On Monday we learned some truly devastating news as former NUFC midfielder Cheick Tiote tragically passed away at the age of 30, following a heart attack whilst training for his new club in China.
The news has not only left the whole of Newcastle United in mourning, but sent shockwaves through the entire footballing world, with tributes flying in from across the globe from all who knew him.
Cheick was a warrior on the field and a obsessional trainer off it, but above all else a fun loving man who was clearly adored by so many of his former teammates.
Here we pay tribute to Tiote, celebrating his greatest moments at Newcastle United:
His monstrous debut
Tiote signed from FC Twente for £3.5m in August 2010 and a month later made his Newcastle United debut in a 1-0 win at Goodison park. Upon signing I knew next to nothing about the Ivorian midfielder, but 90 minutes after watching him for the first time, I was sure we’d picked up a gem of a player.
The game may be remembered for Hatem Ben Arfa’s long range winner, but Tiote’s outstanding debut display was equally impressive.
He single handedly bossed the midfield that day, recovering the ball on endless occasions, winning his battles and if I remember rightly, he did not misplace a single pass all game. Without doubt one of the most impressive all-round defensive-midfield performances of the last decade at NUFC.
The goal that will go down in history
His last minute wonder goal to complete the 4-4 comeback from 4-0 down against Arsenal was single handedly the best moment I’ve every experienced at SJP.
It was Tiote’s one and only goal at the club over his six and a half year stay, but one that will go down in Premier League history:
Manchester United masterclass
January 2012. Cheick Tiote’s superb season had seen him linked with a big money moves to the Chelsea and Manchester United.
That month, he then produced one of his greatest performances in black and white, helping Newcastle to a 3-0 win over the very team tracking him – Manchester United.
Wayne Rooney didn’t get a kick:
Cheick Tiote & Yohan Cabaye – a match made in heaven
Our 5th place finish in 2011/12 was a special season. The class of Coloccini at the back, the match winning ability of Hatem Ben Arfa and the goal machines that were Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse were highlights, but the midfield duo of Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye was perhaps our biggest asset.
They were a match made in heaven and were quite possibly the best central midfield partnership in the Premier League that season.
When Tiote and Cabaye made mugs out of Man Utd #nufc pic.twitter.com/dmseO42Bwd
— Lee Robson (@LeeRobson23) June 5, 2017
THAT disallowed goal
It seems when Tiote scored, he only did wonder goals!
This should’ve been the equaliser in a game we went on to lose 2-0 at home to Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City. I’ve never went so delirious after a goal that ended up being chalked off!
His competitive edge and will to win
So many of his tributes make reference to what a formidable opponent and fierce competitor he was.
These clips show just how much it meant to him..
Putting everything on the line for his team
Following his death, Steve McClaren desribed Tiote as the ‘toughest player’ he had ever seen.
This footage highlights this quite perfectly – he’d do whatever it took to win that ball back:
If ever a video summer up Cheik Tiote… pic.twitter.com/VqkLV4ndqr
— NUFC Online (@NUFC_Online) February 6, 2016
Most blokes try and protect their bollocks when playing football. Tiote used to use them to tackle with… #NUFC #RIPTiote pic.twitter.com/Y4vx63TOEf
— NUFC Online (@NUFC_Online) June 6, 2017
Tiote’s time for the fans
This clip shows Tiote being presented with an award for Player of the Year by ‘Toon Army Dallas’, after the Ivory Coast defeated El Salvador 2-1 in a pre-World Cup friendly in Frisco, Texas.
Tiote was said to be shy off the pitch, but this precious footage shows how he always had time for his adoring Newcastle fans:
Rest in peace, Cheick. Taken before your time, but remembered with fond memories by us all here at NUFC.
I don’t understand how these release clauses work now. My reading of it originally was that the clubs inserted them in the contracts because they wanted to keep the player and made the amount so outrageous that nobody would pay it. Now it seems clubs just pay it anyway.
And then there are the silly fees being asked. 100 million for Lukaku. 75 million for Morata. S’ton supposedly upped their price from 60 to 75 million for Van Dijk. And then the 120 million for MBappe who has had one season at Monaco. He better turn out to be the second coming of Ronaldo for that.
