It started a couple of days ago when Alan Pardew suggested he would not be too happy that his friend Papiss Cisse was scoring all the goals and in the limelight at Newcastle.
Demba Ba congratulates Cisse after first goal yesterday
That comment was about Demba Ba, and Alan laughed at his news conference for the Swansea game, by saying he would put Ba back in the middle soon and that would put a smile on his face.
But when Papiss Cisse scored that first goal yesterday, Demba Ba was delighted, and Papiss had just scored his 8th goal in 8 games for Newcastle in the number 9 shirt.
And then Ba was taken off after 59 minutes and replaced by Shane Ferguson, and it’s true he didn’t look too happy at being substituted.
But it was to ensure he was fresh and ready for the next big game – on Monday afternoon against a rejuvenated Bolton side at St. James’ Park.
And then when Cisse scored his second phenomenal goal after 69 minutes, when a second goal was need to lift the pressure on Newcastle, the TV commentators added to the drama by saying everybody in the Newcastle dugout had celebrated except Demba Ba.
We don’t know if that was true or not, but we think this is more of a media made-up thing than anything else.
Ba did put out a couple of tweets yesterday after the game on his Twitter account, the first one was as follows:
“Feel so good to be 5th on the table. With only 6 game to go. Cant sleep……. May be run a marathon today haha”
And then he responded to reports he was frustrated yesterday, and he responded this way:
“When you love football like I do, you wanna play every minute. End of the day we win. So I’m glad once again smiley“
What Demba Ba could be disappointed at is having to play out on the left hand side in a 4-3-3 formation, since the chances are seeming to come to Papiss Cisse in the center.
And not only did Papiss score two great opportunist goals yesterday, but he was back in defense helping out too, like all the Newcastle players.
Maybe the best formation for Ba would be a 4-4-2 formation where both he and Cisse are in the middle, but the way things have gone these last four games – four wins, 8 goals scored and only the dumb goal conceded at West Brom – Alan Pardew is not going to change things.
Monday is another day, and Bolton will be tough, but maybe Demba Ba can get back on the goals trail then.
We suspect a lot of the news on Demba Ba is either made up, or is being blown way out of all proportion.
At least we hope that’s the case.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
47 comments so far
Rotonda heights
Apr 7, 2012 at 8:39 AM
Comment #1I thought ba and Cisse interchanged really well and often Ba was the front man with Cisse popping up in defence on occasions.
bills-son
Apr 7, 2012 at 8:46 AM
Comment #2Pardew and the board are no mugs.
IMO they know that Ba’s release clause means he will be off in the summer if a club pays him a big signing on fee and big wages. Ba has to look after his oen interests – his knee could go at anytime and NUFC won’t pay over the odds because of that.
So Pardew is getting the team used to having Cisse playing the central role rather than Ba in case Ba leaves.
That is sound management and I believe it is the truth no matter Pardew might try to have us believe.
valle
Apr 7, 2012 at 8:49 AM
Comment #3Indeed it is blown out of proportion… I remember a blog using a Pardew quote a few days back to make a headline that wendt something like “Demba Ba noy happy at Newcastle?” that was all blown out of proportion as well… If i could only remember the name of that blog… Anyone got an idea?
JKG
Apr 7, 2012 at 8:50 AM
Comment #4I think they are both great players and very different in style. Ba reminds me of Shearer and Cisse is like Cole with a touch of Asprilla.
I was gutted when the Shearer/Ferdinand partnership was broken up after one season, I hope we can keep Ba and Cisse next season.
popscott
Apr 7, 2012 at 8:53 AM
Comment #5Fair play to Pards, Ba was playing sh*te and he had the nuts to take him off, many a manager would have bottled that if their star striker was unhappy!
Papiss_Myself
Apr 7, 2012 at 8:55 AM
Comment #6Agreed. At one point of the game we were playing a 6-3-1 formation with Ba up front by himself and Cisse at RB lol.
I think it’s just all hype. Ba knows he is good and I’m sure he will start scoring soon. Like he said as long as the team are winning thats what counts.
In saying that I really hope he scores on Monday so we can put this to bed and shut the stupid media specualtion up as well.
