Both Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse should be arriving back in Newcastle today after Senegal were eliminated from the African Cup of Nations.
Alan Pardew – we need to do better at Blackburn
But both players will find that Newcastle only have Premier League games left to play this season, after sadly being eliminated 1-0 from the FA Cup at Brighton on Saturday.
But Newcastle would have been at Liverpool in round five, so it would not have been a kind draw for the Newcastle club, if we had made it through.
Alan Pardew has refused to criticise his players for any lack of effort on Saturday, but he does admit Newcastle will need to do better on Wednesday night at Ewood Park, when Newcastle take on 3rd bottom of the table Blackburn Rovers.
This is what Alan said today:
“We have to correct what is wrong and yet it is hard to criticise my players because we had a good grip of the game and our balance and commitment was right.”
“On Wednesday at Blackburn though, we need to do better. We knew this period would be difficult without big players at the African Nations.”
“I have no idea whether Ba and Cissé will be back for Wednesday but I hope so.” “It will strengthen the team, whether it is from the bench or starting positions.”
“And I am looking forward to seeing them back for sure. We have a big week this week. We have a big game at Blackburn, we need to take something against Aston Villa.”
“And then hopefully we can start looking upwards again.” “We have lost the core of this team.” “We knew they would all be coming back for the next round, so to lose in this game makes it all the more galling.”
“We did not create enough chances, enough opportunities, to win the game.”
Demba Ba and Pappiss Cisse have both returned in the shortest time possible after only being at the African Cup of Nations for the group stage.
But the Ivory Coast and Cheick Tiote sit at the top of their group with two wins from their two games, and they play their last group game tonight against Angola in Malabo, who are second top of Group B on 4 points.
So Cheick will not be coming home for a while yet.
But there’s no doubt that if the two Senegal strikers can play on Wednesday evening, then Newcastle will be a much stronger side, because since Demba Ba has been away, we have lacked a goal threat up front.
There’s nothing like goals to raise the spirits during a game, and it’s something that Newcastle just couldn’t get at the Amex Stadium on Saturday.
But Wednesday is another game, and it’s certain that all 3 points for Newcastle will significantly raise the spirits of Newcastle supporters everywhere.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
102 comments so far
sephir0
Jan 30, 2012 at 9:57 AM
Comment #1Re-post
woah shearermania!! no need to go penis crazy! lol!
Well it is a part of the male anatomy brother 🙂 what can your penis tell us on the latest transfer speculation? talk to it and however long it takes to get an answer…. or a sign… might be one of them. then im happy to wait. 🙂
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jan 30, 2012 at 9:59 AM
Comment #2makes a change havin an ITK penis usually whrn some1s ITK they are a prick or a tit
Jan Stavik
Jan 30, 2012 at 9:59 AM
Comment #3I’d rather have a donkey up front than Shola. When playing Shola and Perch we are already a man down when the ref starts the game, I felt we were loosing when I saw Perch in the starting XI.
sephir0
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Comment #4i’m on for a hat-trick…. i always thought heskey had more chance of getting one before than me, come on my son!!!
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Comment #5lads if we hear over the line ill give up.
roshan MAGPIE
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Comment #6hope we start both of them fatigue may be a issue for them but they will be more effective than best and Ameobi
sephir0
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Comment #7Boom Boom
Yes that usually is the case isnt it? 🙂 instead we dont have a guy claming to be ITK…. but his penis is ITK. even though it is rather a strange outburst, im still not guna rule it out as false….just yet. lol
LewSpi
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:03 AM
Comment #8Gt89
You had me scrambling to the premier league page then to check the date ha.
I think this is Pards playing his cards close to his chest again, I reckon they’ll be back or the game he just doesn’t want to give anything away.
SurefootedShola
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:07 AM
Comment #9Doesn’t AP at 50 yrs old realise, that us supposedly ‘having a grip on a game’, can just as easily be dressed up to say they were comfortable defending and letting us have it, leading us into a false sense of security. Goals win games Alan! Not 5-10 yards sideways and backwards passing! Quit your obsession with ‘controlling games’.
lewytoon
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:07 AM
Comment #10yes 2 years ago it shut on the first, when we were in the championship, we signed leon best on the 1st of febuary
GeordieToon89
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:10 AM
Comment #11Lewytoon – A knew it did loll
gaz 44
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:10 AM
Comment #12just to repost.. as most you know i work at benton.. never claim to be itk or anything and only been working there since the 18th of Jan… but been told not to go in today as theres an electrical failure.. im hoping means medicals on going but more likely means nobody coming in as theres an electrical failure lol
sephir0
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:11 AM
Comment #13Lads, we’re trying to get one or two over the line… have some faith. the only way we’re not guna one or two over the line, is when u hear pardew say we tried to get one or two over the line.
shearermania
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:11 AM
Comment #14ITK In Total Kontrol…………..(sometimes)
richard
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Comment #15two possible explanations for the last two defeats. one after the man u game the team thought they were better than they are and got cocksure of there selves at half time v fulham. two best and shola we know arnt good enough but they know there time is limited so didnt give there all.
sephir0
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Comment #16seriosuly guys, we have gotta come up with a song to sing to pardew involving “over the line”… just as a little dig, which no doubt he will find funny. 🙂
lewytoon
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Comment #17sorry for being horriblr
but shola is shit
toonarmydownsouth
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:15 AM
Comment #18Gaz 44 were so desperate fir a defender they will prib do the medical by candlelight!!!
