12 Newcastle Successes (And 12 Failures) Scouted By Graham Carr
11. Cheick Tiote
Signed: 2010 (from FC Twente) Transfer Fee: £3.5 million Position: Defensive-Midfielder Newcastle United Appearances: 130 (2010-) Newcastle United Goals: 1 Current Club: Newcastle United Tiote has had a couple of rotten seasons in a Newcastle shirt, no doubt, but the £3.5 million Newcastle paid FC Twente for him in 2010 was a bargain. During the 2011-12 season Tiote formed a pivotal duo in midfield alongside Yohan Cabaye that propelled the Magpies to within inches of Champions League qualification. Carr scouted well to snatch Tiote from the grasp of Steve McClaren - who had just won the Eredivisie title with the Ivorian as a key member of his team - and the defensive-midfielder was even linked with a £20 million-plus move to Manchester City or Arsenal in 2012. The last 18 months have been poor but he has still proven to be more-than value for money. Signing Rating: 7.5
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
