There are a lot of stories out today that link some top clubs with moving for Demba Ba in January, and the main one among them is Arsenal – although two other London clubs – Chelsea and Tottenham – are also reported to be interested in the Newcastle striker.
Demba Ba – are his agents putting out these stories?
The release clause in Ba’s contract is active again in January, as it was in June and July, and there were lots of stories out in the summer about clubs like Galatasaray being interested in the player, and it was thought the news was being put out by Demba Ba’s agents, who want him transferred, so they can make some big money.
It could well be the same thing is happening right now, as January approaches, and apparently Ba’s agents have already been talking to other clubs about Demba Ba’s availability. Why did Newcastle ever agree to such a release clause?
And Alan Pardew said after last night’s win that he was angry that details of Demba Ba’s contract negotiations at Newcastle had been leaked – so we wonder who’s doing the leaking?
In the summer, there was very little truth in the news about Ba – and we have to hope the same is true right now.
If it isn’t and Ba moves onto another club in January and leaves Newcastle – it will be a devastating blow to Newcastle.
And that’s an understatement.
We hope Mike Ashley will increase his offer to Demba Ba, but if Ba and his agents are after the biggest offer he should leave Newcastle, because he will not get that on Tyneside – not these days.
What do you think?
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 us on Google+:
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
=============================================
151 comments so far
Transfer Sage
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Comment #1offer him the same contract as colo…he is club captain and highest paid i believe.
if he wont accept that then nothing more can be done.
rainrix
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Comment #2Tads… From previous topic, that was the point i was getting at, they’re both instinctive and both went to that position. Thats why the partnership doesnt work imo, they are too similar, when they have the space to themselves they are fantastic, together they get in each others way a bit.
They should just rotate who plays on the wing during games, gives each of them time in their best position and mixes it up for opposition defenders.
ilovetoon8788
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Comment #3Marveaux was outstanding. He needs more games to find his feet and get back to his best. Him and Arfa switching around in the ‘number 10 zones’ would be mouth watering.
JDdubai
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Comment #4For all we know Demba is telling his agents to sort out a deal by making all this noise but at the same time deny everything himself so if a move doesnt come off then he can turn around after the window closes and say “Well I never said I wanted to leave, was all rumours” and he wont have burned his bridges with the fans….
Kyo
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Comment #5Well if we can’t keep our players then what’s the point?
rainrix
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:19 AM
Comment #6Sage… I agree we should pull out all the stops to sign him up again. If you compare him to the other players who have ten goals this season, RVP, suarez, both command massive wages and transfer fees.
It’ll be difficult to replace him with someone of equal quality, especially if we only get 7mil to do it with, or we could pull off a huge michu style coup, one can dream 🙂
ilovetoon8788
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:20 AM
Comment #7We cannot afford to lose Ba. Replacing him would mean another 20-30million striker. I’d rather just pay him the 80k/wk instead.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Comment #8Sage from last post
Would love to see us play a top CL team but dont feel were really ready just yet maybe after the first knock out round…….or the final 😉
Rainrix
Fair enough both seem capable of playing wide tbf and rotated well last night
JDdubai
Equally niether ba or his agents are putting out anything and the press are just trying to create storie’s for the transfer window like they do with out players every window!
Indian Magpie
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:24 AM
Comment #9TADS,
I was there the whole of last season, unlike you i do call a spade a spade.
About that pass concerning the penalty, it was blatantly obvious. you should actually read the comments
Geordiedoonsooth
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Comment #10Sell the greedy b*st*rd NUFC were there before Ba and will still be there after he’s long gone.
Munster Mag
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Comment #11Ian, u are pulling at my heartstrings ! I remember some great surges on the gallowgate in “the corner , the corner, the corner” etc etc, and great away days on terraces at places like Blackburn, Ipswich and even boring old Peterborough. Bloody health and safety and corporate security has taken over. I have always felt that the 442/433 argument wasnt as serious as people made out – its more about effort application understyanding and fluidity. Ceryainly enjoyed the 4-3-3, although not convinced Ba and Cisse fit together. I get the impression they aint mates. I had my 7 yr old daughter singing the Demba Ba song last night and hope to get the order in for the jersey asap for my 2 yr old boy. A good win , so important and Pardew was as gracious as ever afterwards.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Comment #12Indian mag
Howay you were no where to be seen last season except for when you had an article out!
