Archive for tag: Check Tioté defensive midfielder.

Drogba falls over himself to praise Tioté

December 2nd, 2010 | 169 Comments |

I'm not touching him, okay?
I'm not touching him, okay?
Cheik Tioté has, I think, looked pretty solid since he joined Newcastle, showing strength and proving to be a handful when players are coming at him, yet also showing not a little skill when he’s going at them.

I remember reading rumours about him having a ‘reputation’ at Steve McClaren’s FC Twente when we bought him and I kind of expected him to be sending the opposition home on crutches after most games. Or at least clutching their shins in abject agony.

That has not however turned out to be the case.

Sure, he’s tough and he tackles hard and he certainly will pick up cards, but I don’t think it’s anything beyond the realms of ‘good hard football’. Not so far, anyway – and I have no reason to think he’ll suddenly turn into a screaming psychopath.

It turns out that fellow Ivory Coast team-mate Didier Drogba rates Tioté highly too: (more…)