Jan Stavik fu ck off divy perch was man of the match u tit
shearermania
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:16 AM
Comment #19maybe totos hold the line could be used…..over the line de de de de transfers not always on time oh yeah…..
toonarmydownsouth
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:16 AM
Comment #20sephir0 how bout the ryan taylor song, alan pardew over the line
SurefootedShola
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:18 AM
Comment #21Richard
I think everyone has been getting above their station. Talk of Europe is totally premature. What happened to taking each game at a time, with absolute concentration on that? It served us well at the start.
SurefootedShola
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Comment #22The holiday in Tenerife, giving everyone a pat on the back when the job is half done, worried me, too.
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:21 AM
Comment #23@21 how dare you piss on our parade! i boo in your face man boo in ur face.
gaz 44
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:22 AM
Comment #24just so u know.. in glad were out the cup.. never expected to win it and its just extra games
richard
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Comment #25surefoot a couple of me mates who were at fulham said they came off at half time and thought they had won the league. exactly one game at a time. simpson already on twitter already talking about makem game, got 4 games before then
sephir0
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Comment #26haha i was thinking of something like
*to the tune of Happy Together*
We tried to get some guys, over the line
Just one or two, from Graham Carr, that would be fine
Then we got Cisse and Ba, playing on the Tyne
So happy togetheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer! /
dunno, its monday morning…. lyrical magic….maybe later. lol
SurefootedShola
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Comment #27Well we have Ba back from now on, hopefully. His attitude leading from the front has been just as important as his goals, in my opinion. When you see Strolla just plodding towards a defender, or sometimes just not bothering, it really can’t help energize and inspire the rest of the team, particularly when he’s the skipper. Ba seems one-track minded when he’s up top; a case of “I am going to score and win because I’m just better than you and I’ll show it”, and he’s not content with a single goal cushion, which spreads through the team.
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:35 AM
Comment #28i think jelavic is a waste of money for everton i may be wrong but i dont think hes good enough celtic have two better than him and they didnt cut it.
SurefootedShola
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:36 AM
Comment #29Belief is a huge part of the game and with our recent strikeforce, I can see why we’ve gone flat. Nobody believes Shola is even going to get in a position for a chance, nay mind score it; Best, well he’s just far too inconsistent to ever be a reliable goalscorer.
BOOM BOOM THE 1ST
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #30bests biggest problem is he keeps dropping deep if he stayed on the sharp end hed score goals he has great feet but unfortunatly no brain
Jimay
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #31I think Pards is right in saying ‘it is hard to criticise my players because we had a good grip of the game’. He should only criticisie one player and that is the one that should put the ball into the back of the net. Criticise Shola!
jayphoto
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:43 AM
Comment #32think its impossible to be ITK unless your 1 of the few people actually brokering the deal! As a photographer I have a few clients that are linked closely to premier league clubs aswell as a few friends that work in specific areas, for example i hear about alot of Manchester city and stoke city stuff before it happens and its all from actual sources, and most of it happens but the amount that nearly happens and falls through is unreal! regarding Newcastle, i heard about the obertan deal weeks before, but was also told Gameiro was nailed on and recently that Ravel Morrison was signing! (although he was at benton) Point being, unless it comes from Llambias or Charnley, noone is actually in the know because the sheer amount of enquiries and offers clubs get and make is unreal and 9 times out of 10 nothing is going to come from it!
GeordieToon89
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Comment #33Boom – Who hasnt cut it for Celtic? a can only think of Samaras..? Hoopers never played in the prem before but he’s the type of player who will do well because he can do everything.. Quick,Strong,Good contol,Good finisher
GeordieToon89
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Comment #34aww Stokes?
Eastander
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Comment #35@28 – Kris Boyd had a better scoring record at Rangers and look how he’s done in English football, plus beside Rangers a scoring record of;
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2002–2007 Hajduk Split 35 (8)
2007–2008 Zulte Waregem 23 (3)
2008–2010 Rapid Vienna 70 (25)
2009– Croatia 17 (2)
Hardly makes me think prolific striker
Benji84
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Comment #36I still feel we have a secret weapon we need to unleash for wednesday game Xisco. He cant be as bad as Shola and Best together lol
jayphoto
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:50 AM
Comment #37@35 i think with jelavic, what people like is how he draws defenders out! he makes a lot of space for whoever partners him upfront!
SurefootedShola
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Comment #38Boom Boom
You’re right, but that’s down to AP. I think 90% of fans would have preferred to see Loven instead of Ameobi t’other day, with him taking up the role on the left and Best as the point-man. Shola just slows everything down, he really is useful as an impact sub, we’ve seen that, because he has the stamina to drag his big frame around with a little bit of oomph for 15-20mins, but asking him to pace himself and last 90 mins is just evidently daft – he can’t do it and it just makes a slow player even slower and less likely to do damage.
Eastander
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Comment #39I have to say the transfer deadline is good for one thing, I get to hear about players I didnt even know existed!
From Skysports;
Sky Sports understands Watford poised to sign Fulham midfielder Alex Kacaniklic on loan. More on site soon..
Fulham have a midfielder called Kacaniklic??
GeordieToon89
Jan 30, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Comment #40Best has got – 10 in 40 prem apps
Shola has got – 7 in 42 prem apps
Lovenkrands has got – 9 in 42 prem apps
Ba has got – 22 in 31
Proves we really need another striker ontop of Cisse and Ba
Would any of yous think Fletcher from Wolves would be a good signing when they get relegated?
19 in 45 appearances