Archive for tag: Papiss Cissé.

This ridiculous Cisse farce has been going on for too long now

November 26th, 2013 | 114 Comments |

Papiss Cisse scoring against Leeds United in the League Cup.
The last Toon goal scored by Cisse which wasn’t ruled out
In case you missed it, Papiss Cisse had yet another perfectly good goal ruled out as offside against Norwich on Saturday, yet another linesman seemingly judging Cisse on his reputation, rather than what he could actually see.

Luckily for Newcastle United, they still won 2-1 and got the three points so all was well that ended well. Even so, that hasn’t always the case and it is getting absolutely ridiculous now, to the point where lazy linesmen are just saying “oh it’s Papiss Cisse, it must be offside.”

I use the word “reputation” above, though it might come as a surprise to some so called fans (and Sports Direct News rent a quote, Malcolm MacDonald) that Cisse is not the most ‘offside’ striker in the Premier League by any means. Romelu Lukaku, Christian Benteke and several others were caught offside more often last season.

However, when it comes to having perfectly good goals wrongly ruled out as offside, Cisse in in a league of his own. He had seven wrongly ruled out last season, including two in one game against Metalist Kharkiv, and one which robbed us of a derby win against Sunderland. This means that he would have scored at least twenty goals last season had those seven goals stood. (more…)


Will Pardew find the right way to rescue Cisse?

October 24th, 2013 | 77 Comments |

NUFC Blog on metro.co.uk
NUFC Blog on metro.co.uk
My latest blog on metro.co.uk is now published.

In my last piece on there I looked at Yohan Cabaye and Mike Williamson, and specifically, their perfomance against Liverpool in our last game. In this one however, I take a look at a player who was relegated to the bench in that game, Papiss Cisse. In the wake of his recent struggle for goals, I take a look at what Alan Pardew can do to help the Senegalese hitman get back on the scoresheet as often as he used to for Newcastle United.

Originally, it had the same title as this piece, however it is now called:

Can Alan Pardew rescue Papiss Cisse’s Newcastle United career?(more…)


Cisse gets a real winger to break his scoring duck at last

September 26th, 2013 | 71 Comments |

Papiss Cisse scoring against Leeds United in the League Cup.
Cisse – Back in the goals against Leeds.
My latest blog at metro.co.uk is now up!

Now entitled “Left-field selection Sammy Ameobi helps Papiss Cisse break his Newcastle scoring duck,” it orignally had the same title as this piece until a sub-editor got his or her hands on it. Thankfully though, they seem to have left the story intact this time, apart from taking my correct spelling of ‘Yoan Gouffran’ and changing it to ‘Yoann Gouffran’ like another French player, Yoann Gourcuff.

Enough of my petty griping though, the piece itself takes a look at the return of Papiss Cisse to the score sheet in Wednesday evening’s League Cup game against Leeds United. It also takes a look at the role of two of the best players in that particular game, Sammy Ameobi and Yoan Gouffran. In particular I look at how, for a change, Alan Pardew actually had a left footed player, Ameobi the younger, playing on the left hand side rather than a right footer who would constantly cut in. This resulted in a superb left footed cross by the big lad for Cisse’s goal, with Ameobi also playing a role in Gouffran’s spectacular second goal in what was an excellent performance overall on the wing from the youngster. (more…)


Papiss in our time?

July 31st, 2013 | 19 Comments |

Papiss Cisse in new Wonga shirt.
Papiss in his new W(r)onga shirt and “Sisse” boots.
It seems there’s a grand conspiracy to make me look like a complete arse at the moment.

Just before I finally had my most recent blog, “We’re still in the dark about Cisse and Wongagate” published on metro.co.uk, Cisse came out and spoke for the first time on his war on Wonga, saying:

“It has been a very difficult time for me and the Club, and also for the fans. I have had some useful discussions with my Club, my family and Islamic teachers in the last few weeks. After a huge amount of thought and reflection I have made the decision to follow my teammates and wear the kit.

“Now I think it is important for the team and the fans that we concentrate 100 per cent on football. Although I did not go to Portugal on the training camp, I was back here working hard on my fitness and preparing for the start of the new season. Since then it has been great to be training with my teammates again. I feel great and ready to go, and cannot wait to be out there against St. Mirren on Tuesday and to play my part for the team.” (more…)


Why Wonga just isn’t worth it

July 20th, 2013 | 43 Comments |

Papiss Cisse holding Toon shirt.
Na! I’m not wearing it if it’s got Wonga on!
In a piece I wrote on here back in October of last year I asked the question “Wonga and Newcastle United – Is it worth it?

Apart from the damage to the club’s dignity and self respect, not to mention it’s “brand value” because of associations with downmarket Sports Direct and even worse, Wonga, we are now seeing another kind of damage caused by the latter. Of course, I am referring to the current situation with Papiss Cisse and his refusal to wear a Wonga branded shirt.

The way things stand currently, the club could lose one of it’s most valuable players, not to mention last season’s joint top goalscorer before the first season under wonga’s sponsorship has even started. However in this piece I will look at what the club is receiving in return.

“The best deal we’ve ever done…”

Newcastle United’s ex-managing Director, Derek Llambias, described Wonga’s sponsorship as “the best deal we’ve ever done” and when asked if it was worth around £8 million per season, he replied that figure was “not far off.” (more…)