NUFC vs Birmingham City – Two In From The Cold?

It has been a while since Cheick Tiote or Daryl Murphy started a competitive game for Newcastle United, in fact their appearances have even been limited from the substitutes bench.

However, both players clearly have quality, with Tiote performing consistently well for Newcastle, for a number of years now, even representing the club in European competition.

With Rafa Benitez’s side on a three game losing run, albeit once on penalties and another in a game that was somewhat taken out of their control, could the Newcastle manager be tempted to turn to two players who have had very limited opportunities this season?

The short answer is – probably not, however, you never know with Rafa. He may feel that partnering Jonjo Shelvey with Tiote, could give the English playmaker even more freedom to express himself, knowing that Tiote, who is a natural ball winner, is behind him.

Furthermore, Tiote has never been shy about receiving possession, when the back four are in control of the ball. This would only help Rafa’s apparent desire to play football from the back. Although, it must be noted that this is not a trait that is unique to Tiote.

Isaac Hayden and Jack Colback also offer the same desire to relieve the Newcastle backline of possession.

Moving on to Murphy, who is possibly the more likely of the two to start. The Republic of Ireland hitman, is yet to see his Newcastle career really take off.

In his brief outings in a black and white shirt, Murphy has shown that he is strong, intelligent and good in the air. However, as with Tiote, these are also traits that he shares with his competitor for a place in the match-day, Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Murphy will have a chance at some point this season, I just doubt it will be against Birmingham this weekend.

The main question is, would you bring in Tiote or Murphy? It would certainly take a brave manager to do so, but that is exactly what Rafa Benitez is.

93 thoughts on “NUFC vs Birmingham City – Two In From The Cold?

  1. Straight answer to your question Jake – NO.

    Tiote’s not been match fit for years now and wants away asap. He won’t be missed.
    Murphy is getting on and he can’t be match fit either. Murphy or Mitro? No brainer for me.
    Don’t quite know what to expect tomorrow. Looks an easy win on paper but so did Wolves and Blackburn . . .

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  2. the sooner we get Tiote off the wage bill the better and he is one of the big earners we could get two back up players for we pay him,as for Murphy he was told he would be a back up player when he signed,mind wonder how it would work out with him up front and Gayle playing just behind him

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  3. Ice: I am still relatively young from what the press say about “young England manger prospects”. They say “young England manager hopeful, Pardew” and he is bloody 55.

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  4. Eric Sykes:
    Ice: I am still relatively young from what the press say about “young England manger prospects”. They say “young England manager hopeful, Pardew” and he is bloody 55.

    your still a young pup mate,your only half way through your life going by Kirk Douglass a 100 last week and still going strong 😆 😆

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  5. off tack a little,the cost of going to a footy in the UK in the PL or ccc is getting beyond a guy with a couple of kids, i know it cost my son £40 for a baby in arms (one month old) and yet if you want to go to a team in the German lge say B.Dortmumd it costs 11euro we are just ripped off here

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  6. Is there much point in playing Tiote?, he’ll be going off to ACoN in a few weeks won’t he?.

    I questioned the Murphy purchase at the time and still do to be honest – waste of £5m IMO.

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  7. The Murphy situation is a strange one. Why bring him into the club when we have Mitro who we also don’t play very much? I thought he would play the majority of the cup games but I was wrong. His fitness has been a problem on and off apparently, like Gamez who has been an absolute flop. Sell him as soon as possible. As for Murphy, if we’re not going to use him move him on as well. No good having these type of players in the squad.

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  8. Tiote is a greedy idiot. He should have gone to China but his wage demands were ridiculous. Another waste of space. One decent season and then he turns into a flop. Ridiculous. Don’t put up with it Rafa.

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  9. Ice – I’m watching it too mate. Hoots has Brighton playing some decent football there like – nice to watch.
    You can see why we were/are chasing that Knockheart lad as well – good looking player.

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  10. Well we lost top spot to Brighton, but on a positive note, Leeds lost points tonight and they were marching up the table – 4th I think?!.

    Also, I’m pleased Brighton won and went top – it might give our boys a kick up the ****.

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  11. If we have Tiote/Murphy signed on, I’d expect them to play at some point. Although I agree, I don’t think it will be tomorrow!

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  12. Think Diame is not effective in the number 10.He should be pushed back to play in deep mf along with Shelvey.Perez has been poor for a while now.So he isn’t effective either.Something must be done for that role,
    Probably a new number 10.