These players are not superstars and yet the asking prices are at that level.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And I keep seeing in the Chronicle “fan favourite” Mitrovic. What has he ever done to be a “fan favourite”? Is he a cult hero coz he is a bit of a nutter? Is that it? His popularity does not seem to match his contribution on the pitch in either games played or goals scored. He hasn’t scored any spectacular goals either which sometimes elevates a player to cult status.
The more I think about what he has done compared to the cult of personality, the more I do not see what we would miss if we sold him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Thanks Olly for the tribute article and the clips. I also remember him being given a red card unjustly against Sunderland by Martin Atkinson. Atkinson failed to take into account Tiote was being fouled from behind and the Sunderland player who Tiote caught dived in recklessly with his studs showing.
Groucho(Quote)
Tiote was at his best in the 3 man midfield alongside Cabaye & Jonas. They were a big reason for our 5th place finish IMO. He was excellent for us then. But the change of formation to 4-2-3-1 really didn’t suit him & he struggled more often than not – yellow card machine & daft free kicks given away.
He left under a bit of a cloud, and I don’t think too many were too disappointed to see him leave (sorry but can’t be a hypocrite).
But when he was good, he was excellent – a bargain at £3.5m.
To know he’s passed away at just 30, leaving a young family behind is just heartbreaking. Those photos of his young son wearing his dad’s NUFC shirt ?.
I don’t know what to think of this idea of retiring his shirt number. If he was still a toon player then I would say for sure. But that he wasn’t leaves me a little undecided on it to be honest.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: retiring his shirt number? I am against it. There are many more NUFC players alive and dead who would be more deserving. They are the true NUFC greats like Shearer and Milburn, but you could hardly retire the number 9, could you. Just because Tiote had a number that would not be missed and not part of a 1st 11 does not mean there should be a tribute to a player who did not mean much in the scheme of things. I hope nobody thinks I am being disrespectful, I just do not see any logic in retiring Tiote’s shirt number.
I think it might be another way that American sports and culture is creeping into Britain. They have hall of fames over here which are usually occupied by very good players, if not great players. A lot of teams will also retire their true great players’ numbers, like Michael Jordan. But they are usually true greats of the team over years and decades and not bit part players who died too soon.
There is an oversentimentality in American sports and culture that I do see creeping into Britain and the retiring of numbers would be one more manifestation.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I don’t think it’s disrespectful at all mate. I think I probably agree with you. Retiring his number is up there with a statue in my mind & if that was being suggested then I think everyone would agree you couldn’t justify that.
By all means pay tribute to the lad, do something special, but retiring the shirt is too much for a player who wasn’t even on our books at the time of his passing.
For me, Pav contributed more to NUFC and was a true fans favourite (?) but I don’t remember any talk of retiring his number or such a similar gesture.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I know this may seem facetious – if they decide to get a bust made of Tiote just make sure it is not by the sculptor who made the Shearer statue or the busts of Ronaldo and Bale.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’ve just read that the reason the deal hasn’t got through for this CB yet is coz Eibar are shuffling their board room staff. Apparently terms are agreed though. Now that delay could allow Arsenal the opportunity to move in – but it seems it’s now down to us dragging our heels as some media outlets suggest.
On another note. Arsenal have confirmed the signing of their new LB on a free transfer. I wonder if that means Kieran Gibbs is available for a move now – we should defo make a move there if so.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The rumour is we won’t pay the £15m Arsenal want for Gibbs. It’s a lot for their 3rd choice LB.
Wholeheartedly agree Eric – that sculptor(?) is appalling. Shearer did hold a finger up a few times but his trademark was the flat hand. Poor work and worse research.
georgio(Quote)
I think £15m sounds steep, but what’s the going rate?!
He’s a proven PL defender with lots of experience & school by one of the best PL managers there’s been. He’s only 27 (ish) so still has plenty of football in him.
What would we say is a fair price? £10-12m? – is it worth pissing about for £3-5m?. Sometimes you have to bite the bullet.
