Since Demba Ba returned to pre-season training last Thursday morning, by all accounts he’s been the consummate professional, training hard and doing everything asked of him by the coaches, and he shows no signs of wanting to leave Newcastle.
Demba Ba – every sign he wants to stay at Newcastle
That’s the good news, and certainly we’re sure Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has had a talk to the 27 year-old striker about what his plans are, with 19 days still left on his £7M release clause before it becomes inactive.
This is what Alan told the Daily Telegraph today:
“The whole thing with Demba has been constant. Whether that changes I don’t know, but I’ve not seen any sign from Demba – he’s actually training very, very well and looking good – that suggests he wants another club. I don’t sense that.”
“I’ve not seen any sign from Demba since he came back that suggest he wants to find another club, I don’t sense that at all.” “He has a contract to Newcastle and he is loved here. I genuinely don’t see a situation where he wants to move on. “
“He has not stressed to me he wants to move to pastures new. He has said to me he wants some reassurance from me because he wants a more striking role this season and I think he will.”
“He played a couple of roles that were unorthodox for me last season to help the team, that’s the sort of person he is. He wants to play through the middle and he wants to score goals – that’s what he does best.
It’s not surprising that Demba Ba is asking for a striking role next season, since when he was up front at the beginning of the season, he scored 16 goals for Newcastle, and it was only when he went onto the left wing, when Alan played in a 4-4-2 formation, that his goals dried up.
He is a striker too of course, so it’s hardly out of the blue that that’s where he wants to play for Newcastle United.
Pardew has two top strikers at the club in Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse, and it’s up to the manager to somehow get both lads scoring goals on a regular basis.
But from what Alan says, Demba Ba doesn’t seem to want to leave Tyneside, and of course it’s very important that he is loved at the club by the fans, which is certainly true, because that will help keep him on Tyneside.
Demba’s always seemed a very modest player, and when interviewed he comes across very well, but there’s also no doubt at the end of last season, he was really frustrated by his dry spell in front of goal.
If Newcastle can keep Demba Ba at Newcastle for next season, we’ll be in great shape, and hopefully that’s exactly what will happen, and there was also news yesterday that Newcastle are trying to get the 27 year-old to sign a new deal at the club, and that’s always a good sign too.
It would be great if in a week or so Newcastle announce Demba Ba has signed a new deal to stay at Newcastle – it would be like a new signing.
Comments welcome.
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19 comments so far
Toonboy_84
Jul 12, 2012 at 8:34 AM
Comment #1He’ll get enough chances with all the games we got this season.
firebug666
Jul 12, 2012 at 8:43 AM
Comment #2Demba will be fantastic again for us this season. I just wish that players and clubs would begin suing these newspapers and reporters for printing blatant lies about them. This would cut out most of the rubbish and gives us a real look at what’s happening in the transfer window.
Rant over.
Peejay1990
Jul 12, 2012 at 8:49 AM
Comment #3It wouldn’t be like a new signing. Demba’s only been here for a year; paper talk and Harry’s spilling of the beans is blowing it out of proportion. Never doubted for a second he was going to leave.
Cool Hand Luke
Jul 12, 2012 at 8:53 AM
Comment #4I would actually sacrifice some width to play the Dembae up front and HBA in a completely floating role. He drifted in to the left on occasion when we played 4-3-3 and his left footed crosses almost always resulted in a strike on goal, or a goal. We all know about his cutting in from the right and shooting as well. That would be my way of getting all 3 strikers scoring.
ROSHAN MAGPIE
Jul 12, 2012 at 8:55 AM
Comment #5I guess pardew will play 4 4 2 formation to accommodate ba and Ben arfa in right wing
bills-son
Jul 12, 2012 at 8:55 AM
Comment #6IMO we can’t play 433 with Ba, Cisse and HBA in the front three because HBA and Ba don’t offer enough defensive cover down the flanks. If Ba gets his favoured centre role with Cisse that means reverting to 442.
This is a big call for Pardew, if Ba stays because he’s told he’ll play through the middle but ends up getting pushed wide or on the bench he’ll be one unhappy chappy.
