With January fast approaching there is little doubt that speculation will intensify regarding the in form striker, especially with the the revelation that the now famous release clause is still active.
However the sounds coming from both Alan Pardew and Demba Ba seem to suggest that we are closer to seeing an end to the speculation regarding his future, with talk of a new deal in the offing and the revelation that it is being “worked on” behind the scenes. Additionally, Pardew has stated his admiration for the Senegalese striker and praised his character both on and off the pitch. Smooth talking from the silver supremo?
In return we have snippets from Demba Ba which seem to suggest he is settled on Tyneside, including little things like how he loves his Tyneside home and stuff like that. In fairness to Ba not once has he said he wants away, but that is also not to ignore the fact that he has remained coy on his future whenever questioned.
Keeping hold of Demba Ba is a must for me. He’s shown he can score consistently in this league and goalscorers like that are hard to come by and, perhaps more importantly, tend to cost a lot of money to purchase. For that reason and that reason alone it is important that a deal is worked out.
If Ba does end up leaving us in the next transfer window we will apparently have the cash to replace him, but the cash needed to replace him would be far more than the £7 million (reportedly) we’d recoup from his sale, or even less that £7 million (again reportedly) once you take out any clauses that exist within the deal.
I’m not saying we should bankrupt ourselves to keep a player, and in reality giving Ba a compromise between the deal he wants and the deal we want to offer wouldn’t bankrupt us, but we must do enough to keep hold of him and get the bleedin clause out of his contract!
The funny thing is I have a felling that we’ll actually have a happy ending on this one. No inside sources, no gossip, just a gut feeling.
Anyone else have any particular feelings on this one?
Good read. I have this feeling that Ba & Cisse will swap goal-scoring responsibilities mid-term again.
Wellington(Quote)
Aye i think he will stay, The release clause was there all summer and last january and despite the london rags best efforts hes still here.
If hes sensible he will sign the fecking contract, The manager plays him in his favourite position to the detriment of the team. He wouldnt get that treatment anywhere else end of…
CC(Quote)
In fairness to Ba he has tweeted ( I know not the most reliable source ) two or three times in the summer he had no intention of leaving of us during the summer. I think he is happy here. But we all know loyality is thin on the ground in football. Players want to earn as much as they can while they can and in one way you cant blame them as its a job to some of them it still doesnt stop it feeling like a kick in the balls when a player leaves. I do think we should try get him a deal to keep him. Obviously he had words with Pardew about playing through the middle and I know some fans are a bit unhappy that Pardew is bowing to player pressure but Ba has scored and on current form deserves to play through the middle a head of Cisse.
Johno Toon(Quote)
I fully agree – securing Ba is an absolute must!.
Pardew stated after the summer window that it was seen as a success because we had brought afew in but more importantly nobody left.
If Ba leaves in Jan we would have seriously weakened our squad.
Once Ba has been signed up I’d then like to see the muppets who arranged such a stupid contract publicly disciplined – maybe at half time at our next home game the fans could pukka pie them!! 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
CC I dont think Ba playing through the middle is a detriment to the team, Ba is scoring goals and desveres to play through the middle.
Johno Toon(Quote)
I think this talk of Ba through the middle or on the left is rubbish anyway to be honest.
Ba still played well last season ‘on the left’, he linked up well with Cisse and was heavily involved in the build up to a lot of Cisses goals. He also have a lot of shots on goal himself and had he converted even half of them, this wouldn’t even be a discussion.
As I’ve said before, the lad tends to work the left channel anyway so it’s not like he’s not comfortable out there.
As Johno has said tho, Ba is scoring goals through the middle, and as our top scorer has picked up most of our points so far this season – so hardly detriment.
The fact is that Pardew picks the team. If he wants us to player 4-3-3 he sets it up that way. If Ba doesn’t like it then he’d leave. But if we think that Ba is calling the shots to Pardew, that makes him no better than Hughton.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We need to keep Ba I agree, but theres no point in Ba being top scorer in the league if we are not playing well and getting results
Instructatoon(Quote)
Good read Toonsy, I just hope they do get it all sorted and get the clause out of the road, cause im sick of hereing about it.
