On Wednesday evening 2nd May 2012 there as an event which created the warm glow of wonder, amazement and triumph. Not of any significance in the grand scheme of things but meriting abandoning what I intended writing on the following day.
First having already eaten humble pie by returning to watch Newcastle United while Mike Ashley owns the club I must go further and say not only is all forgiven but well done. I assume he and his Chief Executive had to sanction the purchase of Papiss Cisse for a reputed £10 million having sold local scoring sensation but troubled young man Andy Caroll to Liverpool for £13 million the previous season. In addition during this season the club acquired Demba Ba on a free contract recently voted by other football managers the buy of the season, and Yohan Cabaye (undisclosed) who is proving a great talent having the previous year brought to the club Hatem Ben Arfa another amazing talent together with Titote, the iron man in central midfield.
The way Papiss Cisse scores goals as well as the frequency of his scoring and work rate makes him the most exciting new player to come to the UK for a generation and potentially becoming the best goal scorer of this generation. He was born 3rd June, 1985, Dakar, Senegal, playing for Douanes Dakar, Metz, Cherbourg (loan), Chateauroux (loan), SC Freiburg before joining Newcastle on 17th January, 2012, from SC Freiburg on a five-and-a-half year contract.
Newcastle manager, Alan Pardew, is reported to have chosen to ease the striker gently into Premier League life, so gave him a place on the substitutes' bench against Aston Villa on 5th February, but Cisse was soon called upon following an early injury to Leon Best. He capped an impressive debut with a wonder strike which turned out to be the winner in a 2-1 victory at St James Park receiving a cross from the left wing. Cisse took a touch on the edge of the box before firing an unstoppable, rising, left-footed half-volley into the top corner at the Gallowgate End. Since then all his goals are worth seeing for their brilliance.
Yesterday Newcastle went to rampant Chelsea where they have not won for at least twenty five years. Chelsea play in the F Cup against Liverpool on Saturday and then in the European League Championship Cup game later in the month. Should they win that game I will win £220 having placed a £20 free bet when the odds were 10.1? Bayen Munich is the present favourites to win the game. Chelsea needed to win last night to have any chance of getting a top four place which will enable them to compete in the top European competition next season unless they win the Cup, By a quirk of fate by Newcastle winning the game and Chelsea winning the Cup, the team finishing fourth in the Premier League will not now qualify.
This means that Newcastle have to win against Man City Sunday lunch time and away to Everton the following Sunday and that both Arsenal third and Spurs have to draw at least one of their two remaining games for Newcastle to gain third place and become eligible for the Champions League next season. If Chelsea loses the Champions League Final then only Arsenal and Sours have to draw a game for Newcastle to get the fourth place but only again if they win their last two games. There are other scenarios although it is rare for a top team to slip up more than once in their last games of the season.
However this was all academic if Newcastle lost night. This looked the situation after the first few minutes when Chelsea appeared all over the defence with £50 million pounds striker Tores continuing in the form which saw him score a hatrick in his previous outing. After the first quarter Newcastle steadied, move the ball around looked the same class as Chelsea and for the rest of the game Newcastle appeared to be in control midfield but Chelsea were always dangerous in attack with one headed clearance from the line late on. This was offset by a well practiced corner which resulted in Demba Ba having a fearsome strike which rocked the top of the goal mouth before ricocheting out.
There was also a stoppage of some ten minutes when Tiote who had been booked at seven minutes clashed senseless and required seven stitches back in the dressing room but he was held and carried off with an oxygen mask. He is said to have fully recovered and likely to be available to play in Sunday’s fixture of the day against Manchester City.
