There’s little doubt that Alan Pardew has concerns about losing Demba Ba this summer.
Papiss Cisse – in action yesterday
What’s that ball doing there – it should be in the back of the net
And in last Friday’s BBC Radio Five call-in he said there was some truth to the rumors about Ba having a release clause in his contract, and that Newcastle were trying to fix that by offering the Senegal striker a new deal.
Pardew wants to keep both Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse at the club, and then work out some way that both can keep scoring goals at Newcastle, when they are playing together up front.
And Pardew went out of his way to say that Demba Ba wasn’t interested in more money, but he wanted to play where he had a good feeling and was loved – we think he has that on Tyneside.
Alan was asked this morning whether he thinks he can keep his two top strikers on Tyneside over the summer months:
“Whether we can keep our strikers and improve on that is another area to look at.” “That’s for me to worry about in the summer.”
And Papiss Cisse was unlucky not to score yesterday, and he did have a chance early in the second half, which may have changed the game, if he could have put the ball in the back of the net.
But we also have to remember that the beauty of top strikers like Cisse and Ba, is that they get themselves into position to score, and of course they miss a few chances as well.
But Papiss seems very happy at Newcastle as he had this to say this morning:
“I hope to continue scoring goals for Newcastle next season. I’m looking forward to playing in the Europa League.”
“We wanted to play in the Champions League, but we can be very happy with what we have achieved this season.”
“It’s good to be in Europe next season, but I’m sorry for the supporters, we wanted to give them Champions League football.”
“That was our objective. We are in the Europa League, and I thank God for the season I have had. But we are still a little disappointed.”
“We wanted to beat Everton, and finish as high as we could, and we’re disappointed to lose.” “It was one of those days.”
“I had a chance early in the second half, but I didn’t score, and now the season is finished.”
It was simply a bad day at the office and Newcastle were not at their best yesterday – for whatever reason, but it’s hardly worth dwelling on it – with the lads having been so great over the full season.
We have to hope Newcastle have both Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba at the club come September, and they can then really start to scare the living daylights our of opposing defenses next season.
Sounds great to us.
Comments welcome.
212 comments so far
Dondatta13
May 14, 2012 at 4:29 PM
Comment #41@CODARM – “Dondatta….Interesting thought. I honestly believe he is just frustrated with himself and that he’s not scoring goals”.
“I doubt it’s the shirt that’s made Cisse perform as he has….that’s just an added bonus!”.
My view has been slightly overlooked in your reply mate, let me explain….
The fact that Cisse has the #9 shirt means that he gets the preferred role up front… if the numbers on the shirt were reversed, I believe that Ba would be playing in his favoured position and Cisse would be out left. The fact Ba was offered the shirt and he declined it is gnawing away at him 🙂
ROSHAN MAGPIE
May 14, 2012 at 4:29 PM
Comment #42Benarfaofficial @Benarfaofficial 1m
Just arrived in Paris..i miss already Newcastle / Je viens d’arriver à Paris, Newcastle me mank déjà
supatoonkid
May 14, 2012 at 4:31 PM
Comment #43Maybe actually take Perch off the bench and put in R. Taylor as Fer is there for CDM
Dannyo
May 14, 2012 at 4:32 PM
Comment #44My guess is Lambert will get it. Write that down.
Dondatta13
May 14, 2012 at 4:35 PM
Comment #45I’d like to see Lee Clarke get a chance in the Premiership… Villa would suit, because their struggling atm meaning low expectation.
ToonDownSouth
May 14, 2012 at 4:41 PM
Comment #46It’s nice to see Hatem talking to fans on Twitter. He had a slow start, what with his injury, but it seems he’s really taking to the club.
He will inevitably, at some point, move to a European giant – but for now I’m just happy he’s here.
Londtoon
May 14, 2012 at 4:41 PM
Comment #47Reading between the lines curried goat and syrup shot night is this Friday
Jail for Ashley
May 14, 2012 at 4:51 PM
Comment #48Definitely going to be going to a few Thursday night games on the continent next season,but does anybody think it would be a much better idea to sell home Europa games for a tenner a ticket and have full houses rather than twenty quid and have a flat empty atmosphere,I’m sure our bargain inspired owner might see the sense in the cheaper option.
Twatter
May 14, 2012 at 4:54 PM
Comment #49Those calling for Williamson to be sold are way off the mark. We defend as a team so if you’re going to call our defense poor (which on its off days it has been), blame the whole team, not just one player. Coloccini was pretty dreadful yesterday but I don’t see half as many of you blaming him.
More than anything we need a LB, I don’t know about this Debuchy lad but he’s a RB anyway so what problems does that solve? Left-footers amongst a more competitive squad are required for us to push on next season.
mindshaft
May 14, 2012 at 5:06 PM
Comment #50Would imagine Villa will go for Paul Lambert or Rodgers from Swansea – doubt Brucey will get the nod which is a shame as he’d def be able to take em to championship
Dannyo
May 14, 2012 at 5:12 PM
Comment #51Barton charged with violent conduct on two incidents.
