Demba Ba has been phenomenal for Newcastle so far this season, with 8 Premier League goals so far.
Demba Ba congratulated by Ryan Taylor after scoring
And indeed, if Ba continues his goal scoring form then then Alan Pardew may have to rethink who he gives that famous number 9 shirt to.
This is what Demba said to the local press today:
“Yes, I nearly joined Stoke. I don’t really want to talk about them.” “They made a mistake. They have to move on and stop talking every time I am about to play against them.”
“The best way to silence them is to score.” “It is the same joy though that I had against Blackburn.” “It was special to score a hat-trick against Blackburn but I enjoy all goals.”
“Leon and Gabriel did very well. They gave me some great balls and I thank them for that.” “It was a very good night for me and for the club, the team and the fans.”
“We just work hard and it gets us results. Nobody needed to cheat.” “That’s why everybody is so pleased with the result.” “I think I am playing at a good level, but I can still get better, this is for sure.”
“I will just continue working hard. It’s going to be very tough to stay where we are, but at the moment we are just enjoying it. I am happy for the fans.”
We suppose the plan was to give the new striker signed in January the number nine short, and that appears to be Mali International Modibo Maiga, but that plan may have to change.
Demba Ba is a natural goalscorer who just loves scoring goals, and he doesn’t seem to miss too many chances does he?
It’s for Alan Pardew to decide who gets the number nine shirt of course, but if Demba Ba continues his phenomenal goal scoring form, Alan may have no real choice but the give the Senegal striker that number 9 shirt.
And one thing we just love about Demba is he’s such a modest and great lad, and he was so humble when he was immediately interviewed on Sky Sports after the game – we love the guy!
Comments welcome.
277 comments so far
gorgonzola
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Comment #1I reckon he can be….its good he works hard on it….. would be interesting to see him partner Modiba in Jan…
go Demba BA….superb lad….
Toon_Tom
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Comment #2You have to earn the number 9 shirt, and he is earning it so far. hit 20 this season and its his!
gorgonzola
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Comment #3I think the number 9 need sto be hard earned….as I put Dumbia in Fifa 12 😀
GeordieGerman
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Comment #4Why should Maiga be given the No.9? Surely it has to be earned.
Toon_Tom
Nov 1, 2011 at 12:56 PM
Comment #5German > we gave it to Oba when he joined so it has been done before!!!
But i agree, it should be earned, even if that means that it isnt taken for a couple of seasons. It is a magic jersey that has to be taken seriously, and I bet that Ba knows about the history behind it alot more than Maiga/De Jong/Cisse etc……
Toon_Jock
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:00 PM
Comment #6Didn’t Ba get offered the No9 but turned it down for No19 as that number was special to him. Believe I seen hm say this in an interveiw!
And he would say why No19 was his preference – it’s a secret 🙂
ilovetoon8788
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Comment #7Demba Ba florishes when Leon Best is playing beside him. Shows just how crucial Leon Best is upfront. How Ben Arfa is going to get in the team i don’t know.
Because Ba scores, because of the pressure Leon Best puts upfront. What a great strike partner to have.
zaktoon_swede
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Comment #8great stuff yesterday, 1st goal was class. loved it when simmo gave stoke a taste of their own medicine with the towels, tony p went mad haha!
does anyone know if mali play the ANC this year? is modibo maiga a regular in their team anyway?
soundoid
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:03 PM
Comment #9A hat trick at city and he can have the No9…. and he can have my wife…. everyone else has.
Why no headlines today saying Hat Trick a Treat!
niafron
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Comment #10It’s not about being negatives lads, you don’t undesrtand! It’s about doing the best you can on the pitch! This team could do far better, i ‘m sure of it!
Ok, so i will rock your world, just hold strong to your chair!
What about the title?
Yes, you read well, what about being CHAMPION? Not in a distant future. RIGHT NOW!
THIS SEASON!
AshtreeKid
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Comment #11I’d like to know about Nigeria as well?
bambams
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:07 PM
Comment #12Ba deserves the shirt. Simple as that! If we do bring someone else in they will have to hit the ground running or they will also have to take a seat behind the manager in the dugout for their chance.
Been trying to think of a match AWAY from home that made me so happy, to be fair it has to be Shearer’s last match away to the mackems!