Sharpy17(Quote)
£15m seems high for Kieran Gibbs, given that he only has a year left on his contract. There’s no guarantee that we’d be able to get him next summer (and we need players now), but Arsenal WILL lose him for nothing if they don’t sell to someone. I’d be shocked if we pay £15m without trying to wait it out a bit, but another club may very well bite the bullet in the meantime.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
That’s not to say that I don’t think we should pay £15m, just that I can’t imagine Ashley stamping his approval on it without trying to barter a bit.]
Mostly, I’m just anxious to see some signings. The Tammy Abraham deal has been “close” for something like three weeks.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
Charlie – I think £15m is wishful thinking by Arsenal, but why not this earlier in the window. They’re probably willing to settle for a lot less with him being in his last year as you say. Also the fact that Arsenal now have his replacement already through the door would likely mean they will take less.
I saw on SSN that WH could get Max Kruse from Werder Bremen for only €12m (10.5m). I know he’s 29 now but he’s always had a decent scoring record in Germany, and this a pretty low risk fee for an international forward nowadays.
Still, if they get him, that could improve our chances with Batshuyi.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Can you believe even when Nile Ranger does a good thing, he still manages to break the law ?.
He’s tweeted his condolences at the passing of Tiote – however he’s done it from a phone smuggled into prison – which could result in a further 2yrs to his current sentence ? – what a moron ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
😆 😆 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
NOT a new thread, but here’s a quiz we’ve put together to test you all on last season’s promotion campaign – https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2017/06/08/the-201617-nufc-quiz-how-well-do-you-know-newcastles-promotion-winning-season/
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
6 out of 10 on your quiz olly , I blame it on age 😳
kimtoon(Quote)
Teresa mayhem has created a proper mess, now the DUP hold all the power 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
If Sturgeon hadn’t made such a fuss about a second referendum in Scotland then Corbyn would be PM today 😳 😳
georgio(Quote)
Exactly mate.
kimtoon(Quote)
Reina has failed to register his kids for school and deadline has past for him to do so,is that a hint he’s leaving ??
Icedog(Quote)
Anyone see that the Saudi football team didn’t line up for the minutes silence for terror victims when they played Australia ? They were booed by the Aussie fans for it.
kimtoon(Quote)
Anita released but Gouffran possibly staying. That’s a surprise
Groucho(Quote)
would of kept Anita, good RB imo
kimtoon(Quote)
GE17 vanity election cost £130m!
wow, how the NHS, Schools, emergency services and homeless could of used a windfall like that.
Shameful, and even more is how much it’ll cost to appease DUP
sorry I know it’s a footy blog, but really, what an almighty **** up she’s made.
Are we still doing austerity 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – austerity is all the bloody tories do. Reduce the size of the state and leave the markets and rich kids to run everything. It’s worked well on water, trains and electricity hasn’t it 🙄 5th richest country in the world heads for 12 years of cuts and austerity just like NO OTHER COUNTRY!!
georgio(Quote)
Yep, still I think we’ll be back at the polls come October mate, she won’t last long now, the party faithful will be spitting over this result and will oust her at first opportunity and the new PM won’t have his own mandate and so will need to go back to the people . Brenda from Bristol will not be please lol.
kimtoon(Quote)
And we are still £1.73 trillion in debt, they borrowed more than all the labour gov combined apparently. 😳
kimtoon(Quote)
Anyway Windows open, let’s get some bodies in pronto.
Bloody quiet on here .
kimtoon(Quote)
Awful lot of bodies to shift first Kim? Nobody’s actually sure what Ashley meant when he made that statement about giving Rafa every penny. Did he mean just from sales? Seems like we’re making lowball offers when others are talking 20-30-50m for good players. I know that’s crazy money but are going to end up with a another bunch of cheap or untried second raters? Semedo said he liked Villareal’s style of play. That’s not what he would have said if we’d offered him an extra million.
georgio(Quote)
Agree, money talks sadly. I don’t want us offering silly money though mate, just a fair price. Problem now is there are a lot of mediocre English players going for stupid money. Need to try and get some who are in last year of contract if we can. Sure Rafa knows of a few worth having in Spain too. I once read a French agent said they lob a couple mil more on if it’s English clubs asking. They call it the English tax ! 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon:
There really isn’t anything happening NUFC wise. Even the players we are linked with are not really going to get the blood rushing – a loanee and a centre back that I bet none of us had ever seen play. How many Eibar games have people on here watched 🙂 We get all Barca and Real Madrid games live over here so I probably saw him, maybe in the game Eibar lost to Barca 7-1 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, There’s none really inspire me at the moment , hoping Rafa pulls a rabbit out the hat.
