5 Impressive deep-lying midfielders in the Premier League (So far)

3. Cheick Tiote

Often the yellow card flashes into our minds when we read his name. And yes, he is certainly weak when it comes to discipline and concentration. But there are a few things he possesses that make him invaluable to the resurgent Newcastle United side. He has been ever-present at Newcastle ever since he was signed from FC Twente for a fee of $5m, a bargain in today’s transfer market. The qualities he has displayed till now are surely noteworthy. Here is a look at his atttibutes:

Strengths

a) He is very strong physically and possesses impressive aerial ability.

b) He can score long range goals and has a very good shot.

c) He is a very good dribbler given the position he plays in.

d) His clever mind gets the pressure off his team mates (he too often gets fouled).

e) He loves to play the ball short.

Stats

Apps	Goals	Assists	Pass success%	Avg key passes	Avg passes	Avg pass length	Total chances created	Avg duels won %	Avg defensive actions	Tackles per game
19	-	1	88	0.5	59.3	17m	9	48	5	3.7

Best performance (so far) = 1-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford

Overall rating = 7.5/10