We have had some decent results since but i thought last night the team were “worthy” of third place- christ i am starting to believe again !!!
niafron
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:08 PM
Comment #13About Ba, he will probably not ask for the number 9. He would accept it gladly, but should another guy wear it, it would not be a problem for him.
Toon_Tom
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:10 PM
Comment #14naifron > we dont have the strength in depth to fight Man City for the title (this year) but depending on how we develop the team, and bring thru all our youngsters who are doing brilliantly aswel then we may be contenders in the next couple of years. Lets concentrate on playing the way we are playing and geting the results that may get us into Europe/a this year, but i can not see us winning the title ……
soundoid
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:10 PM
Comment #15May as well have a shot at the title since were up here, to come all this way and at least not visit top spot would be a bit rude like.
Toon_Jock
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:11 PM
Comment #16Actually looking forward to the November games now, after seeing us destroy Stoke last night!
I believe we can give the Mancester clubs, at least, something to think about! We are not a pushover team anymore… Eh Stoke?!?!
GeordieToon89
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:15 PM
Comment #17a dont see how Ben Arfas going to get into the team now to be honest because he’s not the type of player that would compliment Ba because Ba would need to be doing all the running and winning the ball wher Best does that and leave Ba to score, Benny will never be a player that tracks players and chases them down or even wins a ball in the air he needs it at his feet
AshtreeKid
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:16 PM
Comment #18dont get carried away, our league position after the next four games will gives us a realistic judge of what we can expect this year…
Toon_Tom
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:16 PM
Comment #19getting a bit carried away lads!
GeordieGerman
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:17 PM
Comment #20Southern press now gloating over our coming games. Don’t they ever learn? This just gets our lads hackles up.
GeordieToon89
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:20 PM
Comment #21just think last season we hammered City at they place if it wasnt for Tevez cheating we would of won or atleast drew.. different kettle of fish this year mind..
0 maybe 1 point away to City
1 maybe 3 away to Utd
1 maybe 3 home to chelsea
a think if we come out of those games with 2 or 3 points if would be a good return but the way Chelsea nd Man Utd defend we could easily manage 7 points which would be unbelievable and would shut alot of out doubters(MOTD) up
John
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:21 PM
Comment #22It now seems as thought the little cash we have should be spent on other area’s of the pitch like a LB and CB where wer short rather than buy another ST in Margia HBA cant get in the team obertan cud move over for HBA and play him out on the RM where is this fella Margia gona play?
GeordieToon89
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:22 PM
Comment #23btw we will never come close to winning the league while Man city/Utd/Chelsea are all in our league all got so much spending power at the moment
niafron
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:22 PM
Comment #24@Toon tom
We do have the strength! We are now engaged in only two competitions. We got extraordinnary players, better than everybody here seem to realize.
Furthermore, a team, i mean a real team don’t care of development.
I don’t talk about economical football or managment. I speak of the heart of men.
For us, it’s like a science, put this guy here, buy this one, give a chance to a new lad…
FOr them, it’s not about managment, it’s a human adventure. This is about life and death, each second on the pitch.
Those guys aren’t only good players, they are friends, they are proud men. They are a team.
They can do that. I feel it, it’s not scientifical, it’s more poetic. NUFC is all abou that. DOn’t you see it? These 50,000 lads each week at St James to watch a team who haven’t won since 1969!
And you speak of logic? Speak of passion of the true heart of a champion!
SPEAK FRENCH!
We can do that, we can win this bloody thing, more and more you will believe it more they will feel it, it’s like being at the edge of terribly powerfull wave!
It’s how i feel the situation, but i’m just a foreigner. THis is your club, you suffered with it all these years, not me, so it’s up to you.
GeordieToon89
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Comment #25John – weve got to think that, Guthrie/Lovenkrands/Smith are all out of contract at end of season makes sense to get couple new lads in and implement them in the team so the can get a full few month then a full pre season.. also just noticed.. Sammy/Tavernier/Kadar/Richardson/Soderberg/Airey all run out at the end of the season also
ganiyu
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Comment #26Lets all forget about this number 9 shit…we can score goals without a number 9
Toon_Tom
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:25 PM
Comment #27Geordie > I always said if we get 3 points against Man City / Utd and Chelski then i would be more than happy. Whether thats 3 draws or 1 win.
