Newcastle United’s midfield enforcer Cheick Tiote is looking forward to the new season and hopes to build on the success the club achieved last season.
The 26-year old Ivory Coast international joined the Magpies from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Twente-c39233 in 2010 and has been a revelation for the Tyneside club.
Tiote has become one of the best defensive midfield players in the Premier League, and is a fierce, tough tackling and aggressive midfielder. He has often faced criticism for his hard and forceful approach to the game, but remains integral to Pardew’s plans
for next season.
The player has managed to pick up 25 bookings in his two seasons with the club, but claims that his disciplinary record only highlights his desire and determination to win as many games as he can for the club, even friendlies.
Speaking to the English press, Tiote said:
"We have grown in the last two seasons, and this time we hope to do bigger and better again."
"We don't look at the games as friendlies - you have got to still compete. The fans are still coming to the games and travelling to see us. Every game we play, we do everything to win for them.”
"Whenever I pull a shirt on, I play to win - every tackle, everything. Nobody plays to lose. When you play against any team, they should want to win too. It is normal."
Tiote’s performances for the club over the past two seasons have earned him a regular starting place in the side, and also made him the subject of transfer speculation for a while. He had been linked to clubs such as Manchester United and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429. The player
however ended all rumours by pledging his future to the club and stating that he wanted to win things with it.
The Ivorian has been in tremendous form for the Magpies in their pre-season games. He was one of the players who truly stood out in the club’s tour of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Austria-c2844 and is looking to continue that form for the club when the competitive season starts.
Striker Shola Ameobi has also stressed upon the importance of pre-season games and what he thinks about the team’s prospects for next season. Ameobi believes that Newcastle will face a tough battle for a place in the top five, but if they can be consistent,
there is no reason why they should not be able to finish higher than they did last season.
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