Ba pre season when he told Pards he wanted to be upfront. I like Demba and do appreciate his goals but he did us no favors this season with his attitude ,imo he is a very selfish player who wasn’t a team player ,not something that can be levelled at Cisse who’s link up play and passing shows a true team player. If there is nowt on for Cisse he always looks to play someone else in where as Ba was inclined to shoot from all over the place as JJ said to the detriment of the team quite a lot. He had two good goals on thursday 1 st never offside and 2nd only just and the lino simply guessed it was as no way you could be sure without benefit of replays 🙄 . I ain’t worried one bit about Cisse ,he just needs time to get his confidence back and stop having good goals chalked off by incompetent officials. 😉 .
KIMTOON(Quote)
some fans just cannot see past there nose end,the lad is a top player i know i would pefer him playing for the toon than against,from reports from the training ground he is knocking them in all day long,the problem i think with some fans they look for hero centre forwards and we have had afew in our time going back for years so it can be understood but i ask what have we won in those years (nowt) some look to blame the guys not supplying our hero or our c/f is not good enough,its a team game and the fact of life is there are better teams than us and until the day the club invest a lot of money and time thats the way it will stay,i am quite happy to support the lads every week when a 100%effort is put in and will also slate the players (after the game) that i think are not good enough and there are a few,cissie is a good player needs more good players around him but we seem to be moving that way,tactics play a big part lets hope our manager is good enough for that it remains to be seen imo,one more point i would llike to say is the goalkeeping coach needs to be looked at as for the last few keepers just persist in hoofing the ball up field not a good tactic imo,
rant over sorry 😕
icedog(Quote)
His calm finish against Villa shows he still has it but it is so frustrating watching him fluff ‘easy’ chances and be offside the majority of the game. I honestly believe that if Shola had the amount of chances Cisse has had this season in the same sorts of positions, he’d have scored more goals than him.
Moreno(Quote)
Agree with this article. However, it does not go far enough. It seems that most threads include among the comments slagging off players as useless, not fit to wear the shirt, should be in the championship rubbish. Targets include Demba Ba last season. Williamson, though I remember debates where people preferred him to Saylor a couple of seasons back. Simpson, despite him have the best stats of any English FB last season. Perch who has contributed enormously. Raylor who we have sorely missed this season. Shola who although great contributions a rare, have been vital. Give a couple of months and all the new guys will get slagged off. Once the Honeymoon period is over, once the big name status has been replaced by new dreamboats these fans will turn.
premandup(Quote)
Ice,
Don’t ever apologize for giving your heartfelt opinion. No matter who you feel you may offend. Especially when you are making so much sense.
I know for a fact that your are right because I agree with you 100% 😉 😆
JJ(Quote)
Premandup,
Agree. Add Jonas to that list. And Tiote. 😕
Moreno(Quote)
Moreno @13
Shola would NEVER have the same amount of chances that Cisse has had because his movement, anticipation and teamwork is pathetic to say the least.
The reason Cisse gets himself into the position to score so often is because he has the talent and ability to… Something Shola has lost through injuries (or simply never had).
Shola had a great chance against Spurs which he fluffed too. I do think experience has made him a decent finisher but it doesn’t help that he is so immobile. He doesn’t have it in him to often get into good scoring positions.
This is a skill, not a coincidence.
JJ(Quote)
JJ I dont think Shola fluffed the chance more LLrois made a good save , the shot was on target , its all Shola could of done! Is this going to turn into another Shola debate 😆 Maybe we should just have a daily thread for this subject as it has miles to go!!!
Johno Toon(Quote)
There isn’t a striker in the world that hasn’t been through a drop in form and confidence.
Drogba, in 2008/09 scored five goals in 25 games. (58 shots). Imagine if they’d written him off after that season.
JJ(Quote)
JJ @ 17.
He also had a great chance against Spurs at home. Which he scored to win us the 3 points.