Newcastle won the game 2.0 because of two extraordinary strikes by Cisse. In the first he seemed to hold a pass, flick the ball up off the ground and then thump with his left foot into the back of the net giving the goal keeper, any goal keeper, no chance. It was his 12th goal in 12 starts since his arrival. With the long period of extra time in second half underway the Manager and the Newcastle visiting supporters appeared well content to settle for the 1,0 victory. Then Shola Ameobi who had come on as a substitute threw in the ball to the feet of Cisse some twenty or more yards out to from the left field. Cisse hit the ball with force and appeared likely to be going over and to the left of the goal when it dramatically swerved passing over the bemused goal keeper a down into the other side of the netting. There was horror disbelief on the part of the home crowd, delighted disbelief on the part of the manager and ecstasy on the part of the Newcastle fans. The commentators then and since have struggle to find superlatives as the goal is replayed over and over again on national news channels, on Sky Sports news, shortly on the regional news. I could only hear the commentary live but was able to watch the highlights after the Spurs visit to Bolton was over. These have now been recorded.
I rarely purchase regional newspapers these days but could not resist. The Gazette features Newcastle and Sunderland because of the divided loyalties within the town could not resist “ Papiss never Cisses to amaze,” “Strike star takes breath away” and “Best Ever” while the Journal “Wonder striker secures victory” and “Untouchable Cisse silences the Bridge in clinical style” with the front page banner “More Cisse Magic sees off Chelsea.”
I had decided to place a bet on Newcastle winning using £10 at odds of 11/2 of the £17 still in the account which netted £55 plus the stake, £65 in total. I also had a £6 bet on Bolton beating Spurs which feel as they lost 4.1. I then invested £30 on 2278 Mr Ashley is in danger of becoming.wps Newcastle beating Man City on Sunday at 9/2 which if they win add £135 to the account and there is that free bet of £20 on Chelsea winning Champions League at 10/1 although odds have significantly reduced since then. I have a ticket for Sunday although the game is being shown live on TV and in 3D. The recording has already been set. I momentarily debated a season ticket which is now on general sale. The price for an elder is reasonable but then I remembered the Winter afternoons and the evening games and that I have the large screen 3D TV to enjoy a large chunk of the season in comfort and close up views. Depending on how they progress it will be more difficult to get a reasonable seat for individual matches at the beginning and end of the season when the weather is generally better. A ground frost is forecast and it is May!
The arrival of Cisse has eclipsed that of the season’s previous best buy Demba Bar who signed for the club on 17th June 2011, on a three-year deal, making his club debut on 13 August 2011 in 0–0 draw against Arsenal. His first goals for the club came on 24 September 2011 with a hat-trick against Blackburn Rovers in a 3–1 home win. A second hat-trick came in a 3–1 away win at Stoke City, taking his league total to 8 and maintaining the club's 11 game unbeaten league start, taking them to 3rd in the league. No one anticipated that the club would be able to sustain its position or he the foal scoring. This was true as the club commenced to have a poor run of games with some bad heavy defeats as they had last Saturday. However Ba’s goal scoring form continued and saw him picked in ESPN.com's Premier League Best XI for the first half of the season, and named Premier League Player of the Month for December 2011. By the time Ba left to play in the January international tournament the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations his league tally had reached 15, making him second top scorer in the league behind Arsenal's Robin van Persie. He left for the tournament on a high note, scoring the first in a 3–0 home win over Manchester United on 4 January 2012, the team's first victory against the league champions in over a decade. Such was their form, Ba and club mate Cheick Tioté's departure for the African Cup was said to be big miss for Newcastle going into the second half of the season.
While at the tournament, Ba's Senagal team-mate Papiss Cissé also signed for Newcastle. Ba and Cisse returned earlier than expected after Senegal finished bottom of their group, with Ba having missed three Premier League games and two 2011–12 FA Cup games, the second of which saw Newcastle knocked out of the cup. He returned to action against Aston Villa on their visit to St James' Park on 5 February 2012, his return proved to be a goal scoring one as he netted the opener in the game which Newcastle won 2–1. He was voted as the best signing of the 2011–12 season by Premier League managers in March 2012.
