It wasn't a red card - My stance on Tiote.

Sorry, but I've watched it plenty of times now. It was a silly challenge and probably deserving of a yellow, but never a red. Both Tiote and Fletcher committed themselves fully for the ball. Fletcher got there a milisecond quicker and Tiote caught him. Tiote's challenge was unnecessary, but there was no malice in it and Fletcher's play acting on the ground was probably the reason the ref showed red. How could the ref have seen the contact between the two when he was behind Tiote and 10 ft away?

The leg raised up to Shola was far worse than Tiote's **** height leg raised to Fletcher. There have been far worse challenges made by Sunderland and Newcastle players in the last few derbies that haven't even seen yellow, mainly by Lee Cattermole who should have been sent off in each one.

The only reason I'm glad it was a red is because I think Tiote is a great player, and not dirty in the slightest, but one of his major flaws is he commits to everything and wants to win every challenge. Therefore he'll often stick a leg out and end up tripping players over or catching them. This is why this is his first red card in the premier league for us, and it's also the reason why he gets so many yellows. He's not dirty, but he just doesn't know when to just stop himself and realise that a challenge isn't necessary. I think being burdened with injuries and international duty over the last year has played a part in his development. Maybe this red card will be key to him learning when to just realise that he doesn't have to win everything

It wasn't a red, but I don't think it is worth appealing. People seem to be 50/50 over this, and I don't see Tiote winning his case, not with his disciplinary record. A spell in the training ground will be good for him.

 

I agree it and i've seen yellows or even no card at all for worse, however when it's a derby it will usually get red because the crowd factor etc.

Ray Wilkins can suck my balls because I remember a worse challenge from a chelsea player on one of our players not long ago and he went on a rant about nothing challenges getting reds and it ruining the game.

 

Think it was yellow, same with Larsson's challenge. However I think now would be a good time for Pardew to contact the referee's association and working with them to help Tiote improve his disciplinary record. Sunderland did with Cattermole and he has improved since.

 

Ray Wilkins is going n room 101 as he kept smugly saying we punched above our weight last year.... what for 38 games you pillock!!

 

Probably because we finished above his beloved Chelsea and he likes saying the usual Tottenham, Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal and Man City at the top.

 

Wilkins isn't so very Butch, he comes over as a bit of a girl's blouse at times.

 

Tiote definitely has work to do to get back to his best. Part of that might be contacting the referees association as Ba of Cisse notes. He is going backwards but it is mainly down to sillyness and being over zealous. If he reins it back 10% his passing and all round game would improve.

 

It's nice that Sky remained balanced by putting on the Mackems own Niall Quinn and Anti-Newcastle bellend Ray 'Tango-man' Wilkins. Why couldn't Gary Neville do the punditry for the first game. He's 10 times the pundit than both of those guys combined

 

Best just punch Wilkins and be done with it, smug git.

 

Poor 'Butch', almost as wide as he is tall, morphing into Uncle Feste before our very eyes, he's dull, dull, dull!

 

In the interest of fairness, Alan Shearer is a terrible pundit. Ever since he first appeared on MOTD, I've been trying to summon the dark lord of the underworld forth to see if I can get the personality for football talent trade Shearer must have taken!

He thought Tiote's red was fair, as did Ol' Grannda' Mick Mc-arr-th-eee, and for the life of me I can't see where in the rules it says that it is, unless they've changed them and only told the slimey urhcin pundits (and big Marty "Key to the city of Sunderland" Atkinson)???

Wish the Sunderland fans would stop trying to say "if it were Cattermole", it's such a stupid argument. If it were Cattermole I'd have gone "that's a stupid yellow" just the same. He's gone for the ball in the air and misjudged it. He hasn't taken a swipe at him, or they'd be getting Felix to sweep up Fletcher fragments when he tries to sky-dive from jupiter... Fletcher's foot was up because the ball was bobbling, he got at it first, so the foul ended up being a trip. If that's the worst tackle we can see in a derby from now on, it'll be interesting seeing how many manage to stay on the pitch at St James'!