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh dear, taxi for England 😳
kimtoon(Quote)
Harry to the rescue
kimtoon(Quote)
Good on Scotland 😀
Stem(Quote)
A draw’s a good result for both team’s 😀 England still got to improve if there going to win the world cup next year
Stem(Quote)
I shouldn’t laugh. We just got to avoid difficult team’s like Iceland and we’ll be fine
Stem(Quote)
😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh well. A total ***** team praying another ***** team.
Where is Troy?
To say England would win the Euros or that Pardew was an average Manager?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Funny stuff.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Ime bored with no signings so!
Teacher asks kids to put their hands up if they support Sunderland they all do except Johnny ,who you support the teacher asks,well the toon of coarse my mam and dad support them so I do,you don’t always have to follow your parents what if your mam was a call girl and your dad was a junkie,well I would support the scum like all you dirty bastards 😆 😆
Icedog(Quote)
😆
kimtoon(Quote)
?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well I have a very decent source that tells me the deal for the CB from Eibar is done & just waiting for the sign off from the Eibar board – the fact the release clause is getting paid in full swung it for us.
The Pepe Reina deal is looking more likely by the day.
And the only reason Tammy Abrahams hasn’t been done yet is because there is a real possibility Batshuyi is on his way & Rafa also wants Andre Gray (and with a year left, that one looks likely to come off too). If those 2 come in the Abrahams doesn’t want to back them up.
Gibbs is another likely & Arsenal will drop the price with us paying up front – but at the moment Arsenal still want more than we want to pay.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Man, I hope you’re right about all those, Sharpy, especially Batshuayi. It never made any sense why Chelsea would loan us both him and Abraham, with playing time for Abraham a top concern.
As Eric said earlier, I know nothing about Lejeune, but if Rafa rates him and both Arsenal and Spurs were scouting him, it seems like he’s worth the risk. You’d think a CB rotation of Clark, Lascelles, Mbemba and Lejeune would be better than what most bottom-half teams could trot out.
Charlie Prince(Quote)
Sharpy all sounds good if true, like Charlie I know nowt about Lejeune other than his discipline record is a bit iffy apparently.
kimtoon(Quote)
Some source (sauce?) you’ve got there Sharpy. Sounds great like most dreams 😀
georgio(Quote)
Anyone watching the u20’s world cup final on BBC2
kimtoon(Quote)
Not saying they will all come off, but those are the ones being worked on at the mo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
KIm – yeah, young Woodman & Armaz in the squad aren’t they?.
Armaz being kept out by the great form of Lookman & Solanke tho
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well done Freddie
kimtoon(Quote)
Good work Freddie again
kimtoon(Quote)
wow off the line
kimtoon(Quote)
Get in freddie
kimtoon(Quote)
Bloody brilliant, well done lads, well done Freddie MOTM
Looks like Troy was right, England win the WC 😉 😆
kimtoon(Quote)
I do not understand our supposed interest in Reina .
I would much rather see Woodman get a run in the first team.
sidekick(Quote)
Well I had to go straight out after the game – but went proud as punch. God if that’s how it feels when it’s the U20s I can only imagine what 66 felt like.
I tell you what, I don’t know if it’s the freedom of youth or the fruits of this new football HQ – but we played really nice football today like.
The 2 lads in midfield ran the show – Lewis Cook from Leeds was excellent.
The little lad who came on for them was a tasty little player though & caused some problems in the 2nd half. But the lads stood up to it!!.