But I do feel a bit uneasy about the playing through the middle because while at the min he’s playing well what if he goes through a baron run like cisse is, do we continue to play him in the middle and push Cisse to the side and not get the best out of him either.
Big Dave(Quote)
Hope its sorted soon…….just to shut the fecken press up more than anything…
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Sharpy if Pards comes out during the last window and states that Ba will play in the middle how’s it rubbish ? Imo it was as a sweetner to keep Ba happy, but if it creates problems for Cisse and Co then its a dangerous move
Big Dave(Quote)
Well I’ve got a feeling he will be gone. More so, now he won’t be away in ACoN. He will be a Liverpool player Jan 1st. 🙁
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Good read Toonsy ,Not sure what the outcome will be really .It would seem he’s happy here ,well he’s certainly got a happier face on him since he’s gone back to central position. But I do have misgivings about Pards saying in the press that Ba had been told that he would be playing up front central 90% of the time 😯 It smacks of giving a player assurances in a bid to keep them on side/with us. Now I know he’s scoring and I’m happy as anyone about that, but where does Cisse’s future lay with us ,I’m pretty sure sooner or later he’s gonna get fed up playing second fiddle to Ba ,he is our no.9 after all 😉 .Also Ba has not been consistant at scoring as the back end of last season he was in the exact same situation Cisse is in now ,I wonder if Cisse will be afforded promises by Pards like Ba was 😕 . We have also seen petulant outburst in pre match interview from Ba and a direct snubbing of Pards when subbed which I was not happy about either. I am glad he’s scoring and glad he’s our player but I want more parity between him and Cisse than I’ve witnessed so far from Pards that’s all.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Maybe Cisse should just learn to score while playing along side BA..problem solved 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Dave – I’m on about people saying that Ba is playing through the middle coz he demands it like he’s hold Pardew in some kinda headlock or something. At the end of the day it’s Pardews call.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy he mightn’t have Pards in a headlock, but maybe he has said that he isn’t happy to be on the left so to keep him happy and so as not to lose him for peanuts he has been given assurances to keep him happy, and if thats the case well then it’s just the same as him having Pards in a headlock.
Players shouldn’t basically be given guarantees as it will cause unrest with the other players ie Benny could now demand a certain position or he’s off or Cisse the same, because now they know Pards can give them assurances.
Whats good for the goose is good for the gander..
There’s no I in team.
Big Dave(Quote)
Aussie ,Were people saying that about Ba when he had his barren spell?, no they were desperate for him to get a goal but for what ever reason people seem to be writing Cisse off ,I don’t understand that as he needs faith shown in him now more than ever.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim your wasting your time on the wombat 😀 I think Richie was right about him 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Also they as a partnership are far more effective when Ba goes left ,that’s when Cisse had his most goals for us but it looks like Ba doesn’t wanna go there ,even though he gets plenty of chances to still score from there.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Dave @17 ,I blame all that Sun ,it’s gone to his head and fried his reasoning part of his brain 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Dave – I understand that mate, what I’m saying is that should that be the case – ie Pardew is giving assurances – that’s Pardew to blame for me, not Ba. Pardew should be saying – this is how we are playing and if you don’t like it you’re free to leave – big bucks or peanuts.
I don’t want Ba to leave, but more than that I really don’t want to go back to the Nolan/Barton days where the players ran things.
Realistically, second half of last season Ba could have scored 5-6 goals from the chances he had.
Cisse was loving his football, so was HBA and the midfield 3 were solid. It’s the best we’ve played as a team for seasons.
If Pardew has changed that to suit one player, it Pardew that should get critisism not Ba.
If Ba spits the dummy and states he’s leaving in Jan, it’s a shame but let him go coz a) the team is more important. b) other players can’t follow Bas example and c) he has other players like Marv and Sammy rather than sticking with an unhappy Ba.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I feel that he’ll stay as well. I don’t think any rival clubs other than Liverpool would try and buy him tbh. 8 Mill may be cheap, but he’s late 20’s, got the “weak knees”, and has no CL experience I don’t think. Don’t think any of the top clubs would try and take him anyway.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Great set of results for us yesterday.