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  13. Spooner:
    Think Diame is not effective in the number 10.He should be pushed back to play in deep mf along with Shelvey.Perez has been poor for a while now.So he isn’t effective either.Something must be done for that role,
    Probably a new number 10.

    Agree very much on both points there, a new number 10 a must for me. I am far from convinced on Diame sadly.

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  14. I like Diame and Perez. It’s hard to be consistent in that position, possibly the hardest position to play on the pitch. Considering the situation we find ourselves in now, I don’t think we would find anyone better for that position.

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  15. Tiote hasn’t played for Ivory Coast for nearly 2 years now. Doumbia actually has a more recent call up. We might have to play him if Shelvey gets suspended, which I don’t think will happen.

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  16. Sharpy17:
    Well we lost top spot to Brighton, but on a positive note, Leeds lost points tonight and they were marching up the table – 4th I think?!.

    Also, I’m pleased Brighton won and went top – it might give our boys a kick up the ****.

    yes they are a canny team their defence is strong they brought in Duffy to play along side Duck,maybe its true that someone said we bought the wrong c/b in Hanley,Duffy is a better player and was cheaper to £4 mil

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  17. So will there be a link today or is it radio? Quite looking forward to this game. The lads have a point to prove with Brighton doing so well…

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  18. Really missing seeing the matches this season. I guess radio is ok but not the same. Hoping Pepe is active today.

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  19. Hello all,

    Thanks for the audio link, Georgio.

    Any chance for video today?

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  20. had a bad feeling about this game, good to see I have no idea ! 2-0 Toon, lets keep it tight from here on in.

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  21. Munich Mag:
    had a bad feeling about this game, good to see I have no idea ! 2-0 Toon, lets keep it tight from here on in.

    its your birthday gift mate 😆 😆

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  22. Good to see first half domination converted into actual goals.

    15 shots, 7 on target for us to 0 and 0 for them.

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  23. Results going our way today. Sunderland and Palace losing! Wtf has happened to Norwich? They looked so strong at the start of the season.

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  24. Swans 2-0 against Sunderland and us winning 3-0 is a pretty nice day so far.

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  25. Dubai Toon:
    Have to say, the mackem goalie seems very good, keeping them in the match at the moment.

    I said the other week that he’s a really good keeper mate. Deserves to be in a better side really

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  26. Icedog, was at Red Bull Salzburg 2 Schalke 04 0 Europa League on Thursday. Canny day out, 5000 Schalke fans visiting for a meaningless match to watch there reserve team 😯 canny evening out, though only non-alcoholic beer at Europa League games, and all at 49 euros a ticket..

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  27. Hull 3-2 against Palace now too. Could be Pardew’s last stand. Hope he doesn’t head **** anyone over there.

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  28. Munich Mag:
    Icedog, was at Red Bull Salzburg 2 Schalke 04 0 Europa League on Thursday. Canny day out, 5000 Schalke fans visiting for a meaningless match to watch there reserve team canny evening out, though only non-alcoholic beer at Europa League games, and all at 49 euros a ticket..

    pleased you had a good day its nowt really,would cost you £40 just to get in at the toon

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  29. Well I’ll take that! 4-0 and super comfortable. Sometimes though I’d like to see the lads have a bit more of a killer instinct and keep on with pressure and score lots more when they have the chance. A bit like Arsenal tend to do… we seem to just coast after game is safe.

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  30. Couldn’t have asked for a better response to the previous week. Without having seen the game and just going by stars, that seemed completely dominant from start to finish.

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  31. That cockney git has more lives than 10 cats. They are 14th so if he gets sacked the Troysta will be crowing forever that it was a travesty of justice and he had them “midtable”.

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  32. They just interviewed Bob Bradley. Have a look on MOTD, he looks like some strange Yank alien from Star Trek.

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  33. Munich Mag:
    hopefully the makkems can stay up so we can turn them over …twice

    sorry mate they will go down ime very pleased to say,and they wont come back up for a couple of years imo :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

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  34. Well that was a comprehensive win against a side in decent form of late.

    I would said that’s Rafas strongest 11 – or certainly best performing 11 so far this season.

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  35. kimtoon:
    Ice, agreed they can’t keep staying up against the odds

    That Palace game was nuts 3.3 !

    pardew was lucky Zaha was on his game today,still a bad result against Hull,they will get beat in their next couple of games for sure

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