38 secs for video reffing that penalty – got to be the way forward IMO. But what a save!!. He made another excellent save before that when the little fella played in one of their forwards.
Class!!. Well done boys ??????
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, Agree re Video ref, that took no time at all and even in such a big game there was no arguing once it had been consulted.
We must NOT let Woodman go under any circumstances, no matter how much we get offered, the lad has a massive future.
Sharpy , the studio guys were all saying that real talent starting to come through at St. Georges park now, especially at around age 18. Tree is starting to bear fruits now, so all good news going forward.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I don’t know what you thought but they all seemed more comfortable on the ball. Better movement, passing and control.
Maybe that’s coz there isn’t the media scrutiny the senior team has either mind, but it was nice to see.
I think the FA have to try and do something to ensure these young talents get regular first team football too though. The Everton lads get some run outs, but I worry that these boys are going to continue to play 2nd fiddle to these expensive foreign buys the likes of City & Man U are already bringing in this window again.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, I do mate, it was a really good game and both sides played really well. Also you are spot on re playing time too. Would be a crying shame if we see these good players stagnating behind expensive foreign players at their respective clubs, but I fear this has been Englands problem for quite a while now. Would of loved Arma to of gotten on and still feel we should have him at the club and not on loan in the coming season, he could be a late developer in so far as the PL is concerned. Wouldn’t mind seeing Freddie get some first team action too. Hopefully Rafa starts both in the first team pre season to see how they get on.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I would us to sign Pepe, keep Woodman and either Elliott or Darlow. I think Woodman is still too young just yet. He was excellent today, and whilst the U20 World Cup final is a big stage, I’m still not sure it’s under as much scrutiny as a PL game at home in front of 52k & televised around the globe on Sky.
I think Pepe would be a great mentor for him & he could still get some game time in cup games or whatever. Bring him on gently I say so that when Pepe is done in a few years, Freddie will be ready.
I agree about Armstrong too. He’s 20yr old for god sake. There aren’t many 20yr old CFs taking the PL by storm. He’s a talent that over the next 2 years needs real nurturing. But he has to stay with us, because I think he’s one that could defo make it with us.
Sharpy17(Quote)
**** Pickford!!! … we’ve got Freddie ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Oh yes
kimtoon(Quote)
Mitrovic scores against Wales
Sharpy17(Quote)
Isn’t Lewis Cook another Chelsea loan?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Bournemouth.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – didn’t realise B’mth had bought him from Leeds to be honest. £5m isn’t a bad investment from what I saw yesterday. But I guess at the time of purchase there would have probably been a question mark like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I wasn’t trying to catch you out there Sharpy. It just rang a bell with me that Cook wasn’t with Leeds anymore.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Leeds player of the year at the time they purchased him .
kimtoon(Quote)
So Abraham cannot make his mind up,I’ll do it for him,get lost I wouldn’t have him let’s move on we cannot be held up waiting for him there are bigger fish to fry which we could miss out on waiting for him to decide,let the nugget go elsewhere
Icedog(Quote)
No mate, I didn’t think you were. I just don’t remember B’mth signing him. It could well be a good move for both that though, coz I reckon Eddie Howe is a good coach to develop the lad – and will likely play him (certainly more than Wenger or Jose would)
Sharpy17(Quote)
Ice – it’s coz Batshuyi & Andre Gray are our main targets & Abrahams knows he won’t get much game time behind them – plus Gayle & possibly Mitrovic.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I know it’s most likely paper talk (again). But this suggestion of £6m for Leigh Griffiths interests me. I think at 26 he could be a good buy personally. I know he isn’t going to be a 15 plus forward, but I reckon he would be a good no. 10. A bit of a Perez type player but with more grit.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We could get a Perez from Arsenal though. Lucas Perez – my Arsenal friend reckons he had a goal or an assist every time he played but can’t get in because of Sanchez. Would be a good buy as would the Portugal LB, Concetrao who can’t get a kick at Real since they signed Marcelo. I reckon they’re the level we should look at, players that cost the big clubs a fortune who’re stuck behind the latest big signing. Renato Sanchez is available from Bayern as another example.
georgio(Quote)