Feed the sheep and Ba will score
HWTL
Pecorino ( will let you figure it out)
Apr 7, 2012 at 8:57 AM
Comment #7Ba nearly scored that goal…if he went for the near post he would have scored I am sure…
Ba cant leave its just not right….sorry to say…It would be wrong on so many levels….
BUT if it was to happen, we would need a replacement of BA’s proportion if not better, that is hard nowadays to find somebody that just fits…I hope Ba does not forget the fact no other club WANTED him…..we took him in with open arms…hope he never forgets that….
where was PSG a year ago….Demba….
Spuggy
Apr 7, 2012 at 9:00 AM
Comment #8Ba scored in his first match with Cisse, although it was a more orthodox 442.
I see no reason why they can’t interchange up front and stretch defences, but with Cisse on fire you’d be loath to change a thing ATM. I’d like to see Ba amongst the goals again but if we’r scoring and winning I’m sure he will be happy for the team.
Ba is really our only other quality striker, so if Cisse gets injured he will step up to the plate.
Cabaye is really grasping the ACM role, he will get a goal soon as he is always making forward runs into the box – sheer quality that lad, the two passes to Cisse were world class.
solano
Apr 7, 2012 at 9:36 AM
Comment #9I agree with Bills-son, @2 but not surprisingly, because of totally different reasons!
Ba IS likely to be away due to the release clause which almost guarantees a player (especially with fitness concerns) a short tenure at a club if he proves successful. Add to the mercenary player, the unscrupulous ownership, and you get the revolving door policy. They gambled on Ba on a free and he came good – that way the player gets his next move and the club make a decent profit and move on to another cheap gamble. Everyone is a winner!
Errrrr….well not quite…because the fans are a trifle disappointed at the “revolving door” policy at the club….but hey, this is part and parcel of the great “Business plan” (read Neil Ashton’s article in the Mail yesterday – for once a thought provoking and revealing tabloid article). Next year it is likely to be Cabaye/HBA
Pardew has done magnificent in welding a team together and going on a terrific march up the table…but he knows fine well, he won’t have some of the mainstays of his team here next year…prob Ba and Tiote….and we will be replacing not building.
As some of the one’s who haven’t joined Lobotomy Valley realise, this is why the club have to put Mackem offers to the masses in order to fill the stadium even when they are doing so well.
Stepping Stone Club….many accept that after the trauma of 3 years ago…but as someone who has witnessed it before, it becomes very irritating, very quickly.
jesperfuglsang
Apr 7, 2012 at 9:41 AM
Comment #10I don’t think the problem with Ba playing on the left is that big – he’s playing as a part of a three man strikeforce. Most teams these days that aspire to more have abandon the 4-4-2 way of thinking and adabted to a lonestriker formtion or a three man strikeforce; it all depends on your point of view.
The task ahead of Pardew is how he construct this 4-3-3 formation; there are so many ways to go and I am sure he can find a way to keep both Ba and HBA happy and still manager to win games. Not just winning as it way the case at the start of the season, but winning while putting in a great attractive performance.
At the end of the day we should all aspire to that. Winning is just one part of game!
We have discussed this before and some are still infatuated with the 4-4-2 way of thinking and others have moved on a long time ago – thank god for that 😉
I used to say I would just hope Pardew at some point would learn from his mistakes and learn to kill his darlings 🙂 that is the true signs of a great manager in the making.
I think Pardew is just that.
HWTL
jesperfuglsang
Apr 7, 2012 at 9:49 AM
Comment #11solano, there is no guarantees in football mate – Look at Arsenal, Liverpool or Spurs.
Any player has his prices; tht’s just the way it is and should be. It doesn’t mean we will sell Ba or Tiote just because Spurs or Liverpool put in a bid. A silly bid like Liverpool did with Carroll, of cause we will 🙂 And rightly so.
In fact any club would.
We are building a team here and a sound and healthy business here make no mistake.
Does Ba have a release clause, i don’t know, but I think he’ll stay. I think most players are going to stay on less someone comes in with a silly bid.
