Newcastle Striking Options

Newcastle United beat Crystal with a last minute header from Pappiss Cisse, which was his first goal in open play in eleven months.  He had several spurned oppurtunities but only found the net in 93rd minute.  The worrying sign for a striker is not getting any chances, it usually means the striker is hiding from play.  Cisse on the other hand is getting chances, he is putting himself about, he isn't scoring but offside and miss after offside and miss shows that he is dertermined to score he isn't hiding.

For this reason I would start Cisse ahead of Remy, on the basis that Remy is on loan and has made it quite clear that he would like to move somewhere else at the end of the season, to possibly play in the champions league.  Pappiss Cisse however is owned by Newcastle and based on current form will not be leaving Newcastle quickly. Newcastle need to be thinking of next season and have nothing else to play for this season, lowest we can realistically finish is ninth.  

The Newcastle of this season are playing far better as a team than the Newcastle of last season, so this could yeald more goals for Cisse.  It could be looked upon as though he is playing for his future, whether that will be at Newcastle or another club. For me, this is why we should start Cisse more in our last eight games of the season if we can get him scoring again, as we could fetch a good price for him in the summer; or if he wants to stay, we will have aleviated our striking problems for next season.  

~John Robert Lavery