Demba Ba looked great on Saturday, when he came away with a hat-trick, and with any luck his strike partner Leon Best would have been among the goals too.
Demba Ba smashes home his first ever goal for Newcastle
Alan Pardew said yesterday that he thought Ramadan and his fasting for that, had affected Demba Ba’s form at the beginning of the season.
But Demba Ba has been a devout Mulsim all his life, since he was born in France in 1985 to Senegal parents, and that’s not going to change.
The striker has already had some let-downs in his footballing career, which he says have only made him a stronger person along with his faith.
The lad had trials with Charlton and Watford back in 2004. and he was picked up by Watford, but then when Aidy Boothroyd replaced Ray Lewington as the manager, Boothroyd didn’t think much of him and Demba Ba was let loose.
Ba then returned to France and played in the French and Belgium leagues, before joining German club 1899 Hoffenheim in 2007.
The 6’2″ striker had some success there and scored 40 goals in 103 appearances in Germany, and then after failing a medical at Stoke City last January, he was signed by West Ham in January, and scored 7 goals in 13 appearances for the London club and was their top scorer.
When West Ham were relegated last May, the terms of his contract made him a free agent, and Newcastle snapped him up in the summer.
Demba Ba is an extremely modest and humble person, and he said those setbacks only made him stronger:
“I was always determined I would make it in the end,” “I wasn’t going to give up just because one or two people said no to me.”
“I was always going to keep trying. I wasn’t too disappointed about not making it at Watford as it was still a very valuable experience and I learned a lot there.”
“What else could I do? They didn’t want me, but I knew other people would.”
“I think what’s happened since proves just how determined I was to be a footballer. I did everything I could to try to get to the position I am in now, so I am going to make sure I do everything I can to enjoy it.”
Demba Ba has become a new hero on Tyneside, after Saturday’s wonderful hat-trick performance, and the Senegal International also says he is not surprised where Newcastle are in the league right now, with all the good players the Tyneside club have in their squad:
“Sometimes fasting doesn’t affect you at all, sometimes you start feeling a bit tired,” “But it is not something that is new to me – I have been doing this for a long time.”
“I am used to it and it is something that is very important to me. My faith is where I get my confidence and energy from. I will not quit doing this because I can’t.”
“When you look at the table and see where we are you can only be happy,” “But I am not surprised we are so high because when you look at the players we have in the team, you cannot be surprised.”
Until Saturday the striker had shown little of the form he showed at West Ham earlier this year, although in the previous game he played very well at Aston Villa, and paired up well with Leon Best.
Manager Alan Pardew was delighted with his display and his goals on Saturday:
“Demba said when I signed him that he was going to come here and fight for the team,” “You have to acknowledge not just his goals, but his all-round play.”
“Him and Besty had as good a game as a strike-force as any strikers since I’ve been at the club.”
There were many positives for Newcastle to take out of the game on Saturday.
Demba Ba and Best looked menacing up front, Gabriel Obertan had his best game in Newcastle colors, and Cheick Tiote, after a great display at Villa Park in the previous game, gave another top class performance in the middle of the park.
And for the second game running Tiote didn’t get a yellow card, which is also good news.
Newcastle retain their 4th place in the league but cannot get carried away by their early success, and they will have to on their toes on Saturday when they visit Wolves, and that will be the next tough test for this new Newcastle United side.
Comments welcome.
20 comments so far
lordy_geordie
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:37 AM
Comment #1wolves will be a tricky game and so will spurs. The way we’re playing tho i can see us getting something from both games. November however will be a true test Howay the lads
lordy_geordie
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:40 AM
Comment #2People used to go on bout us having a small squad which I dont understand. Every team has to submit 25 players. Can anyone explain this plz? or am i being an idiot today?
ilovetoon8788
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:40 AM
Comment #3Demba Ba and Leon Best has to continue playing upfront. Need more games to strike an understanding and partnership.
lordy_geordie
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:43 AM
Comment #4@ 3 I agree 100% and I believe we need a new forward but who would make way? Or do we need another? Lets not forget Sammy. Best and Ba are doing us proud no doubt about that. Id like to replace simpson tho snd as Pardew said he doesnt have backup for Obertan. so Rb Rm St and maybe Lb if Santon is Rb
Stuart
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:46 AM
Comment #5lordy geordie – the worry during the summer was not so much that we had a small squad, more that we didnt have much strength in depth, only had a good first team then no real backup.
Now however I’d say apart from defence we’re pretty well sorted in terms of strength in depth. Hopefully in Jan we’ll get a CB and a LB/RB, doesnt matter which as Santon can play either.
Also, just had a quick look through the last thread. Why are some people eg Brutoon trying to take away from our great start? Do you work for MOTD?