TakingPapiss
Apr 7, 2012 at 9:51 AM
Comment #12@bills-son Ba leaving may seem likely but the article makes a very valid point. Idiots like Chris Coleman who know very little about Newcastle shouldn’t be talking about Ba as if he’s had a Bellamy-esque bust-up with the club/Pardew.
If the board has genuine aspiration it needs to be keeping this current crop together – it’s that reason ManU will beat ManC to the title – players have been together for years. @jesperfuglsang’s right in that he needs to incorporate both HBA and Ba which for me means playing HBA on RM and Demba-Demba up front.
solano
Apr 7, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Comment #13Jesper I take your point that there are no guarantees in football…and I do look at Arsenal and Tottenham and think we only lack in having the ambition to have a real crack at them in the top four….but do you really trust Del and Fatboy to invest in Challenging at the top above profit? Really?
It’s the trust thing again…and I don’t trust anyone who is willing to disregard what should be one of the one guaranteed things in football – Newcastle playing at St. James’ Park- in the pursuit of promoting another business for free!
ArtyH
Apr 7, 2012 at 10:29 AM
Comment #14IMHO I think Ashley is going to invest in the club as he sees it is withing touching distance of the top once again. The team only need a few more key players to be a top four side, then I think Ashley may see the benefits of Europe as a cash cow. Hopefully that will lead to more investment and everyone will be happy. Unfortunately we will have to wait for the outcome of that one.
jesperfuglsang
Apr 7, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Comment #15solano, i dont agree with everything Mike does, but at the end of the day he is a businessman and a businessman want his business to do well and at least break even.
He has made some past mistakes and it makes to be seen whether he has learned from them.
Since promotion I have beem impressed on most parts, but he does tend to want to make the headlines at times for the wrong reasons.
For me St. James Park will always be St. James Park, but Newcastle need to increase revenue so it breaks even and so we have more money to spend in the transfermarket.
But I think renaming St. James Park will turn out against Mike and backfire on him.
I still hope he will come good on this on 🙂
bills-son
Apr 7, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Comment #16solano @ 9 & 13
There you go again with your revolving door and stepping stone nonsense. There is NO EVIDENCE to support these statements. NONE.
You continue to allow your hatred of Ashley to blind you to the facts. And the facts are these;
1. Since MA decided to keep the club after we got relegated – and take personal control of the strategy and planning – we have become a club that is the envy not only of many other clubs fans, but many clubs owners too.
2. Every single controversial decision that MA has taken since relegation – with the exception of the stadium renaming – has since been accepted ny 90% of fans as the right decision ie., appointing Hughton not Shearer, replacing Hughton with Pardew, selling AC for £35M, replacing Barton and Nolan with Cabaye and Tiote, ‘not signing a CF in the summer – we DID – Ba, its just that 99% of fans didnt realise we HAD signed a CF. MA was SLAGGED by fans at the time for these decision – and no one more virulently than YOU solano – BUT ASHLEY WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG.
3. MA has no ambition you say? So why has he given improved big money long term contracts to Krul, STaylor, Tiote, Guti and even 30yr old Colo + signed Cisse for £9M ?? You will say its purely so he can sell them in the summer for a bigger profit. That is one twisted way to look at it. The same twisted Ashley hatred filled way you look at everything he does – but time and time and time again you are proved WRONG.
4. On selling Ba and Tiote in the summer – there is nothing we can do about Ba because in my opinion he simply isnt worth the gamble of paying him the megabucks others might offer. Before Cisse signed we thought Ba was irreplaceable. Cisse proves he isnt – simple as that. MA, Pardew and Carr will already have Ba’s replacement lined up should he leave – and recent signings show we’ll replace quality with quality.
On Tiote – very good player BUT he doesn’t score and he doesn’t assist. Our midfield is lacking in goals – period – and I would sell Tiote if a club offered £25M+ but I don’t think MA would sell below that.
