Shame but if he wants the money there is not a lot you can do. I suppose we have done extremely well to get the fee we have, I'm sure McClaren would have preferred the summer like most of us. Sadly though the players hold the cards.
Tiote scored a cracker against City IIRC and it was disallowed unfairly, nothing wrong with the goal, it was a peach of a strike. He looked good against us, but he seems to be injured more often than not... £8m is a good price.
He's had a few cracking games against you lot. The problem is he is inconsistent. £8 million is a very good price to get for him at his age and stage of his contract. You would imagine that if he can perform well against the likes of Man Utd and Arsenal then he should do very well in China. The danger for Shanghai is that he always looks better against better opposition. He seems to struggle more the poorer the opposition are.
China is a breeding ground for the mercenary mate, surely they know it themselves, no self respecting player would go out there to play football competitively. Demba Ba tells the whole story, good enough for this league all day long but prefers China because they'll pay him more.
No bad mouthing Tiote. He's been immense for us. And sold with 5 mio profit at 29! What a legend. <3 boom boom da room. As if you wouldn't go to chinaland for 70 k a week ...imagine all the azn bitches lining up for Tiotes monstreous black dong. He can afford another 5 wives.
From the Guardian: Newcastle’s Cheick Tioté agrees personal terms with Shanghai Shenhua • Midfielder set to complete £8m deal next week • Ivory Coast international expected to earn £70,000 a week Newcastle United’s Cheick Tioté has agreed personal terms with Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua and is set to complete his £8m move next week. The Ivory Coast international has fallen down the pecking order at St James’ Park under Steve McClaren, playing just 566 minutes in the Premier League so far this season. The arrival of Jonjo Shelvey from Swansea this week for £12m has provided more competition in central midfield, with Newcastle also having signed Henri Saivet from Bordeaux for £4.5m. Tioté, who joined in £3.5m from Dutch side Twente in 2010 having won the title under McClaren, will fly to China next week for a medical. If successful, the 29-year-old will sign a three-year contract believed to be worth around £70,000 a week. Tioté will join former Newcastle and Chelsea striker Demba Ba in Shanghai, with the team currently sixth in the Chinese Super League.
Sorry to see him go, but it's no great surprise really. Good luck Cheick and thanks for the memories, especially the Arsenal goal
I really feel the timing is wrong here because we're gambling again on Shelvey and colback actually working at a time we were' actually doing well.
Have to say that Cheick was looking like he was finding some form and fitness again. In his hay day he could be awesome. If the new guys don't hit the ground running, we may well miss him more than is being anticipated. We cannot know how much he wanted this move, but money talks in football these days and this is one last pay day he seems to want.
£8m is reasonable given his injury record and contract length left. With hindsight we should have sold him for a lot more when he was at his peak. I'd still prefer the deal to be delayed until the summer though.
Agree that Tiote could be important in the fight against relegation but it looks like he is on his way. Always thought he improved our shape and gave us a more solid defence but seems to be playing deeper now and not getting forward as much as he used to. Will be interesting to see if Shelvey can play a more dynamic role.
I'm not sure there is much we can do about this, apart from get the best deal possible, if Tiote has decided he wants this move. Keeping him could have been very harmful for the dressing room.
He wouldn't be though. He spent the back half of last season feigning injury when we were fighting relegation. Very good price for a 29 year old who's heart is no longer at the club.