Its our best start to a season since 1998 or something and some people still want to call it luck?
Bloody baffles me.
Stuart
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:47 AM
Comment #6btw sammy is a winger, not a striker, i reckon hes much more dangerous from the LW.
We need either a 1st choice or a 3rd choice striker in January though just to keep Shola away from the first team.
Jimay
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:51 AM
Comment #7I would be suprised if Tiote gets as many yellows this season as he picked up last season. This season he plays together with Cabaye in the engine room and does not have to make up for Nolans lack of defensing.
Many people missed Nolan when he was signing for West Ham, me included but now I don’t anymore. Tiote will be an even bigger player than last season when playing besides Cabaye.
lordy_geordie
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:54 AM
Comment #8Yes I realise Sammy is a winger but still can play as a st. I believe he is a far better str than his bro. I think we have at times been lucky but what team goes through a season without a bit of luck in a game or 2? However with the run were having there is massive excitement andmaybe its too early to say but a top 8 or 7 place I believe is on the cards.
Stuart
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:56 AM
Comment #9I’m waiting to see where we’re at after the 3 tough games in November like, Man U, Man City and Chelsea, but if we’re still in the top 7 then I’d hope we could stay there throughout the season.
Haha, lordy, saying Sammy is a far better striker than his bro isnt much of a compliment like =P I’m a far better striker than Shola man! lol.
lordy_geordie
Sep 26, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Comment #10@9 Lmao what im getting at is how the hell does he warrant a new contract? Every new manager comes in i hope they sell him but they never do.
Stuart
Sep 26, 2011 at 10:07 AM
Comment #11He’s got secret pictures of a MA DL sex session like.
SincerelySamuel
Sep 26, 2011 at 10:07 AM
Comment #12it may be a little early and exitable of us to call him a hero so early but the lad has quality and time on his side he and Besty look very strong together they dont just finish but can create too something we havnt had since Shearer (no im not saying they are as good as Shearer b4 i get slated)
lordy_geordie
Sep 26, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Comment #13Not sure if I should post here but what would everyones best starting line up and subs be since 1995? Thats on their best day. Also what manager since then? would be interesting
sidekick
Sep 26, 2011 at 10:18 AM
Comment #14Shola gets new contracts because he is a world class striker on the training ground. Just a pity he can’t bring it to the main stage where he freezes.
Sammy will make a great striker, he is fast, skilful, and can shoot. He just needs to bulk up a bit to be hard to knock off the ball.
SincerelySamuel
Sep 26, 2011 at 10:35 AM
Comment #15how many years in a row have newcastle started with a tough game and lost killing preseason momentum and then in many previous seasons we have had one of the big boys every few games never been able to get up a head of steam of confidence, i think pardew carr and all our players deserve ahell of a lot of credit for EARNING this club fourth spot in the league and yes it may be temporary but this team has a lot more ideas about it than the previous years and the spirit seems as strong as ever so when we are up against it poss november when we have 3 very tough matches in a row we need to be a twelth man not an i told you it was fluke, maybe the spirit will be like it has been before in that when our lads come up against the big boys they dont shy away they give it all theyve got we can only judge the results and performances soo far and overall we have deserved to be where we are i hope the 1500 travelling to wolves do us proud as mr Henry will surely be out to “Disrupt” cabaye
i cant wait to be back for the Tottenham game
as it will be our hardest test so far but as many have said this is the strongest league in the world there are no easy games
HTL
SincerelySamuel
Sep 26, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Comment #16@Lordy-Geordie
ill be very surprised if anyone selects someone other than Sir Bobby or Keegan 1st time round for manager
lordy_geordie
Sep 26, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Comment #17I would select sir Bobby as I believe if he took over King Kev instead of Dalglish we would of won title
jayphoto
Sep 26, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Comment #18best 11 since 1995-
Gk- Shay Given
Rb- Habib Beye (was great in the 2 seasons he was here)
cb – Phillipe Albert
cb – Fabricio Collocini
lb – Jose Enrique
Rm – Nolberto Solano
cm – Rob Lee
cm- Cheik Tiote
Lm – David Ginola
CF – Alan Shearer (cpt)
CF- Craig Bellamy
subs:
Tim Krul, Darren Peacock, Laurent Robert, Gary Speed, Les Ferdinand, John Beresford, Hatem Ben Arfa
Manager Bobby Robson
lordy_geordie
Sep 26, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Comment #19@18 no asprilla, woodgate, beardsley, but suppose have to omit someone.
Toon Tang
Sep 26, 2011 at 1:46 PM
Comment #20@18
Id have shearer ferdinand up front. yielded far more goals than bellers. Id defo have andy cole somewhere on that list as well even if its sub
i suppose ya could could easily pick a whole squad of legends if ya wanted