5. We aren’t ManU or City or Arsenal or even Spurs in terms of revenue. Our annual income is £80M half of the £160M of Spurs and Man City and nearly £200M behind Arsenal and ManU. MA has already put £270M into the club including an interest free loan of £140M which costs him – and saves the club – something like £7M a year. That gives MA the RIGHT to sell a player if another club is prepared to pay way over the odds – like LPool did for AC. And what MA has proved is that he WILL reinvest that money as has done with improved contracts for our top players and signings like Santon and Cisse. The fact that he didn’t do it as soon as he got the AC money is purely proof that he has the sense to wait for the right buys – rather than be stampeded by baying haters like you to spend it immediately.
If we do sell Tiote – and I believe he (apart from BA) is the ONLY top player that might be sold in the summer – I have no doubt the money will be used to buy more quality and take us further forward quicker.
You solano – more than any other fan on this blog – know that I have had total trust and belief in MA’s ambition for our great club – I see that trust and belief becoming reality. You see only ‘revolving doors’ and ‘stepping stone club’. I pity you solano. You should be rejoicing in the fantastic team and club that MA is building. A team that is really going places with a real chance of winning that first trophy in nearly 60 years that all Toon fans crave for.
And yet … you wallow in negativity, blinded by your hatred of Ashley, and no doubt fuelled by your hatred of knowing Ashley has proved you wrong.
How sad solano. How very sad.
solano
Apr 7, 2012 at 10:54 AM
Comment #17Jesper….revenue streams? They haven’t paid a penny for the renaming and I agree it will haunt them…a look at the last accounts figures will show u how the EXISTING revenue streams are not being exploited to the full and that’s because they don’t have the trust of a large number of fans or indeed the city! The club’s reliance on tv revenue has increased significantly whilst turnover is woeful compared to the “bigger clubs”
unclepauly
Apr 7, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Comment #18@bills-son 16…
i have to say this is the first post ive seen with such support for ashley – and i agree. i have to say in spite of everything he has done – the ‘bad’ decisions, the sacking of hughton, the keegan fiasco etc – surely us fans can now see the bigger picture ? i have been on the terraces of away games singing anti-ashley chants, posted my anger on facebook, but this has now stopped.
i think we should just forget about our owner now – its old news – and concentrate on supporting the team. players will come players will go – it will happen in summer for sure – but im yet to see one player sold who hasnt been replaced with a better plater ? carr knows what he is doing.
solano
Apr 7, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Comment #19Bills…I have spent some time incapacitated in the last few months and have had time to assess my views of this blog, your hatred of me, and life in general 😉
Your persistent crowing no longer annoys me, as you don’t actually have the balls to take up an offer to air your views in public and meet people of varying views in neutral venues. You persist in claiming you were right ( when indeed you are predominantly wrong) ignore historical facts and claim, as the team is winning, you have been proven right and the argument has ended…but it hasn’t ended.
My opinion is as valid now as it has been all along…because I have never called for Pardews head and have actually given him my total support…but am wary of the motives of his employers. What Del and Mike have consistently failed to do is win over the trust and support of the Newcastle public. Unfortunately, not only have they failed, they actually have no interest in engendering it – that is because their plan is based around player profiteering and “stepping stone” status.
Your comment on how we are not as big as Spurs is an indictment on the owner of the club – we are far bigger in everything but revenue (and that is only since Ashley tookover) as well you know it…but speak to Derek, and he would tell you something else – because that’s what they do “tell lies” as proven and admitted in court.
As for not enjoying seeing my beloved club winning – utter rhubarb! Absolutely great to see and a great tonic in my recovery!
jesperfuglsang
Apr 7, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Comment #20solano, i was talking about wanting to sell the naming right to increase revenue.
You are right that renaming it Sports Direct Arena hasnt increased revenue.
As I said, most fans are against this 🙂
bills-son
Apr 7, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Comment #21solano – you talk utter garbage.
I was predominatly wrong? What – when more than a year ago I said Ashley had a plan to take this club forward – and you said his only plan was to hover above a relegation spot with a team of mediocrity? Do you want me to pull out our posts from a year ago and embarass you again to prove my point?
I’m not gloating solano – it is you who gloat with your continued Ashley bashing. Read unclepauly @ 18 – his reassessment of Ashley is the conclusion that 80% of fans that I talk to – and read on this blog – have come to.