The fact it was after the whistle (and if you listen, it's less than a second after) should have had no bloody bearing unless he was kicking him while Fletcher was without possession. The other fact that Tiote "made the most of the Sausage-boy foul" (yes, that ELBOW to the FACE) shouldn't even be cited because a red is given to that offence whether the player rolls about like a toddler on acid or stands up and bleeds like a man. So overall I'm still perplexed at the award of a red and the fact it's so 50-50 we haven't appealed... Maybe Pardew just wants him to have a rest?

On the other side, Tiote has deserved a red before (probably more for two yellows than a straight one), so I suspect he was overdue. That, however, does not excuse poor refereeing. I wouldn't say Martin Atkinson is the problem, but every week if not every game there is some ridiculous decision which changes the match, and that's not good for the game whatever Fifa or the FA say. It creates dissent among players and fans. Really, the so called "revered" ref training we have here is pathetic and needs looking at. Poor decisions can be combated through increased ref fitness to keep up with play more effectively (which should not be a problem given the professional nature they now enjoy, but if it means more 30 year olds doing it at the cost of the senile then so be it), clarification on some of the laws to leave less to discretion, more time critically evaluating their own performances and that of their peers, the preparation of dossiers prior to games they referee outlining their stance on particular areas of concern, and most importantly being prepared to stand in front of a camera at the end and explain their decisions. If they aren't accountable to the game, then they are a law unto themselves

 

Well we have had 4 players who have been sent off in derbies over the years and they all deserved it , and we admit that Cattermole can be a nutcase, maybe your luck has ran out now.

 

Funny how the mackems seem to talk about our luck, yet you've lost once having had the least amount of shots on target in Europe's top 5 leagues.

 

Townsend waas reporting here in Qatar and said Tiote wasnt a footballer. He just thinks he's the destroyer and has no talent just breaks up attacks. Doooh, is that the same Tiote that stop almost everything and sprays balls around moves away from players when he gets the ball and delivers good passes loads of times. Same Tiote that was touted as being wanted by everyone in the transfer window. Townsend is a bellend.

 

Can't stand Andy Townsend to be honest, I cringe at the sound of his voice not just his comments, talentless in the commentary department.

Some people have questioned why we aren't appealing Tiotes red card, could be we don't wish the extra match ban being imposed, and Pardew said himself after the game it definitely was a red, so case closed really!

 

It was a foul and Tiote was late, a yellow card and a firm final warning would have been enough IMO. Those who say Tiote is just a thug who throws his muscle around and has no footballing skills are wrong. He breaks up play, then distributes the ball, similar to Scholes at ManU.
The similarity does not end there either, Everyone knows that Scholes cannot tackle, whereas Tiote actually can, he does not always get it right, but as they say, you gotta be in it to win it, including footballs it seems.
Fletcher made a meal of the tackle, but then he would, wouldn't he!

 

I think it will be good for Tiote to spend a bit of time on the bench watching Perch, in the same way that it will be good for Cisse to watch a bit of Shola. When they were first proving themselves here, they were awesome. Reminding them that without constant discipline and effoer they are not going to be on the pitch might work wonders

 

To be fair I think Shola has earnt his place at present. Perch too possibly but personally I'd show faith with Cheik for now. Shola is in the form of his life and is working his socks off (something sadly lacking in the past). I honestly think we'd have smashed them with 11 yesterday and Shola was a shoe in for at least one. I'd like to see Shola and Cisse on Thursday just to see how they play together.

 

I think that 2 games a week is asking a bit much for Shola these days. Give Cisse a run of Europa League ties with the young uns - - my bet is that he'll make it impossible for us to ignore him and be on even goals with Ba by Christmas

 

Aye Thursday then Sunday may stretch him physically. If Ranger was not such a complete cock end he'd be getting a chance in these games. He'd be a good foil for Cisse too. I noted Pards comments on him again in the journal. Basically said the lad will not get in a squad until he can turn up for 6 weeks in a row to training on time. I can't believe they are being so patient! Obviously they have grounds for a cost free sacking but Pards actually said "we're still trying to do something with him" even if he moreorless admitted he'd lost all faith. I can only think they can see a transfer fee in it for them somewhere.