However > i think we can beat Chelsea at home, confident of a result and Man Utd, and could be the shock of the season and take 3 points from City to become the only unbeaten team in the league.
“Success is no longer a dream, it is a reality” >>>> who said that???? I said that 🙂
HWTL
bambams
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:26 PM
Comment #28If we get a european place this season the North-East should be given a Bank Holiday, that is all i hope for and realistically i believe we could do it this season
Toon_Tom
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:29 PM
Comment #29naifron > Excellent Post 🙂
Very philosophical approach to the game and I do understand your theory. I wont shoot you down here and will not talk negative of Newcastle, but a top 6 finish would be excellent, a top 4 would be magic, but to clinch the title would be stuff dreams are made of, and IMHO, i can not see it this year.
Excellent post tho 🙂
niafron
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:30 PM
Comment #30It’s a famous revolutionary saying in France:
“Soyez réaliste, demandez l’impossible.”
Be realistic, ask the impossible.
ilovetoon8788
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:30 PM
Comment #31@GeordieToon89 // Nov 1, 2011 at 1:15 PM
exactly what i said earlier. i just don’t see how Ben Arfa is going to come into the team, because if Arfa plays i think Ba’s goals will start dropping.
Leon Best is the perfect partner for Ba.
bro56
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:31 PM
Comment #32This Sat v Ev’ton the fans will show Pards how much he’s loved here cos he’s really taking the bull by the horns and showing his worth. Saylor admitted they totally changed their game to suit a big, organised Stoke side. Hats off to Pards, Ashley and the lads for a great start, it couldnt be better. It seems surreal at the mo and could get more surreal if we beat E’ton and go 2nd 🙂
Chelsea up here willbe a massive game, Chelsea defo underdogs lol mental
niafron
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Comment #33Well , got to go lads. See you…
Bon après midi.
WWJBD
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:33 PM
Comment #34Win the league? You been on the sauce niafron?
bro56
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:35 PM
Comment #35must say Ryan Taylor has improved massively at LftBk, looks so comfortable and has as much (if not more) of a treat going forward than Enrique. Jonas and Raylor bossed that side last night..
poor old Stoke complaining about our towel-dried throw-ins..lol
bambams
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:36 PM
Comment #36So many different opinions about who do we bring in, does anyone know anything about this modibo maiga, i see he has a few goals this season but has anyone actually watched him play?
Pieters would be a great signing ( i know he is injured) i have friends in Amsterdam and they think he is the business.
boater
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:40 PM
Comment #37Good points niafron. We should be delighted at the way things have been going for us. But if we want to maintain our run and push for a european spot – we are lacking in natural goal scorers on the pitch. Last time we got near the top 4 we had dyer, solano, speed, robert – all chipping 6-8 goals a season each. We have a harder working midfield now – more athletic and fitter, but if there’s one area where we lack is consistent finishers, aside from Ba.
I have a funny feeling we will do okay against the top 3, not beat them all – but maybe a draw or two and hopefully not get hammered.
We won’t get top 4 this season – fair enough, but the reason will be because the margin of victory will be too close against mid table sides without the goals scored to reflect our dominance.
So, my point is we need to introduce a goalscorer in a midfield position- marveaux, vuckic or arfa, etc.. whilst keeping the work rate we have at the moment. Do that, keep Ba fit and maybe play him with Maiga from January and the top 7 is on.
bro56
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:40 PM
Comment #38pieters for me would be great but do we need him now with Raylor adapting so well. I reckon Raylor is more attacking than Pieters. We are short on numbers in defence tho..
We could do with another forward for cover but do we need to fix something not broken?
bro56
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:42 PM
Comment #39just show play Guthrie alongside ASmith and he looks finish, put him alongside Cabaye and he looks a decent player.. well done Guthrie..
toonincheek
Nov 1, 2011 at 1:42 PM
Comment #40Amazing to think that Ben Arfa, who whilst injured has been our dream player to include in our strongest team, now cannot get a place.
If the lads continue to perform, he could end up in an impact substitute role, to be brought on when things aren’t going according to plan.
It’s bound to happen in a few games.