And that is that MA – despite his mistakes of the past – is moving this club forward big time.
That is clear to any sensible, fair minded fan, something you very clearly are not. Your arrogance continues to shine through solano. It is your weak link, but you don’t see it.
solano
Apr 7, 2012 at 11:42 AM
Comment #22Bills…you have consistently gloated and have actually upset more neutral bloggers by implying that people who are more circumspect of your heroes, do not enjoy the team winning.
This is clearly a ridiculous standpoint and shows you to be actually more polarised than anyother contributor on this forum…a team winning clouds many underlying issues….but my consistent gripe with the regime is the continued disregard for the views of the fans and the pursuit of a limited plan to be “best of the rest” and let the “big clubs” pursue success on the pitch by picking at our foundations. The faith in constantly replacing in strong positions and not strengthening the squad in weaker one’s remains, imo, a one which is unsustainable if the club want to actually regain their status as a top club which we achieved under Keegan and SBR.
Pardew has done excellent and has the ability it seems to replicate the achievements of the afore mentioned, but most people have observed how he has lacked support at times by his bosses and is expected to pull rabbits out of the hat almost ad infinitum.
solano
Apr 7, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Comment #23And I would be careful who you threaten with re-posting …..there are more than just me who remember your donkey wager or the point that Obertan isn’t winning over the fans because he isn’t good looking enough 😉
bills-son
Apr 7, 2012 at 11:53 AM
Comment #24solano – the donkey wager just showed that Ashley was even smarter than I imagined.
I said we would spend £15-£20M of the AC money in the summer or eat hay with a Mckem donkey – my real point was that we WOULD buy quality and I totally underestimated Ashley, Pardew and Carr’s ability to find gems like Ba, Cabaye, Santon, Obertan, Abheid and Marveaux for a combined total of £12M.
Sometimes its great to be wrong !
solano
Apr 7, 2012 at 11:57 AM
Comment #25Haha…Bills..you do have a sense of humour!
No one could possibly be more Smeagol than Smeagol, surely? 😉
bills-son
Apr 7, 2012 at 12:08 PM
Comment #26solano says ‘.but my consistent gripe with the regime is the continued disregard for the views of the fans and the pursuit of a limited plan to be “best of the rest” and let the “big clubs” pursue success on the pitch by picking at our foundations. The faith in constantly replacing in strong positions and not strengthening the squad in weaker one’s remains, imo, a one which is unsustainable if the club want to actually regain their status as a top club which we achieved under Keegan and SBR. Pardew has done excellent and has the ability it seems to replicate the achievements of the afore mentioned, but most people have observed how he has lacked support at times by his bosses and is expected to pull rabbits out of the hat almost ad infinitum.’
Who says the plan is out to be ‘best of the rest’ ? Not Ashley or Pardew., This is simply your deluded opinion.
The big clubs pursue success by ‘picking at our foundations’ ? What, like Carrol at Liverpool, or Barton at QPR, or Nolan at West Ham or Routledge at Swansea.? Only Enrique has been a miss – but – he is at a club 14pts behind us albeit he has won a Lge Cup medal.
So WHERE are these players who have been plucked from us by the ‘big clubs’ ? Eh …. there aren’t any. Another totally fabricated and deluded opinion.
You say – The faith in constantly replacing in strong positions and not strengthening the squad in weaker one’s remains, imo, a one which is unsustainable – ABSOLUTE UNFOUNDED NONSENSE. Why? Read paragraph above for a clue. Hint – we haven’t sold any of our best players – we are doing the opposite with most of them – signing them up on new contracts.
solano says – Pardew has done excellent and has the ability it seems to replicate the achievements of the afore mentioned, but most people have observed how he has lacked support at times by his bosses and is expected to pull rabbits out of the hat almost ad infinitum.’ NONSENSE. Why? Read above para for a clue. Hint – we are signing opur best players up on long term contracts, signed Cisse for £9M in Jan even tho we had Ba one of the Prem’s top scorers, and we will be signing top class defenders and you players in the summer. Ashley not supporting Pardew? – what a joke!
solano – it is not my views that are in the minority – it is YOURS. Ask the fans on this blog.