The third major signing of the season was that of Yohan Cabaye from Rennes on 10th June 2011 with a five-year undisclosed deal. Cabaye described the move to Newcastle as "fantastic" while also stating "I have enjoyed great times with Lille, but the time is right now to test myself against the best and playing for Newcastle United in the Premier League does just that". Cabaye played his first game for Newcastle in a pre-season friendly against Conference National side Darlington after coming on as a substitute in the 12th minute. He was a direct replacement for Kevin Nolan in the number 4 shirt who departed with former bad boy as it appeared the decision had been taken to move out disruptive influences but that they were replaced with players of greater skill and overall quality is remarkable and suggest that having decided to stay Ashley and his Chief Executive are set on making Newcastle into one of the top teams in the UK
Cabaye scored his first goal for Newcastle on 22 October 2011 against Wigan Athletic. Four days later, he netted his second goal for the club in a 4–3 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in the Football League Cup.[54] On 17 December, in the team's 0–0 draw with Swansea City, Cabaye covered the most distance by any Newcastle player all season in the match having travelled over 11.6 kilometres (7.2 mi) A fortnight later, Cabaye scored his third goal for Newcastle netting the team's second goal in a 3–0 win against Manchester United after a 30 yard free kick. On 6 April 2012, Cabaye assisted on both team goals, scored by Papiss Cissé, in Newcastle's 2–0 victory over Swansea City. On 21 April, Cabaye assisted a Papiss Cisse goal and scored two other goals in a 3-0 home victory against Stoke City, lifting Newcastle into the Champions League positions in the table. This was an important turning point in the season which indicated the team’s early season performance was not going to be a one off.
I had commenced to note the overall team work rate and cohesion, the improved defence and the flashes of footballing brilliance from more than one team member.
This came from one of the two additions tot he squad in the previous season. On 27 August 2010, Hatem Ben Arfa agreed to personal terms with Newcastle and, the following day, the club confirmed that it had signed Ben Arfa on a season-long loan. He received the number 37 shirt and made his debut on 11 September 2010, appearing as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat at home to Blackpool. He scored his first goal for Newcastle on his full debut on 18 September in the 1–0 victory against Everton. On 3 October, Ben Arfa suffered a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg while playing in a league match against Manchester City. The injury came as a result of a tackle by opposing midfielder Nigel de Jong. On 5 January 2011, Marseille and Newcastle both confirmed on their websites that they had reached an agreement for the permanent transfer of Ben Arfa to Newcastle with the player agreeing to a four and a half year contract. The transfer fee was undisclosed.
Ben Arfa spent most of his rehabilitation in his home city of Paris recuperating at the Clairefontaine academy. In January 2011, it was reported by the English media that Ben Arfa had undergone another surgery in November 2010 to repair complications that were preventing his shin bones from healing properly. On 23 February, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew confirmed that Ben Arfa was running and could return to the team in April. However, days later, Pardew revealed that he wasn't prepared to rush the player's rehabilitation process and that Ben Arfa probably wouldn't be available until May, stating "I am going to protect him. I can't just throw him in". Ben Arfa returned to training with Newcastle on 5 April. He participated fully in warm-ups with the first-team, but spent the majority of the training session doing light training and fitness work. [88] Ben Arfa ultimately failed to make any more appearances with the team in the 2010–11 seasons.
So in effect he became a new signing for this season after showing flashes of brilliance in the performance which he made reminding of the on the ball skills of one Peter Beardsley. After continuing his rehabilitation during the summer, ahead of the 2011–12 seasons, Ben Arfa began participating in friendly matches with the senior team. He made his return to the team on 15 July 2011 in a match against Conference National club Darlington. Five days later, in the team's pre-season tour of the United States, he sustained an ankle injury in a match against Sporting Kansas City. Ben Arfa ventured back to his home country to rehab the injury and returned to Newcastle on 18 September. He was, subsequently, named to the first-team to participate in the team's Football League Cup tie against Nottingham Forest on 21 September.
He made his season debut in the match against Nottingham Forest appearing as a substitute. Three days later, he made his Premier League return, coming on as a substitute in a 3–1 win over Blackburn Rovers On 26 December 2011, after going the majority of the autumn campaign without scoring a goal, Ben Arfa scored his first goal of the season in a 2–0 away win over Bolton.
