Tiote backs Pardew for great success

Newcastle United midfielder, Cheik Tiote, believes that Alan Pardew has the ability to get the club into the Champions League.

Those assessing the latest Sport Odds note how the Magpies manager signed a new eight year contract last week to reward him for the fantastic work he has achieved on Tyneside after leading the Club into the Europa League last season.

The Toon fell just short of the Champions League spots on that occasion, finishing 5th, but after another encouraging start to this campaign they have aspirations of going one step further this time out.

Defensive midfielder, Tiote, will undoubtedly be key to any assault on the top four and the 26-year-old says that there is a belief amongst the Newcastle squad that they can reach the Promised Land:

“Every player in the world at the moment wants to play in the Champions League,” he said.

“I hope that’s where we can go. That would be great for every player and we can get there.

“As a player that is where you want to be.”

The combative Ivorian has been somewhat of a revelation since joining the Club in 2010 when Chris Hughton was in charge, and has attracted the attention of many top European Clubs.

However, his decision to commit to the Magpies until 2017 suggests that he is here for the long run and that can only be good news for the St James’ Park faithful.

He is a pivotal part of all that is good about the Geordie outfit, and provides the perfect foil for the elegance of Yohan Cabaye in the middle of the park, allowing the Frenchman to act as a playmaker whilst he protects the back four with stunning efficiency.

There’s no doubt that he was missed when he was picking up niggling injuries at times last season, and if he had been available for the whole campaign who knows what Newcastle could have achieved?

One thing that he must improve on is his discipline; it’s obvious that he picks up too many cards, but on the other hand it is this competitive streak that makes Tiote the player he is.

What is for sure is that the Magpies – who are dividing opinions when it comes to Premier League Predictions – have a better chance of achieving their dreams with Tiote amongst their ranks, and if he can recapture the sort of form that has allowed him to become one the most respected defensive midfielders in the Premier League Newcastle can only benefit.