PS. Your negging big mates MacToon and Goalsbringsmiles are significant by their absence. Or are they posting under new names to hide their negging past I wonder.
Rotonda heights
Apr 7, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Comment #27solano
Bills right though isn’t he on virtually every level?
Talking about Bill’s hatred of you – sounds a bit paranoid and unhealthy.
I have always been pro – Ashley, but until recently decidedly undecided or negative about Pardew. I am now very happy to admit I was was wrong about him and what direction we were headed. Hopefully exciting times ahead and time to move on and enjoy it, otherwise it will just eat away at you.
MacToon
Apr 7, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Comment #28I’m always here B-S so there’s another instance you are wrong 😉
You talk so much but say so little.
solano
Apr 7, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Comment #29Bills…this blog has lost a lot of followers because the debating and analytical quality of posting has deteriorated so much that an alternative view to Lobotomy Valley is in the main pointless….I can’t speak for the 2 you mention, but I do notice that there are a few other organisations which have sprung up and are taking a more pro-active approach to issues regarding the ridiculous name change issue. Maybe they are as good as their word?
Probably better than exchanging inanities on here……but my incapacity has drawn me back a little to catch up on some old friends. 😉
MacToon
Apr 7, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Comment #30“Bills right though isn’t he on virtually every level?”
😆 😆 😆
Thought April 1st had passed! 😆
solano
Apr 7, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Comment #31It gets better…oh dogshite rant has shaken his anti- Pardew chains and joined forces again and the old tag team is united!!
Rotonda…Bills is the very example of unhealthy obsession – in my unplanned absence he couldn’t stop mentioning me in his posts as my archivist has informed me.
Read above…and you will find I love to see our team winning ( a lot more so than you when you had an unhealthy dislike for our manager) but certain issues have not disappeared…it’s an ongoing rollercoaster which we should be enjoying but has been tempered a little by what Mike and Del are throwing out along the way!
solano
Apr 7, 2012 at 12:39 PM
Comment #32Ey up! Mac is back ! Wehey…with my Don Brennan foot I’m not sure I can regain full fitness but thank God I escaped from Lobotomy Valley Hospital…..Nurse Ratched was a right cow 😉
Rotonda heights
Apr 7, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Comment #33Solano
Boy you got it bad mate, may counselling be an idea?
School ground insults the last resort eh?
Rotonda heights
Apr 7, 2012 at 12:57 PM
Comment #34Solano
Better being in a tag team than a sad lonely individual.
Dogshite rant is that really the best you can come up with?
I bet christmas at your house is a hoot.
Rotonda heights
Apr 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Comment #35Solano
Ashley is a very successful billionaire. You sir are not. I know which one I ‘d rather have running the show.
You need to up the dose on those anti depressants mate.
They’re not working, you miserable sad act.
solano
Apr 7, 2012 at 1:02 PM
Comment #36Rotonda….the resorting to colloquial Americanisms tells me everything of how the blog has veered to the inanely insipid.
It’s like a Happy Days episode without Fonzy and Mr C to make it post modernly ironic and cool!
Rotonda heights
Apr 7, 2012 at 1:02 PM
Comment #37”Your archivist informs you.” Jeez what a nerdy geek you really are.
Are you trainspotting this weekend, cos I’m kinda thinking there’s no girlfriend, am I right?
I’m done now, just glad to know there are people a whole lot and I mean a whole lot worse off than me.
Rotonda heights
Apr 7, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Comment #38Solano @ 36
Kudos, that’s actually a very good analogy
Pardew's fist pump
Apr 7, 2012 at 1:07 PM
Comment #39Solano
I’d see a psychiatrist, if I were you, seem clinically paranoid and unhealthily bitter. I noticed how your daily vitriol waned into a smattering of posts, on threads that everyone has moved on from, ever since this season has looked more and more a success, proving you emphatically wrong.
You’re a sad guy.
solano
Apr 7, 2012 at 1:10 PM
Comment #40Rotonda @37..if you were being post- modernly humourous and not a predictable dog turd, I’ll give you permission to use that phrase 😉