On 7 January 2012, Ben Arfa scored Newcastle's opening goal in its FA Cup third round tie against Blackburn Rovers. The goal, described by BBC Sport as "magical", drew the match 1–1 and Newcastle later went on to win the tie 2–1. On 22 January 2012, Ben Arfa scored in Newcastle's 5–2 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage. Two months later, Ben Arfa scored the opener in Newcastle's away league match against Arsenal. The hosts, however, won the match 2–1. On 25 March, he scored one goal and provided the assists on the other two goals in a 3–1 victory against West Brom. Two weeks later, on Easter Monday, Ben Arfa scored again against Bolton Wanderers. The goal, described as "a moment of genius" by British publication The Independent, was the opener and Newcastle went on to win the match 2–0. As previously mentioned this marked my return to St James Park for a match.
That season he was joined by Tioté a fee of £3.5 million after he was granted a work permit. He has been the iron man of the midfield making a number of professional fouls in the process. He made his debut on 18 September 2010 against Everton at Goodison Park. His debut was very successful – completing all of his 64 passes. He also made two interceptions, completed all five of his attempted tackles, and his only shot was on target. He started all of the rest of the Magpies' games, putting in strong performances against Manchester City and in the 2–1 away win over West Ham. Tioté received man of the match for his performance in the 1–0 away victory against Wigan Athletic.
He was sent off in the 3rd Round FA Cup tie against Stevenage suffering a three match domestic ban, but scored a memorable first goal on his return, scoring a 25-yard volley for the late equaliser in a 4–4 draw against Arsenal, a game the Magpies trailed 0–4 at half time.
On 25 February 2011 Newcastle United announced that Tioté had signed a new six-and-a-half year contract to show his commitment to the club, keeping him at Newcastle until 2017. Upon signing his new deal, Tioté said 'The experience of playing in the Premier League has been better than I ever hoped it could be. This is a great club and the fans have been brilliant – I have never known support like it.
I have let him have the last word, because if he thought the fans were great just wait until the reception the team will have on Sunday, come rain or shine and whatever the outcome. This is a better team than that of Kevin Keegan by a long way and may prove to become of the greatest teams if not the greatest team in the history of the Club. If you achieve that Mr Ashley then you also will become a legend.
First having already eaten humble pie by returning to watch Newcastle United while Mike Ashley owns the club I must go further and say not only is all forgiven but well done. I assume he and his Chief Executive had to sanction the purchase of Papiss Cisse for a reputed £10 million having sold local scoring sensation but troubled young man Andy Caroll to Liverpool for £13 million the previous season. In addition during this season the club acquired Demba Ba on a free contract recently voted by other football managers the buy of the season, and Yohan Cabaye (undisclosed) who is proving a great talent having the previous year brought to the club Hatem Ben Arfa another amazing talent together with Titote, the iron man in central midfield.
The way Papiss Cisse scores goals as well as the frequency of his scoring and work rate makes him the most exciting new player to come to the UK for a generation and potentially becoming the best goal scorer of this generation. He was born 3rd June, 1985, Dakar, Senegal, playing for Douanes Dakar, Metz, Cherbourg (loan), Chateauroux (loan), SC Freiburg before joining Newcastle on 17th January, 2012, from SC Freiburg on a five-and-a-half year contract.
Newcastle manager, Alan Pardew, is reported to have chosen to ease the striker gently into Premier League life, so gave him a place on the substitutes' bench against Aston Villa on 5th February, but Cisse was soon called upon following an early injury to Leon Best. He capped an impressive debut with a wonder strike which turned out to be the winner in a 2-1 victory at St James Park receiving a cross from the left wing. Cisse took a touch on the edge of the box before firing an unstoppable, rising, left-footed half-volley into the top corner at the Gallowgate End. Since then all his goals are worth seeing for their brilliance.
Yesterday Newcastle went to rampant Chelsea where they have not won for at least twenty five years. Chelsea play in the F Cup against Liverpool on Saturday and then in the European League Championship Cup game later in the month. Should they win that game I will win £220 having placed a £20 free bet when the odds were 10.1? Bayen Munich is the present favourites to win the game. Chelsea needed to win last night to have any chance of getting a top four place which will enable them to compete in the top European competition next season unless they win the Cup, By a quirk of fate by Newcastle winning the game and Chelsea winning the Cup, the team finishing fourth in the Premier League will not now qualify.