Cool Hand Luke
May 14, 2012 at 5:13 PM
Comment #52am i the only one who has a messed up layout for this blog? i know about the new mobile site and that but on my home computer the last post i can see is the “newcastle unchanged for everton match” one, then i have to go onto that post and keep hitting the next post at the top of the page. Its getting irksome!
NUFC STEVE
May 14, 2012 at 5:15 PM
Comment #53THAT TITLE IS TAKEN COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTEXT!!!Pardew means he will deal with it not that he is worried he will definitely lose them.
ToonDownSouth
May 14, 2012 at 5:34 PM
Comment #54Luke
Ditto. 🙁
ochytoon
May 14, 2012 at 5:42 PM
Comment #55At the moment, its a step backwards for any Premiership manager to go for Villa who need a lot of investment. I doubt even Martinez would take it let alone Villa fans thinking of Benitez, Lambert and the like.
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
May 14, 2012 at 5:44 PM
Comment #56Dondatta13…Sorry, my response didn’t really address the point you put across.
Didn’t Pardew play 4-4-2 at first when Cisse arrived? He started scoring for fun and I believe, regardless of the shirt number would have been played as the front man. With the way he was scoring you couldn’t justify moving him imo. You don’t take someone scoring for fun and then move them out to the wing.
However, in Ba’s head, it may be viewed differently. Maybe he see’s it as the number 9 plays in that position regardless of form or ability???
catchy in norway
May 14, 2012 at 5:46 PM
Comment #57ok so he won manager of the season, and rightly so for what we have achieved , but i think he has to have a look at himself first for the very poor goal diff,
he set the teams up very defensivly for large parts of the season, he insisted in playing obertan and jonas on the wings creating very little and very rarely looking like they could score,
in jan when tiote and ba where away, he seemed to just want to defend a 0-0 right from the start, inviting teams onto us, (cisse had signed for us but wasnt part of the team then)
he rufused too play HBA making lots of excusses until he had no other option,,
i recon with the team he had he could of and should have pushed on sooner , he only played the kids on rare occasions and i think they might of been better options than going straight for perch or obertan or jonas,
like i say great season, but he has to take some of the blame for the poor goal diff,
wor geordie
May 14, 2012 at 5:49 PM
Comment #58more than Ba or anyone else wanting to leave,its MA’s greed that scares me.for any good amount he’s gonna sell anyone for sure.with past experiences we could end up both Ba and Cisse up front or even Best and Shola up front.with MA anythings possible.
wor geordie
May 14, 2012 at 5:53 PM
Comment #59also i’ve been thinking…for those who dumped us when we needed them most….michael owen,shay given,obefemi martins,andy carroll,jose enrique,damien duff,…where are you..????where are you…????we didnt come 4th..but we still play europe…but where are you all…???
seantoon
May 14, 2012 at 5:54 PM
Comment #60What a crap weekend for us. Left my cousin to book the everton tickets. Got there at 1ish and was one of the first there then suddenly 1000s of everton fans started swarming into our stand. He’d booked us in the home end the tit. Worst 90mins of my life!!! Got a Huddersfield town fan as a mate he says we have been trying to poach Jake Charles from there academy but he’s rejected £200 a week offer from us. His grandad was John Charles who played for Wales. Got a sneaky feeling Lee Clarke as recommended him.
Indian Magpie
May 14, 2012 at 5:56 PM
Comment #61IN ALL SERIOUSNESS,
i know i criticisize shola, but are all of you happy with a player who is good only for 10-20 minutes. even against the likes of Brighton he was poor.
I apologize in advance to those who feel offended, that is just the way i feel
i am entitled to my opinion am I not. 🙂
answers on a postcard
LocalZero
May 14, 2012 at 6:01 PM
Comment #62Wor Geordie
I don’t see MA selling just coz he sees pound signs. In terms of money-making investments NUFC has so far proved to be right up there with Edinburgh’s trams. He’s done a lot of stupid things but lining his pockets so far hasn’t been one of them as far as I can see. If anything he should probably start paying off that loan to himself….
If he sold up i the summer to a faceless consortium of foreign investors then I’d be very worried. Better the devil you know and all that.
seantoon
May 14, 2012 at 6:04 PM
Comment #63Indian Magpie last year I’d of agreed but this season I think he’s been brilliant sometimes
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
May 14, 2012 at 6:04 PM
Comment #64Indian…I’ll give you credit, you certainly are persistent!
Do I think there are better options that Shola Ameobi? Well, except when we play the mackems, yes, of course. The truth is he is Newcastle and has served us well. If he was a starter week in week out I would be going insane, however, I do feel as a sub, playing 10 – 20 minutes, he has found his perfect role. He comes on, holds the ball up, knocks it down for other team members etc etc etc.
