Prolific is one word that can be used to describe Ba’s start to life in Tyneside. With 13 goals in his last 12 appearances Ba is leading the clubs scoring charts by some considerable distance.
At the moment he has the Midas touch and everything he hits either hits the target or the back of the net. Add to that the impressive all round play of the Senegalese forward and you can start to build a picture of just why we have started to become reliant on the 26-year-old.
Of course that isn’t a problem when the striker is fit or available to feature in club colours, but what is going to happen when he heads off to Africa? What happens if he picks up an injury? Quite honestly we’d be screwed.
We have Leon Best who can score goals. He’s proven it and went on a hell of a scoring run at the back end of last season and the start of this one, but he hasn’t scored since September and whilst he has been out injured it’s pretty noticeable that he hasn’t really looked like threatening the goal since his return.
Shola Ameobi is just Shola Ameobi. Predictably unpredictable. Peter Lovenkrands is out for three weeks. Hatem Ben Arfa is not an out and out striker and beyond that we’re relying on youth and reserve players. Even one of them (Nile Ranger) is out for eight weeks!
This is why it’s imperative that we sign a striker in January. Early in January aswell. With Ba off to the ACoN earlier than expected we’ll be left vulnerable and will have nobody to pop the ball in the back of the net. Had the Modibo Maiga deal not collapsed/been cancelled/pulled out of/whatever we’d have had one, but we’d have still been in the same boat in a few weeks time. We’d have two strikers at the ACoN instead of one.
I don’t doubt for one moment that we deliberately pulled out of the Maiga deal. I’m merely speculating of course but it all seems a little fishy to me and I believe we looked for a way out of the deal. Why pursue a player they were so interested in for so long if they were concerned about his knee?
My only hope is that we have somebody else lined up to replace him. Perhaps someone who represents a better deal for the club? Perhaps a better player than Maiga is available for less? Perhaps I’m overly hopeful and we won’t sign anyone? I’ll remain hopeful though, as ever.
Something needs to happen though as we’re shafted when Ba heads off!
Goals win you football matches and Demba Back is scoring the goals ( hopefully we get back to winning ways today ) and will clearly be a massive loss when he goes.I think we have just enough to get by while he is gone. I do think Best n Sholla can come up with the goals whilst he is gone. However Id be more comfortable with a new stricker coming and hopefully we get one and a couple of defenders
Johno toon(Quote)
The problem is pf course fees. To get a new striker in Jan is always over the top. Nobody lets a top striker leave in January except for silly money, thanks Liverpool, and we ain’t paying that. Strikers whose contracts are up in the summer may be available, as Lovernkrands with us, we’ed let him go but since we need the cover we’ed ask a fee for him. It’s easier to get a precontract agreement for the summer as a free. So I won’t be too surprised if we get agreements for summer moves, with new arrivals in Jan a bonus.
Would still like to see a striker and cover for Saylor & Marveaux.
Summer we need to add strength in depth especially if we are qualifying for Europe.
Premandup(Quote)
“Who is going to score the goals in January?”
That will be Obertan.
bra1n1ac(Quote)
Not a problem if we sign Jelle Vossen (22) striker,
Oussama Assaidi (23) right wing,
They will score the goals.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (22) defender,
Jan Vertongher (24) defender.
They will stop the opposition scoring goals.
Hope you’re reading this Mike – you can even sell Tiote and Fraser Foster to help fund those four.
sidekick(Quote)
It’s a good question Toonsy, particularly on the day we play Bolton who are living proof that without a striker who can score goals, it really doesn’t matter how well you play.. you won’t win games!!
When Ba is away in Africa, I’m afraid I don’t see us having a striker who can pick up where Ba has left off. Shola, Best, Ranger and Lovenkands just aren’t good enough IMO, I will put forward an argument if required but their scoring record speaks for itself i think.
You’d have hoped that HBA would have found a bit of form by now but it doesn’t seem so. Unless this is all part of Pardews masterplan to keep HBA from injury before Ba goes away.
I think playing Sammi up front is a gamble.
So that only leaves buying or loaning a player in.
One thing is certain, Jan is going to be a very interesting month for us geordies, let’s hope it all falls in our favour
Sharpy17(Quote)
nobody unless we sign a striker. We’ll get a couple here and there but forget the exploits of Ba, he’ll be truly missed..
Time for Ashley to show us he means business as some have suggested.
mark(Quote)
If we win today it puts us right back on track.
The cat amongst the pigeons, the fox in the flock of sheep, a fire in the Australian bush.
I would love it if we caught Liverpool! Love it ! 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Well it is a worry. Even more so now it doesnt look like we’ll bring a striker in during the window. We were desperate in Sept for a striker, even to the extent that the club released statement so what has changed?