If Santon stays at left back we have GOT to play someone in front of him who tracks back and defends well. As soon as we stopped playing Raylor and Guti down the left last season the tight defence we had in the first 10/12 games started to unravel and 3.0’s, 4.0’s and 5.0’s followed.
Big call for Pardew.
Magpie_Man
Jul 12, 2012 at 8:56 AM
Comment #7Just imagine this team
krul
debuchy colo saylor/doug santon
tiote
benny cabaye hoillet
ba cisse
how brilliant and threatening would that front five be, no team would stand a chance, and so would the back five.
these are exciting european times ahead of boys 😀
HWTL
Rotonda heights
Jul 12, 2012 at 8:59 AM
Comment #8With all the games coming up and his dodgy knee, Demba and Cisse should alternate the main sriker role as they don’t really convince me as a pair for club or country.
433 worked spectacularly well for us last season, so I could see Marveux and Benny either side of Cisse or BA.
Really don’t want Carroll back. His lifestye and lack of professionalism in looking after himself means he would be burnt out at 27.
Looking at England’s last match v Italy when all they could do was hoof aimless hit and hope stuff to Carroll is not the type of football I want to see at SJP again.
Rodgers is no idiot and can see Carroll won’t fit in to a ”footballing ” team. Let him go to Stoke or West Ham and I’ll hopefully keep watching Cabaye’s killer through balls to a mobile, quick and skilful striker like Cisse or BA.
SupaToonKid
Jul 12, 2012 at 9:00 AM
Comment #9Pards always keeps his cards close to his chest and always says were after a couple of players (he did last summer and we signed 7). I expect we’ll sign 3-4 players (if we sign Hoilett then it’ll be 4 players as i see him as more of a bonus player.) But yeah a CB, FB, CF + Hoilett would be fantastic as we look set now in CM ; Jonas will play there next season or at FB his wing days are over 🙁
Beattie25
Jul 12, 2012 at 9:13 AM
Comment #10I going to go out on a limb here and through all my better judgement I’m going to start off positively by making a bold statement.
If we manage to get a first team FB (Debuchy/Cissokho), a first team CB (Douglas/Sakho), a first team DM (Matuidi/Kara) and a first team LW/SS (Hoilett/Gamerio) then I think not only have we got the tools to claim 4th we have the potential to climb much higher. With that starting 11 we could mount a serious threat to the big 2.
Just saying. Happy nufc day everyone xxx
wynsleap
Jul 12, 2012 at 9:54 AM
Comment #11Come on Ed – don’t YOU start with all this “It’ll be like a new signing” malarkey. It’s bad enough coming from Pardew.
It certainly would be excellent though if we could put all this Ba transfer speculation to rest.
As for Hoilett – yeah get him in.
Munster Mag
Jul 12, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Comment #12Billson, i was logging on to put your exact comment on the thread . Good call. Whether people like it or not, Pardew likes 4-4-2 more than anything else and this will allow him to play his two main men up front as a pair, and they will be lethal. 4-3-3 gives him options, and i guess like any manager he will be trying to get his hands on Hoillett and other talented players, and let the formation work wait. I have long advocated ( as have analysts like the brilliant Joihn Giles ) that formation is secondary to players and the quality they offer on the pitch. Thus Spain played with no strikers – unheard of – in what seemed like a mad 4-6-0 formation, and won the Euros. Also, a lot of guys who are fantasising over team formation are leaving out Guti. Pardew loves him, and with good reason. You’ll be seeing loads of him next season. Pardew will have issues with Ba and Ben Arfa over formation , and work rate, during the season. Trouble ahead possibly.
bills-son
Jul 12, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Comment #13Munster Mag – I agree 100% about Guti, he was great in a central midfield role alongside Tiote with Cabaye in front. For me this is Guti’s best position – his fantastic workrate, running and passing are best suited in CM not on the wing where his crossing and shooting lets him down.