Moreno(Quote)
Cisse’s a quality player and he’ll get us plenty of goals, has he missed plenty of chances? yep as do most strikers, and if you’re expecting that to change you’re in for a dissapointment. He missed shitloads in Germany too but also scored alot of goals, that’s the type of player he is and I hope he’s at the Toon for years to come as our goal scoring number 9
richietoon(Quote)
Johnno, 😆
That’s actually my point. That chance Shola had was no harder than most of these “easy” chances that Cisse has apparently missed.
Most have been good saves. Yes he could have finished better if you look at a few replays in slow motion. But its not that simple.
Sometimes strikers need a little luck. Quite a few of Demba Ba’s goals this season, for me anyway have been goal keeping errors. They should have been saved. When things are running for you, it all seems that much easier. Confidence soars. When things don’t, confidence drops.
The last thing Cisse needs is the crowd getting on his back. The last thing NUFC needs is negativity and more pressure. We are still in a relegation battle.
JJ(Quote)
JJ@ 😆 😆 😉
icedog(Quote)
Moreno,
Honest question. Do you really believe that Ameobi has the mobility and anticipation to get into as many goal scoring positions that Cisse does.
Do you think he will offer more overall to team play?
Personally all I’ve seen from him, apart from the rare decent finish and flick on. Is someone who completely slows down attacking momentum. Strays offsides (even more than Cisse), and walks around the park, never presses the defenders, never makes runs which stretches defences.
For me he promotes a slow, long ball mentality and isn’t much of a goal threat at all. But I’d like to hear what you think he offers. Because I must be missing it.
Yes, he scores one or two decent goals a season. But even Pancrate did that. Best did a far better job – I enjoyed him as a player. I don’t enjoy Shola.
JJ(Quote)
JJ,
You’ll notice I also wrote ‘easy’ in inverted commas as in my opinion you don’t get many easy chances at this level. I do feel that when you are playing with one striker up front and you play him every game, and at the price he cost, he should be scoring more than he is.
I am not slagging him off here, love the lad, however I feel his goal return, up until this point in the season, has not been good enough. Dress it up how you want.
Moreno(Quote)
JJ – lets compare it to the top mate –
Ronaldo – La Liga – 22 games. 4 assists. 24 goals. 164 shots 😯 – that’s a goal every 6.8 shots.
Messi – La Liga – 22 games. 9 assists. 35 goals. 123 shots 😯 – that’s an unbelievable goal return of 1 every 3.5 shots 😯 what a player!.
RVP – EPL – 26 games. 7 assists. 19 goals. 93 shots. A very impressive goal in every 4.8 shots.
Stats taken from ESPN FC site. The only point I’m trying to make is that even to top players in the top teams need a few chances to notch.
Personally, I’d still like to see Cisses come down from 1 in 10 shots to 1 in 7 or 8, but I’m sure if he can get a run going then that is perfectly achievable
Sharpy17(Quote)
JJ,
Shola must offer nothing, that’s why every single manager for the past 16 years has rated him so highly but of course these professionals with decades of experience in the game must all be blind.
When Shola is on, we punt daft long balls up to him that he generally wins or has to run 10 yards t try get some sort of touch with his head on as it’s inaccurate. Is that his fault the team do that?
I am not saying make him no.9 and start him every week but it baffles me the abuse he gets.
Moreno(Quote)
ime sorry if i upset some (well ime not really) shola has been at the club 12.5 yrs,seen his first game at sjp he is not a PL player and never will be some say hes a ccc player sorry he is not that good either he wouldnt even get into the heed first team,yes hes scored the odd good goal but so have many players that are no longer at the club,his brother is cut of the same cloth imo and will never make a PL player,maybe if he went on loan and worked on his game theres a slim chance he might improve but i have my doubts
icedog(Quote)
Sharpy,
Overall in his Newcastle career Cisse has 18 goals from 87 shots.
Thats a goal every 4.8 shots. I’d imagine that it’s still up there with the best ever strike rates.
For Moreno’s benefit… Shola has one goal this season from 22 shots.