Stuart79(Quote)
Troy,
Can’t see us winning today mate 😥
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
tony why not??? we have a much better team than bolton , we just need to sort our defence out and we will be ok!! bluddy hope benny gets a start today , best is useless
Army69(Quote)
Sidekick – you have put forward some good suggestions there but none play in the league now. I think that’s the problem with the Jan window, you really need players to come in and be ready to go straight away, and as Premandup says, that costs stupid money and we won’t pay that.
I’d go with all the players you have put forward Sidekick, I just wonder how effective they would be if they needed as long to bed in as Santon for example
Sharpy17(Quote)
Who’s going to score the goals now Andy Cole’s been sold?
Who’s going to score the goals now Les Ferdinand’s been sold?
Who’s going to score the goals now Shearer’s retired?
People always step up otherwise we’ll buy someone who’ll do the job, I reckon Best and Ben Arfa will do the job personally like. Still think we’ll buy a striker in Jan though.
Anyone know how many games will Ba possibly be away for, say maximum, if they win the cup?
I Love Mike(Quote)
Pards has just been on talksport.
Guess what?
He’s started the excuses.
” We have made a few enquiries for players but clubs are reluctant to sell and it’s difficult to get the players you want. ”
It’s started but I had it down as Lambias saying these things. 🙄
Troy Stavers(Quote)
It doesn’t look like he’s got anyone lined up.
I bet the Toon aren’t reluctant to sell. 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Army,
We have a better team on paper than Norwich/Swansea and WBA but only managed a solitary point 👿
Neither of our wingers are creating anything, and the defense is pap with Perch in it.
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Is Kris Boyd worth a trial?
I know he was poor for Boro but he was **** hot for Rangers, not sure if he’s any better than what we have but he’s out of contract and on a free so they could trial him for a couple of weeks to take a close look for nowt. He’s still a young lad and could turn out to be canny for nix.
I reckon we could get Hugo Rodallega for 6-7m who could come straight in and reckon he’d be good alongside Ba when he got back as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Doom Doom black and white Army 🙄
2-0 to the Toon!
Bolton are Pap at home, Ba will run riot 😀
mark(Quote)
Troy – You can’t honestly say you’re surprised can you? Us reality checkers saw it coming all along.
We won’t pay over the odds for a player, regardless of how desperate we are but we expect to sell players for well over the top prices. Go figure!
Stuart79(Quote)
@TGS
I agree that our wingers create nothing, our defence is terrible with Perch in it and we aren’t getting enough goals from midfield.
It’s just the fact Bolton are so poor we may have a chance. 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@stu
It’s what I’ve been saying all season.
Im just surprised it was Pardew coming out so early. I had it down for silence until February when Derek came out with his rhetoric.
“We worked tirelessly throughout January to get the players Alan and Graham identified but it wasnt to be. Clubs are reluctant to sell and we won’t be held to ransom.
We have some great professionals at this club, thanks to Mike investing in the youth system and we feel confident we can still finish top of the league. ” 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Obviously Ba will be one hell of a miss and as people have said, we have Shola and Best but not much else, so on that note, it seems logical to sign a striker …But, it has to be a striker that can compliment Ba when he comes back, plus be able to offer the threat of Ba while he is away….not an easy thing to do in January but I think we will get one over the line.
In an ideal world, everything would be done and dusted but quality players are hard to get over the line for varying reasons and sometimes it takes stiff negotiations.
At the moment Shola and Best appear off the boil but when Ba goes, Best will probably lead the line because he does a lot of unselfish work when partnering Ba, so could come into his own as long as the player around him give him the service.
No matter which way you look at it though or who we possibly could sign or who even comes into the fold , losing Ba is on par with any club losing their top striker and 99% will miss that input.
Although we are reliant on Ba , we also have to chin up and cover in his absence and prove that we can cope and it’s strange how sometimes that can happen.
Time will tell and January is just about upon us, so let’s see what belated presents Santa drops off then. 😀
wolfie(Quote)
Remind me not to play MW3 whilst pissed ❗
Played last night and got raped 😯
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
STUART@79, You’re right, we won’t pay over the odds for players and that’s a good thing.
You say, we sell players for well over the top prices, thinking it’s a bad thing but firstly, we have sold one player like that. ….one…
If clubs come sniffing for our top players, they pay top dollar though which is brilliant.
The fact that we don’t immediately spend all of that money on one replacement, is also brilliant because to do that means they get wages to match, which then kills off the purpose of keeping a cap on wages.
wolfie(Quote)
Forget Boyd, I’ve had a re think and don’t see him fitting into our team.
