Time To Move On

Also, on the passing note that someone mentioned... He was the game's top passer tonight

 

His control is not in question to me. He probably makes the most passes in the majority of games, and apart from Ben Arfa (I know I posted slating him the other day) is one of the only players who can run more than 10-20 yards with the ball and is not guaranteed to lose it. He is also one of the strongest around on the ball.

But... he does needlessly turn in circles in dangerous areas which sometimes looks good if it comes off, but is often in a dangerous position. I think he'd be far more effective if he won the ball, looked up and then passed to someone in space after a few touches instead of running back into trouble.

 

Again some yellows are for tactical fouls, but if he's having to make so many of these then there must be something up with the team shape etc. A yellow card every other is unacceptable, that averages out at 19 in a league season meaning he'd miss 6 games I believe (1 game ban = 5 yellows, 2 game ban = 10 yellows and 3 game ban = 15 yellows). Add that to 1 straight red a season on average and then he's missing 9 games a season just through suspensions, never mind ACON and injuries, at what stage does he become a risk? I mean that would be a quarter of the season purely through suspension, it's not good enough.

Again I'm not saying sell the lad (yet), but last season his form was indifferent and he missed games and it's the same so far this season. It's a big year for him, if he can find his first season form with us we have a world beater, if he can't we could probably still get a decent amount of money for him.

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! That's the TIOTE-TURN! My favourite move from his debut season! He can't lose that!!!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't that move only ever cost us one goal? At least it isn't the constant (sorry lady posters, but it's the most appropriate word) fannying about that Colo + Enrique + Jonas used to do in the corner of our box! I almost had several heart-attacks!

 

Isn't it some form of old fashioned square dance? Forward, side, back, side, and so on and so forth.

 

Missing 6 games would result in 32 played... That's about average for a footballer in the league surely? And someone told me count-back yellows has been changed or removed as a rule now... Were they telling porkies? Also, when were these other reds? I don't remember them...

Last season he had niggling injuries... Not exactly his fault, but as Travelsick noted, he was still ENORMOUS for us last season.

The team shape is open to personal interpretation, but I feel that having Tiote doing the niggly stuff means that Cabaye has more potential to roam forward and create, That's a perfect midfield duo for me! Makelele was hardly yellow card free in his career, and he's regarded as one of the best DMs in history
To me, it's not unacceptable to pick up a yellow EVERY game, and it's clearly not for Pardew in reality otherwise he wouldn't have Tiote playing in that role where yellows are more frequent.

 

I'd be lying if I said it had cost us loads of goals, but it still scares the sh!t out of me when he does it in our box!

 

I think it mentally scarred me having to watch that, especially in the championship season... Thank god Enrique is an upside-down head now, or I'd have been having flash-backs when I was watching the Liverpoo match!

 

He's had two straight reds in two and a bit seasons (Sunderland & Stevenage). I can handle that, in his position he'll make mistimed/reckless tackles from time to time. However stupid bookings through lack of self discipline such as tonight are not acceptable and need to be removed from his game.

 

He won the ball in the tackle at Stevenage and I think the ref called it wrong.

 

But who couldn't you say that about? Most professional footballers get stupid yellows... Mainly because refs are forced to give stupid yellows for stupid rules! Yellow card for going within a metre of your fans? Yellow card for taking your top off? Yellow card for lifting your shirt and giving a nipple-tease? Yellow card for lifting your shirt and showing a message to your newborn??? (I know I'm focusing on the shirt-lifting... Not gay... honest.. )

Bale got a yellow for kicking the ball away. That's the most stupid yellow I've seen a player willingly book themselves for... I mean, why??? I've never seen Cheick do that yet... Pushing someone, squaring up... All pointless yellows but all professionals do it. Even cool-headed Raylor... Rarely see Cheick anywhere near those either.

The point I'm making is, if you looked at the fouls that he's got yellows for in the stats, I'd stake my kidney on it being massively biased towards professional fouls tactically employed and mistimed enthusiasm, than actually ridiculous yellows. And the fact he's not got two yellows in a game tells me his self-discipline is fine.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9SqAiRsWog

It's the only clip I could find, tackle is at 2:07. He get's the ball but he's nearly 1ft of the ground as he lunges in, definite red IMO.

It must come across that I don't rate him which isn't the case. It's more that he frustrates me more than any other player because by making a few simple improvements (not silly bookings, giving the ball a bit quicker) he could be immense and we could have a top, top player.

 

And he barely caught Fletcher... On the only part of his body with protection... With a genuine attempt at the ball. That used to be a common-in game yellow, that.

 

Couldn't believe the ref could be conned so easily into sending a player off. A total disgrace.

Made what had been a good night in the nearby pub, less memorable.

 

To me, that's only been called a red because of the second prior to the challenge, not anything to do with contact or actual intention. He's gone in with his feet off the floor, but landed perfectly on the ball, cleanly taking it. It's not two-footed, as the ref probably has thought from his view.

For me Colo got a deserved red for intention, because it was off the ball (nowhere near) and late, and he's gone in high (though made very little contact). Cheick's gone in high but judged it immensely to tackle the ball! For me, that's a skill.

 

Ohhhh AB, how I've missed thee! Glad you're in my club here

Nice little party of two... And, as soon as we've brainwashed Sir Bob, we'll take the world!

 

If you tackle with two feet off the ground (which he did) then it's a red card by the letter of the law. He got the ball but only because he jumped in with both feet of the ground, 10 years ago a great tackle but in today's game a blatant red card.

 

The ref can't have seen it so shouldn't have acted on a guess. Colo was clumsy but he didn't go in with the intention of hurting anybody.

 

Yeah, and people get yellows for shirt-lifting, doesn't make it right (still not gay...)! If Willo tackles (/grabs his boobs) a guy whilst they both jump in the air to head a ball, should that not be a red for consistency sake (they both have their feet in the air)?

If Tiote had have jumped into the tackle, landed short by a metre, but slid into the player late as he skipped away, it's only a yellow? Yet he jumped, got the ball cleanly, and has to leave the pitch in disgrace? Stupid rule, and to me, should have been a yellow.*

On a side note, what a dreadful game that was to watch!!! Cheers for depressing us Sir Bob!

*Edit: If anything... Obviously, as someone who falls asleep dreaming about Cheick, it's a perfect tackle and not worthy of even so much as a whistle to stop the game... Unless it's for the ref blowing to then say "F-ing hell lads, did you see that??? That was epic".

 

Talking about a party, apart from the game the watering hole outside the ground was one of the best we were allowed into, that and Accrington of all places were very comfortable and welcoming with very friendly staff.