As for Ba and HBA being potential problems for Pards this season, I agree as well. The hard part is always keeping team spirit in the second year after alot of new guys get together. Last year there were lots of new players, a great start to the season and reputations were being made. This season the ego’s will be twice the size and that’s when the trouble can start. It’s nothing new to NUFC, its just human nature. If Pards can rotate the squad and keep the team spirit he really prove himself as a top manager.
indiangeordie
Jul 12, 2012 at 11:51 AM
Comment #14Guys.. I am pondering as to why we HAVE to stick to 4-3-3 ?
Instead of 4-4-2 why not go with 4-1-2-1-2
Krul
Whichever RB We have – Colo – Saylor – Santon
———————– TIOTE —————–
Ben Arfa ———————————– Guttiee/Marveox
———————-Cabaye ————————–
——— Cisse ——— BA ——————–
3 strikers upfront.. Enough room for engines on the wing to flow free..Tiote as a bull dozer ryt in the middle to beef up the defense or to run amok if needed.. cabaye the play maker.. To me.. With the talent we have.. Its gonna be awesome.. What ya guys think ?
indiangeordie
Jul 12, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Comment #15Guys.. I am pondering as to why we HAVE to stick to 4-3-3 ?
Instead of 4-4-2 why not go with 4-1-2-1-2
Krul
Whichever RB We have – Colo – Saylor – Santon
———————– TIOTE —————–
Ben Arfa ———————————– Guttiee/Marveox
———————-Cabaye ————————–
——— Cisse ——— BA ——————–
2 strikers upfront.. Enough room for engines on the wing to flow free..Tiote as a bull dozer ryt in the middle to beef up the defense or to run amok if needed.. cabaye the play maker.. To me.. With the talent we have.. Its gonna be awesome.. What ya guys think ?
Visten
Jul 12, 2012 at 12:08 PM
Comment #16Guys lets be honest we played pants when using the standard 4-4-2 formation. We kicked ass with a 4-3-1-1 or a 4-3-3 formation. As much as I like Ba if he want to play 90 minutes as a CF then this is not the club for him, and it pains me to say that. As a manager you should never let a player dictate what formation you play even if it is detremental to the team.
Munster Mag
Jul 12, 2012 at 3:39 PM
Comment #17Visten, that not completely true. We built our season on the brilliant start, which was completely based on 4-4-2 , with Guti protecting what we falt was a weak left back. Similarly Simmo and Obertan. Not very talented, but defensively good, and standard 4-4-2 . If 4-4-2 means that we get our two top strikers playing in tandem, then thats ok with me , perhaps not all the time.
89Norcal
Jul 12, 2012 at 7:04 PM
Comment #18I agree with Munster but our shape has had to change to accommodate Cisse and Ben Arfa’s return to form, too.
The 4-3-3 worked great but it did not properly utilize Ba imo. I feel a 4-4-1-1, where Ben Arfa and the opposite winger are based higher and Ba plays behind Cisse would accommodate everyone well. Ba holds the ball superbly for a CF and even has showed some flair in getting pass tight defending.
Ba also has a decent eye for short passing and could feed Cisse while also being in great base position to score goals. Sort of like Shola but with more attacking intent rather than solely providing assists.
Solanos biggest fan
Jul 13, 2012 at 12:15 AM
Comment #19For me, its simple…
when we were at our best, we were playing 4-3-3… it doesnt mean we have to play this way all season, or every game, but this is the system i want to see us playing… its a long long time since i have seen us playing football even close to that of the AP433 model. Ba should stop talking about football and start playing it, like what on earth was happening in the second half of the season, ok, so maybe he made one or two… but imagine his situation now if he had scored 30 goals… instead of 16. . . Cisse really was class… and i hope the pair, can go on and add more goals across all competitions…its a long long time since we had two dynamite forwards in unison.. they always seem to get broken up (Beardsley&Cole, Beardsley&Ferdinand, Ferdinand&Shearer, Shearer&Asprilla, Shearer&Bellamy, Shearer&Owen, Martins&Owen) not many of those lasted long together, did they? lol… 🙁