Cheick Tiote - Great player, but needs a slap.

Pretty sure that the only criticism is that he needs to work on certain aspects of his game and his decision making. Which he does.

 

His passing could do with being a tad more consistent, but most of the time his passes are hit with good accuracy and technique. He just sometimes over hits them and/or asks too much of the players to get to the passes.

 

Whenever I think of nitpicking over the usually excellent Tiote, I think back to Amdy Faye. Tiote is like a slide-rule compaired to him.

 

I haven't seen anybody say they want him sold or seen any unjustified criticism. I probably wouldn't agree with Acuna's stance on him but that's just an opinion on his performances. Not sure where you've got this idea from to be honest. Would you prefer people just put their black and white blinkers on, and pretend his yellow card count is ok (it isn't) and his distribution is superb (it isn't).

Not a great lover of stats in general but there are two relating to Tiote which are very telling about where he needs to improve. 25 yellow cards in 50 games is unacceptable unless you're a ******. I'm sure Pardew has pinpointed this area for work. He has improved from last year (14 down to 11 ) The other is that when compared to other central midfielders in the league, he falls short of the best in terms of being dispossessed.

Just because you pinpoint a weakness in someones game, doesn't mean you want them sold.

 

His only real problem is his bookings.

Getting caught in possession at times, ****ing up the odd pass, that's what all players do from time to time.

 

Not if you want to be the very best. You have to minimise it. Quite simply, watch Yaya Toure. He very rarely gets caught in possession or hits a stray ball. Paul Scholes is probably the best example. Everything is precise. Possession is king in the modern game so it is a very important area of the game. Tiote is not as good in possession as the other top midfielders. However he is better in other areas than they are, so could surpass many of them if he can iron out the bookings and sloppy passes.

He gave a perfect example against Everton. He had a simple pass on to Ryan Taylor 2nd half. The ball needed pace on to cut out an Everton player. But Tiote overhit it massively and Taylor couldn't quite get it under. Cheik held his hands up to be fair, but it is a common issue he has.

 

In his position, only Yaya Toure does a better job in the PL IMO.

Remember this season he's had to play with knocks and he's been in and out for several reasons.

His reactions haven't been at the level we know they can be and he's been below full fitness.

If he's given time to regain his strength and rest this summer, he should have another season like his first season here when he was far better, apart from the bookings and the odd mistake when he first came.

 

If you took away his bookings, maybe he wouldn't be half the player? Alot of players have a spikey side, and if you take that fire away they'll lose that something that made them a good player to begin with.

The comparison to Yaya is a bit unfair, he's been on a different level to every other player in that position this season, and he can play further up the park too.

 

Not sure how it can be unfair. He is the best in that position and that's who Tiote should be using as the benchmark. You should always want to be the best, particularly like Cheik when you have the ability to be somewhere near it. The point I'm making is I think he can reach that level with a bit of refinement. Taking away his silly bookings (around 3-6 a season) would only benefit him and the team, making him a better player. I'd agree if we were talking about taking away his aggression, that probably would make him half the player. But cutting out the silly fouls which give away dangerous free kicks and bookings would only be a benefit.

Its simply about decision making with Cheik and learning to use his sizeable head a bit more.

 

Would just like to add to this thread that Song is streets ahead of Tiote attacking wise and slightly better in possession and defensively.

Tiote is a very good player but is slightly over rated by the vast majority.

 

Alex Song isn't that great. I know an Arsenal fan and he frequently tears his hair out over him.

 

Must admit I'd take Tiote over Song anyday.

 

Basically, I'm not saying he's **** at all, in fact I'd rather have him than any player in his position at present BUT he has been reckless of late and as a holding midfielder, particularly one of his ability, that's unacceptable. As WM said he doesn't think, the amount of times in recent games he's tried an eye of the needle through ball with the outside of the boot, or a raking cross field pass is ridiculous. It's imperative he keeps it simple, protects the back four and provides a platform to attack, he's far more of an asset doing that than doing unnecessary things that undermine the key parts of being a holding midfielder.

If he was rubbish, I wouldn't care, but he needs to stop and think about where he plays and what's important for the team, and that is ball retention and staying on the pitch. He has the makings of a true nufc great, he just needs to calm down and use his head a bit more.

And if you think that's '****e' then fine, but I know what I've seen recently, and when pointing it out to other people at the game you see it a lot.