So getting my calculater out… thats a goal every… 22 shots. 😉 😆
JJ(Quote)
To say Shola isn’t good enough for even the ccc..
Completely disagree Ice as you know but appreciate you have your opinion fella.
Anyway I have an away match at Harpenden today, hopefully last more than half an hour today! If I score I am going to dedicate it to Shola and send him a signed photograph
Moreno(Quote)
JJ,
Spurs, QPR, Bordeaux, Brugge but aye carry on with your one goal craic 🙄
Haterzzz gonna hate
Moreno(Quote)
Moreno I like the stat of Cisse even going through a barron run this season has scored 49 goals in the last 2 + 1/2 seasons. Strolla has scored 50 in the last 12 + 1/2 seasons 😆 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Overall Shola’s striker rate in the last three years has been one goal every 11 shots he’s taken.
Kind of blows that, he’s got a good strike rate/minutes on the pitch theory out of the water doesn’t it?
Emile Heskey’s strike rate over his last Premiership seasons was one goal every 9.5 shots.
Honestly, Shola for me, is a poor man’s Geordie Emile Heskey. 😆
Anyway. Back to the topic at hand.
JJ(Quote)
In the pub I had 21 “shots” and didn’t score… then fell over, a bit similar to Shola… although he wasn’t in the pub 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
So Dave,
Shola has scored more goals than Cisse for the toon aye? Legend!
Moreno(Quote)
JJ – you stat thief! 😀 why didn’t I think about checking Cisses overall record 👿 :sad:. But good point mate. I was obviously just basing it off this season.
ICE – I agree that Shola and Sammi aren’t PL players, but I do think they would cope in the CCC mid table teams. But then I also have that opinion of Williamson. I’m not sure if that is classed as critical or slagging off anymore though 🙄
Sharpy17(Quote)
Second highest scorer in Europe in our entire history but not god enough for the ccc and has ‘scored one’ this season 😆
Honestly you lot brighten up my day 😆
Moreno(Quote)
Moreno – you gonna pace yaself this week mate or you sticking with the hell for leather in the 1st 15-20mins approach? 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Im a bif Shola fan but he isnt better than Cisse , and Im not sure I’ve ever seen anyone say that. He does have a role to play for the team and club. He isnt a world beater and is inconsistent however when he does come good he is a beast. His and our problem is it is never has been enough times.
Johno Toon(Quote)
Sharpy 😆
I reckon I’ll be stretchers off in the first half through exhaustion.
I was on the beer last night so I hope he doesn’t start me.
Moreno(Quote)
Moreno,
Shola has one Premier League goal this season. He has had 22 efforts at goal in the Premier League. That is FACT.
If you add in other competitions, he has 3 goals this season, after 36 attempts. That is still a strike rate of a goal every 12 efforts. His career average.
He never scored against Spurs this season. Ba and Ben Arfa did. That was last season.
JJ(Quote)
Talking of Shola’s stats, did anyone else notice his poor pass success% (PA%) against Metalist? Admittedly, he only came on near the end of the game, but apparently he had 8 touches of the ball with only a 25% pass success rate 😯 Even Tim Krul managed better than that!
http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/684973/LiveStatistics/Europe-UEFA-Europa-League-2012-2013-Newcastle-United-Metalist-Kharkiv
Chris G(Quote)
I’d say Shola is a mid level Championship player. However, even then he’d probably only last 60 minutes at most and the team would have to employ long ball tactics.
Also IT IS his fault they only pump long balls to him. It’s because he is static and statuesque. Players actually have to make runs to receive through balls. They have to escape their marker to receive short passes. Shola doesn’t have the pace or stamina to do this.
I’ll always love King Kev for trying to get shot of Shola.
As for the rest. Well, he was probably the only other option left. Having said that. He must be demon in training! 😈
JJ(Quote)
Cisse should be dopped…
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Ye Chris,
In his 20 minutes on the pitch he gave it away three times. More than any other player. Including Cabaye and Coloccini who played more than 7 long passes each.