Theres a difference between calling it how you see it and only commenting on the negative which is what you do
As for your post about the passing read the replys im not the only one who picked up on it lad
AMEOBI
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Comment #13??My Jimmy Savile advent calendar is shit. The flaps only open from 1-16
Indian Magpie
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Comment #14TADS,
Well you can check i was there, just because you and some of your cronies say i wasn’t does not mean i wasn’t. i have been a regular ever since we were back in PL.
TorqToon
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:33 AM
Comment #15Indian – I’m not sure you have been missed on this blog, lad.
I have to say, I’ve steered clear from here because of the constant negativity from certain sections of our ‘fans’ who will continue to find a downside to everything! Howay man, we won our first game in a while, scored 3 good goals, clean sheet, some top performances and you are picking Cissé apart today! I agree with others on here when I say that when Papiss was belting them in all over the place last season, you couldn’t speak highly enough of him, you and others have EXTREMELY short memories!
Yes not a great start, but we were never going to competing in top 6 territory whilst having a successful Europa league group. I’m sure if we get back to winning ways you will pipe down. I’ve nothing against you, but you seem to get more and more negative at time goes on.
Transfer Sage
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Comment #16it would not cost 20-30mil to replace Ba…nonsense
Cisse had a lot of goals and was only 8/9 mil
michu at swansea 2 mil
hernandez at man utd 7mil
it wont be easy to replace…and i would rather not…but if he goes he goes…he doesn’t stick around clubs and long time if you look at his career.
I think we just enjoy him while we can
TorqToon
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Comment #17And on big Demba, unfortunately whilst the clause is there, it will be a constant talking point. Either he signs a new deal without a clause, or he goes.
Unfortunately money talks in football nowadays and ‘love for a club’ seldom exists !
Indian Magpie
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Comment #18Torq Toon,
Thanks for your reply, as unsolicited as it was. I will say what i want to say. Don’t like it, please ignore.
Neil
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:37 AM
Comment #19tequila – just from before about Jonas I agree with your sentiments but not for this season. I just don’t feel he’s done anything this season. His work rate is definitely down – I actually think he may have been carrying an injury throughout this season but he’s not the same player as last year – On a funny note his diving is terrible!! On the subject of Demba Ba’s contract I think twitter can be used to help fans sometimes and Demba, for me anyway, drops subtle hints that most of the talk surrounding him is cack.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Comment #20Indian
Sorry didnt relise you’d starting supporting us again after we were promted keep up the good work
rainrix
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Comment #21Tads… As i recall indian had a considerable posting hiatus after he was hounded for changing his name to shola hater, he’s only recently come back.
Dont worry son you’re in the right 😉
Indian Magpie
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:39 AM
Comment #22TADS,
At least i can point out some mistakes, rather than sitting mum.
toonarmydownsouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Comment #23Torq
Cant help but feel his clause is there as some form of protection im sure the board probably have a clause against his knee tbf
Indian Magpie
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Comment #24Rainrix
I don’t like shola as a player 1 little bit.
tequilamag
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Comment #25Neil, interesting possibility, seems cabaye may have been carrying an injury before he went for his op. If true though perhaps even more reason to give Jonas some plaudits for playing when not fully fit. I agree on Demba he has consistently rubbished the rumours about him.
Graeme
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:46 AM
Comment #26If we play a holding 2, in front of the back 4 – Tiote & Anita it would allow a 4 man diamond with EITHER Ba or Cisse as the Striker. Cabaye at the base, HBA & Marvey outside him.
They would both score goals, would both play less games per season, unless we are in Europe, which means they would stay fitter for longer. All positive benefits to the team!!
BelfastMagpie
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Comment #27I would just pay him the big bucks.
Without his goals we would be f*****.
obatoyou
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Comment #28Holy mackerel, Newcastle at 3-1 to beat fulham, get yr wallets out folks
tequilamag
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:51 AM
Comment #29Oba good odds as long as we can keep Berbatov quiet.
obatoyou
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Comment #30True tequila, might even be worth going for the draw. Doubt we’ll care bout the Bordeaux game so we’ll have a ready 11 (the best barring injuries)
BelfastMagpie
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Comment #31Full bogey ground Craven Cottage.