This means that Newcastle have to win against Man City Sunday lunch time and away to Everton the following Sunday and that both Arsenal third and Spurs have to draw at least one of their two remaining games for Newcastle to gain third place and become eligible for the Champions League next season. If Chelsea loses the Champions League Final then only Arsenal and Sours have to draw a game for Newcastle to get the fourth place but only again if they win their last two games. There are other scenarios although it is rare for a top team to slip up more than once in their last games of the season.
However this was all academic if Newcastle lost night. This looked the situation after the first few minutes when Chelsea appeared all over the defence with £50 million pounds striker Tores continuing in the form which saw him score a hatrick in his previous outing. After the first quarter Newcastle steadied, move the ball around looked the same class as Chelsea and for the rest of the game Newcastle appeared to be in control midfield but Chelsea were always dangerous in attack with one headed clearance from the line late on. This was offset by a well practiced corner which resulted in Demba Ba having a fearsome strike which rocked the top of the goal mouth before ricocheting out.
There was also a stoppage of some ten minutes when Tiote who had been booked at seven minutes clashed senseless and required seven stitches back in the dressing room but he was held and carried off with an oxygen mask. He is said to have fully recovered and likely to be available to play in Sunday’s fixture of the day against Manchester City.
Newcastle won the game 2.0 because of two extraordinary strikes by Cisse. In the first he seemed to hold a pass, flick the ball up off the ground and then thump with his left foot into the back of the net giving the goal keeper, any goal keeper, no chance. It was his 12th goal in 12 starts since his arrival. With the long period of extra time in second half underway the Manager and the Newcastle visiting supporters appeared well content to settle for the 1,0 victory. Then Shola Ameobi who had come on as a substitute threw in the ball to the feet of Cisse some twenty or more yards out to from the left field. Cisse hit the ball with force and appeared likely to be going over and to the left of the goal when it dramatically swerved passing over the bemused goal keeper a down into the other side of the netting. There was horror disbelief on the part of the home crowd, delighted disbelief on the part of the manager and ecstasy on the part of the Newcastle fans. The commentators then and since have struggle to find superlatives as the goal is replayed over and over again on national news channels, on Sky Sports news, shortly on the regional news. I could only hear the commentary live but was able to watch the highlights after the Spurs visit to Bolton was over. These have now been recorded.
I rarely purchase regional newspapers these days but could not resist. The Gazette features Newcastle and Sunderland because of the divided loyalties within the town could not resist “ Papiss never Cisses to amaze,” “Strike star takes breath away” and “Best Ever” while the Journal “Wonder striker secures victory” and “Untouchable Cisse silences the Bridge in clinical style” with the front page banner “More Cisse Magic sees off Chelsea.”
I had decided to place a bet on Newcastle winning using £10 at odds of 11/2 of the £17 still in the account which netted £55 plus the stake, £65 in total. I also had a £6 bet on Bolton beating Spurs which feel as they lost 4.1. I then invested £30 on 2278 Mr Ashley is in danger of becoming.wps Newcastle beating Man City on Sunday at 9/2 which if they win add £135 to the account and there is that free bet of £20 on Chelsea winning Champions League at 10/1 although odds have significantly reduced since then. I have a ticket for Sunday although the game is being shown live on TV and in 3D. The recording has already been set. I momentarily debated a season ticket which is now on general sale. The price for an elder is reasonable but then I remembered the Winter afternoons and the evening games and that I have the large screen 3D TV to enjoy a large chunk of the season in comfort and close up views. Depending on how they progress it will be more difficult to get a reasonable seat for individual matches at the beginning and end of the season when the weather is generally better. A ground frost is forecast and it is May!