I would think over the next season or two he will fall further down the pecking order and replaced with a younger and hopefully more talented player, until then, forget the frustrations of Shola the starter and enjoy Shola the super sub.
As for the game against Brighton, I’m pretty sure the whole team were poor, not just Shola, although I have tried to wipe that game from my memory – no idea why 🙂
Indian Magpie
May 14, 2012 at 6:08 PM
Comment #65CODARM,
thats the point, 10-20 minutes is that good enuf, can u give a similar example.
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
May 14, 2012 at 6:13 PM
Comment #66Indian…Not sure I get your point. Is 10-20 minutes good enough for a sub? Or should we have a player in the squad that is only really effective as a sub?
You’d never buy a player to be a sub, however, he’s been at the club a bloody long time and until someone else is waiting to push for the first team (Please step up Nile Gangsta Wanna Be Ranger) he deserves his place.
When you ask for an example, do you mean another team that has a player like that or that they use in that sort of role?
Nufc-83
May 14, 2012 at 6:14 PM
Comment #67TWATTER you are right saying that colo was pretty poor yesterday but the reason he is in the team of the year is he has been consistantly good especially playing next to that Donkey who has been woefull tbh. When williamson has a good game he just does his job nothing more.He should be 4/5th choice next season if he stays and unless we have an injury crisis then he shouldnt touch the team next season except if we are playing a non league club in the cups lol.
ArtyH
May 14, 2012 at 6:14 PM
Comment #68At the end of the day neither of our two strikes would have expected to finish in a European position when they signed, this is just a bonus. All the talk of them leaving is a load of shite, they are happy here at the toon. They are big fish in a little pond ( of goldfish bowel ) if they moved to other clubs they would just be average players in a big team, and who knows may be on the bench. Look at how many have crashed and burned at the top clubs. They are doing fine where they are, leave them alone.
Tsunki
May 14, 2012 at 6:15 PM
Comment #69For certain ashley will sell anyone at the right price but I also think he wont do it without getting a backup in place, and a like for like or better one at that. Maybe thats why talk of tiote going to chelski does not make me flinch – to me it signals a new guy ready for europe.
nico
May 14, 2012 at 6:16 PM
Comment #70Anyone know at what round we start in Europe? Do we go straight into the Group Stages or do we have to qualify first?
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
May 14, 2012 at 6:17 PM
Comment #71Seantoon…Not heard of the lad. Does your mate say if he’s any good? (I would assume if we’re looking he is, but interested to hear what others who’ve seen him think).
As for being in the Everton stand, that must have been tough. I’ve only ever seen Newcastle once, quite a few years back against West Ham. My Dad’s partner’s company had season tickets at West Ham, so we too had to sit in the West Ham end! We won 1-0 though (Thanks John Barnes). So I suppose my experience was a little different than yours
beddersmag
May 14, 2012 at 6:17 PM
Comment #72Agree with CODARM. Sholas the most frustrating player i have ever come across and so pleased he is not a starter now. But he can cause problems when used as a sub and dont see any reason to get rid at this point. Cant imagine hes on big wages or we would get much for him at this stage of his career. Never thought id say this but happy to keep him at the moment.
NUFC STEVE
May 14, 2012 at 6:17 PM
Comment #73WOR GEORDIE
Ashely may be greedy but he’s not stupid he won’t sell our top players for less than 10m of what their worth.*remember we turned down 30 mil for Shit andy*
Toon_boy89
May 14, 2012 at 6:18 PM
Comment #74Although we played really well this season and exceeded all expectations the most frustrating thing is we got smashed a few times and our defence was either brilliant or sh*te hopefully we can sort that out
Dyer8
May 14, 2012 at 6:18 PM
Comment #75In :
Douglas (Twente), CB
Mathieu Debuchy (Lille), RB
Moussa Sissoko (Tolouse), CM
Junior Hoilett (B’Burn), WG
Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield), CF
Starting XI :
———————Krul
Debuchy–Saylor–Collo–Santon
——————–Tiote
————Sissoko–Cabaye
HBA——————————Marvo
——————–Cisse
Sub : Douglas, Rhodes, Hoilett
beddersmag
May 14, 2012 at 6:19 PM
Comment #76Nico
group stages as highest finishing qualifier
CODARM (The poster formely known as Ibizatoon)
May 14, 2012 at 6:23 PM
Comment #77I thought we were straight through to the group stages finishing 5th, but what if Chelsea win the CL, then Spurs get put into the Europa wouldn’t they get the auto qualification as they finished higher? Oh my head hurts….
ToonDownSouth
May 14, 2012 at 6:23 PM
Comment #78beddersmag & nico
Actually I’m pretty sure we have to play a playoff round.
Tottenham had to last year, after finishing 5th. The thumped Hearts.
ToonDownSouth
May 14, 2012 at 6:24 PM
Comment #79*they
Indian Magpie
May 14, 2012 at 6:28 PM
Comment #80In europa league, we go into the highest place possible, which involves a playoff