Great target man. 😉
JJ(Quote)
Aussie,
Who would you dop him for?
JJ(Quote)
Ranger, everyone was prepared to give Joey another chance, why not him..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Moreno – 😆 I don’t think you’re taking this Sunday league football seriously mate. Infact, it sounds more like Ranger is your toon idol – not Shola 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Aussie,
If you going to dangle a line, at least put some bait on the hook.
JJ(Quote)
JJ 🙂 🙂 I saw all your positve comments and I thought, ****, some on has to be a negative ***** now that JJ has jumed ship 🙂 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie,
Like most on here,
Apart from Craig. I simply comment how I see it.
Problem is people tend to remember negative comments more than the positive ones. Especially if they disagree. 😆
JJ(Quote)
Where’s Batty?
Probably going through my Facebook profile pictures, trying to see if he can see a bit of nipple.
JJ(Quote)
Sharpy,
As a team player, like Shola, I understand when the team is at it’s strongest. And that’s with me on the bench 😆
I am just going to pretend we are playing the mackems 😈
Moreno(Quote)
Playing up front at CF should see Cisse with a good goal return from now until the end of the season. I am not at all concerned , and we are lucky to have such a quality player.
Moreno , what level are you playing at ?. If it is a local pub league then you can argue that you are playing at the same level that Shola is capable of.
sidekick(Quote)
Moreno,
You should mould your game around Shola’s style. Your should be able to last the full game. Whatever you do, don’t break into a run! 😉
JJ(Quote)
Personally, I’ve alway felt Shola’s best position is left back.
JJ(Quote)
Shola should be dropped………………… from the bench 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Or from a good height !
sidekick(Quote)
On a serious note.
I’m surely when Shola has his testimonial St James will be fully packed.
All his adoring fans… celebrating his retirement.
JJ(Quote)
A least Shola’s calves don’t give way after a short jog tho 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Sure *
JJ(Quote)
*At least*
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie,
No, but his hips do… I’m starting to realise why Moreno loves him so much. They have a lot in common. 😆 😆
JJ(Quote)
JJ 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie,
You’d never have though English was our first lanuage. 😳
Soon we’ll be needing lessons from HBA
JJ(Quote)
I actually think Shola’s hip injuries have come from all the times he’s had to get up and sit down from the bench.
Anyway, seems I’ve deflected attention away from Papiss… job done!
JJ(Quote)
JJ, 🙂 I’m blaming this virtual keyboard on this tablet… it does my feckin head in tbh… 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
did toonsy miss off the rest of the title
lay off cisse….. slag off half the team instead
alanthedog363(Quote)
http://www.sabotagetimes.com/reportage/pierre-emerick-aubameyang-the-latest-ligue-1-star-on-newcastles-shopping-list/
. Will provide serious competition for Cissé and can probably be converted to play on the wing/LAM as he was St Etienne’s top assister.
Can’t say how much I want us to sign him, the video shows his talent and pace. Signed him on FIFA he’s beast
Andymag(Quote)
As much as it pains me to say, I think we will go for Carroll in the summer. I can’t see another french lad coming in, we need to consider our home grown content. Carroll ticks the two boxes we need ticking ( apart from being a prolific striker) 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
JJ – Do you reckon Sholas testimonial will be similar to Shearers – in that Shola will kick it off then head back to the bench
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, 😆 😆 😆 😆
JJ(Quote)
Sharpy
If we bring back the players he played with then Shola wouldn’t make the bench. Would shearer play in the testimonial or do they still have to be playing?
Andymag(Quote)
If he wasnt getting the chances i would worry, He makes the right runs (sometimes a bit too early) and with a bit more composure he could have had a hat trick thursday even without the disallowed goals.
The decision to change a system that suited Cisse so much that he scored 13 in 14 to keep someone who couldnt hit a barn door for 6 months happy was laughable on pardews part and the decision to move him wide was even worse. When a couple go in for the lad plenty more will follow…
CC(Quote)
Al @ 68 – It was tempting 😆
toonsy(Quote)