The arrival of Cisse has eclipsed that of the season’s previous best buy Demba Bar who signed for the club on 17th June 2011, on a three-year deal, making his club debut on 13 August 2011 in 0–0 draw against Arsenal. His first goals for the club came on 24 September 2011 with a hat-trick against Blackburn Rovers in a 3–1 home win. A second hat-trick came in a 3–1 away win at Stoke City, taking his league total to 8 and maintaining the club's 11 game unbeaten league start, taking them to 3rd in the league. No one anticipated that the club would be able to sustain its position or he the foal scoring. This was true as the club commenced to have a poor run of games with some bad heavy defeats as they had last Saturday. However Ba’s goal scoring form continued and saw him picked in ESPN.com's Premier League Best XI for the first half of the season, and named Premier League Player of the Month for December 2011. By the time Ba left to play in the January international tournament the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations his league tally had reached 15, making him second top scorer in the league behind Arsenal's Robin van Persie. He left for the tournament on a high note, scoring the first in a 3–0 home win over Manchester United on 4 January 2012, the team's first victory against the league champions in over a decade. Such was their form, Ba and club mate Cheick Tioté's departure for the African Cup was said to be big miss for Newcastle going into the second half of the season.
While at the tournament, Ba's Senagal team-mate Papiss Cissé also signed for Newcastle. Ba and Cisse returned earlier than expected after Senegal finished bottom of their group, with Ba having missed three Premier League games and two 2011–12 FA Cup games, the second of which saw Newcastle knocked out of the cup. He returned to action against Aston Villa on their visit to St James' Park on 5 February 2012, his return proved to be a goal scoring one as he netted the opener in the game which Newcastle won 2–1. He was voted as the best signing of the 2011–12 season by Premier League managers in March 2012.
The third major signing of the season was that of Yohan Cabaye from Rennes on 10th June 2011 with a five-year undisclosed deal. Cabaye described the move to Newcastle as "fantastic" while also stating "I have enjoyed great times with Lille, but the time is right now to test myself against the best and playing for Newcastle United in the Premier League does just that". Cabaye played his first game for Newcastle in a pre-season friendly against Conference National side Darlington after coming on as a substitute in the 12th minute. He was a direct replacement for Kevin Nolan in the number 4 shirt who departed with former bad boy as it appeared the decision had been taken to move out disruptive influences but that they were replaced with players of greater skill and overall quality is remarkable and suggest that having decided to stay Ashley and his Chief Executive are set on making Newcastle into one of the top teams in the UK
Cabaye scored his first goal for Newcastle on 22 October 2011 against Wigan Athletic. Four days later, he netted his second goal for the club in a 4–3 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in the Football League Cup.[54] On 17 December, in the team's 0–0 draw with Swansea City, Cabaye covered the most distance by any Newcastle player all season in the match having travelled over 11.6 kilometres (7.2 mi) A fortnight later, Cabaye scored his third goal for Newcastle netting the team's second goal in a 3–0 win against Manchester United after a 30 yard free kick. On 6 April 2012, Cabaye assisted on both team goals, scored by Papiss Cissé, in Newcastle's 2–0 victory over Swansea City. On 21 April, Cabaye assisted a Papiss Cisse goal and scored two other goals in a 3-0 home victory against Stoke City, lifting Newcastle into the Champions League positions in the table. This was an important turning point in the season which indicated the team’s early season performance was not going to be a one off.
I had commenced to note the overall team work rate and cohesion, the improved defence and the flashes of footballing brilliance from more than one team member.
This came from one of the two additions tot he squad in the previous season. On 27 August 2010, Hatem Ben Arfa agreed to personal terms with Newcastle and, the following day, the club confirmed that it had signed Ben Arfa on a season-long loan. He received the number 37 shirt and made his debut on 11 September 2010, appearing as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat at home to Blackpool. He scored his first goal for Newcastle on his full debut on 18 September in the 1–0 victory against Everton. On 3 October, Ben Arfa suffered a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg while playing in a league match against Manchester City. The injury came as a result of a tackle by opposing midfielder Nigel de Jong. On 5 January 2011, Marseille and Newcastle both confirmed on their websites that they had reached an agreement for the permanent transfer of Ben Arfa to Newcastle with the player agreeing to a four and a half year contract. The transfer fee was undisclosed.