I’d take a draw no probs..
mattyNUFC
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:58 AM
Comment #32it’s MORE than obvious Pards cannot drop Marvs and surely now cannot revert back to a 442
if this isn’t the team v fulham i’d be shocked:
simmo…..willo…..colo….santon
…………..anita……..tiote…………
……………….marvs………………..
HBA……………………………….ba
……………….cisse………………….
ok, know it’ll be ba and cisse switched, but that’s what i want. if jonas is fit into that team i’d be shocked. does not deserve a start in the slightest.
Tinman
Dec 4, 2012 at 11:59 AM
Comment #33Just going to throw this out there.
Demba Ba is not leaving Newcastle for a bigger club. he isn’t good enough. Yes he is a good goalscorer but watch any game he has played for NUFC and you should see he is not all that. His hold up play is very poor, he comes deep but lacks the creativity to effectively link up play, he is far too greedy, he has a poor touch. All in all that is not good enough for a top Premier League club. Only place he could possibly go is Liverpool because they are as desperate as us!
However I can say it would be bad if we lost Ba in January, it is the worst time to buy a replacement. If we lose in the summer its not as big a deal as people make out. Yes it would be a blow, Demba Ba is a squad player for top teams and a important player for the likes of us, Everton or Liverpool.
None of the top clubs will pay 80k a week to Demba Ba when there are so many better options who would love a chance at their club for wages of 30-50k or so.
If the kid is as miserable and grumpy and as hard to work with as he looks and sounds then tell him where to go in the summer. But DONT sell in January
Tinman
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:01 PM
Comment #34Graeme @ 26, spot on mate
TorqToon
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Comment #35Indian – I’m trying too ignore! But when you keep coming up with the same old spiel it’s hard!
Yeah I agree that there must be some kind of protection of our investment against Ba’s knee. At least I hope so.
Fulham away is a very tricky game…on a high but berbatov can ok his day be one of the worlds best, so a big game for colo and Willo.
Transfer Sage
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Comment #36Interesting story on bbc site where ginola defends bale for diving.
I don’t like the guy. He says he goes down to avoid getting hurt…well that’s fine, jump over the tackle but you don’t need to dive and pretend to be fouled.
Ronaldo realised this…if you stay on your feet you have a chance to score more often. It’s the reason he upped his goal tally at man utd and continued that in Madrid.
Even Suarez is staying on his feet more lately…although he still does dive.
ToonDownSouth
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Comment #37Tinman
The point of a release clause is that we can’t choose when we sell him. We have no choice over whether we let him go in January or not.
Transfer Sage
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Comment #38What I will say on Ba though….all players come and go…just enjoy them while we have them.
obatoyou
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Comment #39Assuming a fully fit Ben Arfa and Marvs are ahead of Jonas in the pecking order, HBA is coming back from injury, so maybe he’ll start Jonas and bring HBA on in the second half.
Do I agree that Marveux and HBA should start ahead of Jonas? Yes, I do. Does Pardew agree? Well, he’s very loyal, and only makes changes like these over long periods, so we may see a lot more of Jonas in the coming weeks, but who knows in the long run.
magpie6699
Dec 4, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Comment #40Tinman – I don’t agree about Ba – last night I commented to my mate about how much good and skilful play Ba was doing as a front man, saying “He doesn’t just score goals!”. Not saying he does it every game though.
As for all those comments about Wigan being the better team, I just don’t get it. Yes, they came out second half with a bit of fire and yes, I did like the look of Stam who whipped some crosses in as well as taking people on – but for the most part I thought they flattered to deceive. Lots of pretty passes going nowhere and only occasional penetration. We had some very incisive runners- Marveaux, Fergie, Ba etc. with at times some very good passing. How many saves did Krul have to make? Yes, I know they were down to ten men but they even managed our trick of having a free-kick in our half ending with a pass back to their goal-keeper! I thought we did some decent covering last night and without Cabaye and Ben Arfa we still created. Not great but at least it was a decent showing.