Wolfie – do you reckon Rodallega could carry us til Ba gets back coz I could defo see them being able play well alongside each other
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kris boyd??? Wheres that one come from? Hes no better than lovenkrands 😆 , as for today , i think it will be a tough game , will love for benny to start , play solid at the back and for our wingers to bomb down the wings all game!! Obertan needs a little bit of confidence to skip by his man cos hes defo got the pace to beat any full back!! gutierez has been a bit off lately so i think hes due a good peformance today and i also think its about time other players than ba should chip in with a few goals!! We would be in danger if ba hadnt been so prolific this season! Bests 3 goals is pathetic!!!
Army69(Quote)
merry belated xmas to every 1, im of to the game today as i live in manchester. Really hope we ge a win and a striker and defender in jan. Some 1 on eds blog reckons wer close to getting de jong and its the reason we pulled out on maiga, dnt know if its true like, 1 would hope so!
Alex(Quote)
eh, wolfie are u starting make your excuses early? 😀
1..”If clubs come sniffing for our top players, they pay top dollar though which is brilliant.
2..The fact that we don’t immediately spend all of that money on one replacement, (stu didnt actually say one he said a player) is also brilliant because to do that means they get wages to match, which then kills off the purpose of keeping a 3…cap on wages.”
1* its not that brilliant to lose players for top dollar if we dont 2*immediately replace them and trying to pursue the ‘wage-cap’ just means we get foreigners (not always a bad thing) or Prem fring / CC players or non at all..
We need no excuses from Pards/ashley/owly. Jan is make or break for me
mark(Quote)
We won’t sign a new striker in January, of that I am 100% certain.
We will try and loan a defender until the summer break, with an option to buy. Collo will not resign a new contract, and will leave for nowt.
If big offers come in for Tiote or Krul Ashley will sell them.
We will draw today 2-2.
Munich Mag(Quote)
wolfie…ever the optimist…you had too much caffeine today big man ? 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
I believe we have the players available today to win but it will take a strong Pardew to change his recent tactics and team selection to give us a chance.Obertan,PerchBest and Raylor on the bench.
Ge08dey(Quote)
FFS lads, it’s not even January yet. I’m reserving my whining until I know what’s happened.
1-2 today.
TOON TOON!
Rodzilla(Quote)
With 4000+ toon foot soldiers making the not so inexpensive journey to Bolton, the least they deserve is a 100% commited toon 11. Hopefully we can pull off win today, but anyone going through the motions will not be tolerated.
There are a few players who need to step up to the plate today. Pardew’s favourites….loyalty is one thing, but ridiculing the fans with blah blah won’t be tolerated…especially if we lose today…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Alex – good luck at the game today, have a good day and hopefully you’ll head home smiling, I’d take De Jong in a heartbeat, either Jan or in the Summer.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Munich – Why will Colo leave in the summer for free?
toonsy(Quote)
Oh Wolfie, it must be difficult for you to cope with the constant disappointment you must suffer at the hands of Ashley.
Just explain why it’s a good idea to sell our best players for ‘top dollar’ if we’re not going to spend that ‘top dollar’?
Do you win trophies now for having the best balance sheet?
Stuart79(Quote)
(I think Stuart79’s found his new ‘Stardust’) 😆 😆
…bet you’ve missed him eh Stu?
Rodzilla(Quote)
Aye, Rod, history’s made him look a complete *** on everything he said too.
Stuart79(Quote)
😮 😆
…oooh, low blow from Stuart79. What can Wolfie muster up in his defence…….?
Reet, amoff, later dudes and dudesses. 😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
I know he is not a popular player but would anyone on here take on Wayne Bridge for a loan till summer? He could provide a better solution at left back than Raylor, if Santon’s injury is going to keep him out. Just make City pay bulk of his wages.
Dont feel comfortable about us being able to bring in a striker and a centre half. Think it is going to be the latter and probably nothing else. But hey it(the transfer window) hasnt even opened yet so lets not already get moody and depressed.
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Colo, R Taylor, Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Jonas, Ba, Best
Subs: Elliot, Perch, Ferguson, HBA, Vuckic, Sammy, Shola
CC(Quote)
I think we should offer 15-20m to Twente for De Jong and Douglas, I think they would both be superb signings
I know it goes against me saying about players knowing our league but they are good enough to pick it up quick enough
Sharpy17(Quote)
STUART@35.
I didn’t say it was a good idea to sell out top players for top dollar.
I said if clubs come in for our top players, then they are going to have to pay top dollar.
wolfie(Quote)
Welcome to ===
http://dv。gd/oej
Online Store,Get Name Brand Fashion From 12USD Now!
Lv,Gucci,Prada,Coach,Chanel Women sandal is $30
http://dv。gd/oej
sdafdsaf(Quote)