Ben Arfa spent most of his rehabilitation in his home city of Paris recuperating at the Clairefontaine academy. In January 2011, it was reported by the English media that Ben Arfa had undergone another surgery in November 2010 to repair complications that were preventing his shin bones from healing properly. On 23 February, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew confirmed that Ben Arfa was running and could return to the team in April. However, days later, Pardew revealed that he wasn't prepared to rush the player's rehabilitation process and that Ben Arfa probably wouldn't be available until May, stating "I am going to protect him. I can't just throw him in". Ben Arfa returned to training with Newcastle on 5 April. He participated fully in warm-ups with the first-team, but spent the majority of the training session doing light training and fitness work. [88] Ben Arfa ultimately failed to make any more appearances with the team in the 2010–11 seasons.
So in effect he became a new signing for this season after showing flashes of brilliance in the performance which he made reminding of the on the ball skills of one Peter Beardsley. After continuing his rehabilitation during the summer, ahead of the 2011–12 seasons, Ben Arfa began participating in friendly matches with the senior team. He made his return to the team on 15 July 2011 in a match against Conference National club Darlington. Five days later, in the team's pre-season tour of the United States, he sustained an ankle injury in a match against Sporting Kansas City. Ben Arfa ventured back to his home country to rehab the injury and returned to Newcastle on 18 September. He was, subsequently, named to the first-team to participate in the team's Football League Cup tie against Nottingham Forest on 21 September.
He made his season debut in the match against Nottingham Forest appearing as a substitute. Three days later, he made his Premier League return, coming on as a substitute in a 3–1 win over Blackburn Rovers On 26 December 2011, after going the majority of the autumn campaign without scoring a goal, Ben Arfa scored his first goal of the season in a 2–0 away win over Bolton.
On 7 January 2012, Ben Arfa scored Newcastle's opening goal in its FA Cup third round tie against Blackburn Rovers. The goal, described by BBC Sport as "magical", drew the match 1–1 and Newcastle later went on to win the tie 2–1. On 22 January 2012, Ben Arfa scored in Newcastle's 5–2 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage. Two months later, Ben Arfa scored the opener in Newcastle's away league match against Arsenal. The hosts, however, won the match 2–1. On 25 March, he scored one goal and provided the assists on the other two goals in a 3–1 victory against West Brom. Two weeks later, on Easter Monday, Ben Arfa scored again against Bolton Wanderers. The goal, described as "a moment of genius" by British publication The Independent, was the opener and Newcastle went on to win the match 2–0. As previously mentioned this marked my return to St James Park for a match.
That season he was joined by Tioté a fee of £3.5 million after he was granted a work permit. He has been the iron man of the midfield making a number of professional fouls in the process. He made his debut on 18 September 2010 against Everton at Goodison Park. His debut was very successful – completing all of his 64 passes. He also made two interceptions, completed all five of his attempted tackles, and his only shot was on target. He started all of the rest of the Magpies' games, putting in strong performances against Manchester City and in the 2–1 away win over West Ham. Tioté received man of the match for his performance in the 1–0 away victory against Wigan Athletic.
He was sent off in the 3rd Round FA Cup tie against Stevenage suffering a three match domestic ban, but scored a memorable first goal on his return, scoring a 25-yard volley for the late equaliser in a 4–4 draw against Arsenal, a game the Magpies trailed 0–4 at half time.
On 25 February 2011 Newcastle United announced that Tioté had signed a new six-and-a-half year contract to show his commitment to the club, keeping him at Newcastle until 2017. Upon signing his new deal, Tioté said 'The experience of playing in the Premier League has been better than I ever hoped it could be. This is a great club and the fans have been brilliant – I have never known support like it.
I have let him have the last word, because if he thought the fans were great just wait until the reception the team will have on Sunday, come rain or shine and whatever the outcome. This is a better team than that of Kevin Keegan by a long way and may prove to become of the greatest teams if not the greatest team in the history of the Club. If you achieve that Mr Ashley then you also will become a legend.
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