Feeling pretty optimistic. Even if we lose later, we’ll be in a fantastic position with a strong set of winnable games coming up. And we’ll have played 5 of the other 7 teams in last seasons top 8.
Just need to get our performances in order really.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Kim, I am not writing Cisse off.. the lad just needs to score while playing along side Ba in the middle of attack. It’s time for all the excuses to stop and for Cisse to get himself into the game. The biggest thing holding Cisse back is Cisse. It’s not because BA has taken his spot in the centre, its because he is off the boil… however, he will score today, I feel it in my bones… 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Sharpy yeah Pards IMO has made a massive mistake and I said that the day he cameout with it, But for me Ba would have to take stick for not being a team player and holding the team and Pards to ransom for his own selfishness, As I said I do think he has maybe said it to persuade him not to leave last window and to get him to sign a new contract witout the clause, but I think it was a massive **** up and will cause bigger problems because it has showed the other players that the club can be held to ransom
Big Dave(Quote)
BD, maybe Pardz is simply playing BA thru the middle because he is scoring lots of goals…
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie should be do the same with Cisse as we did with Ba because Ba never scored again until he was moved back into the middle 😉 you really should think about what your going to say before hitting add comment 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
As I said the other day, I genuinely reckon he’ll stay. He didn’t leave in the summer when all the pundits said he would and he’s not gunna leave in January either, he likes it here.
On my tables yesterday
Just noticed WBA play Soton tomorrow so if they win we will be knocked out of the top 6 (if we beat liverpool).
Andymag(Quote)
BD
How can you give Ba stick for something that probably isn’t even true ❓ ❗
If Ba was able to hold the team to ransom why would he have been started on the bench against Everton?
It’s just an unfair myth.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
“Whats good for the goose is good for the gander..
There’s no I in team”
Oh yes there is:
Elliot
Simpson , Coloccini Williamson Tavernier
Amalfitano Anita Tiote Gutierrez
Cisse Ameobi
Sub. Gosling 😉
Chris G(Quote)
Last season -BA scored while playing in the middle – Cisse scored while playing in the middle.
This season – BA scoring while playing in the middle – Cisse not scoring while playing in the middle.
The problem lays with Cisse, not Ba. Cisse just needs to get his scoring boots on. Its not because of some sinister deal that Big Dave has conjured up between Pardz and BA 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Guthrie not even on the bench for Reading…. good career move Danny boy…
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Ausie…. Guthrie is out injured.
Joe(Quote)
And I agree with Aussie on this one. Cisse has had quite a few games down the middle and hasn’t really performed. Not for lack of effort but just…. out of form and luck I guess. So let Ba play down the middle. Until he’s not playing well
Joe(Quote)
Joe, no stress, however I thought he had a falling out with his gaffer?
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Not sure about Guthrie having a falling out but I play fantasy football so noted on all the blogs that he’s out injured.
I really did expect him to do better this year with a run of games but I guess he’s just not good enough. Had a lot of potential that Guthrie
Joe(Quote)
Me too, was a bit disapointed that he left, didn’t really blame him though..
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie – I agree mate, but by the same token Ba seemed to leave his shooting boots at the ACoNs last season. I’m certain that if Pardew decided to go back to 4-3-3 Ba would score his fair share of goals in that formation as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I still get the feeling he’ll be gone, or at least Liverpool will make a move for him. Many clubs would be pretty silly not too, even Chelsea could use him although they are forced into having to play their 50mil striker so it’s a pride issue for them.
I agree with Aussie too. Cisse has played like, 8 games for us so far, 6 of them in the middle so it’s hardly like he’s being forced out of position. Personally I thought the 4-3-3 brought the best out of Benny, and Cabs who were on blistering form and allowed them to create the chances for Cisse and Ba to put away, but Ba was out of form and Cisse was in it.
Ba is being played centrally now because he’s the only one scoring properly, and shouldn’t be moved away for that reason-imo.
Newkie(Quote)
Joe @ 33 spot on but when Ba is not doing well he’ll still have to be played in the middle because Pards has gave him his word.
ST @ 28 what is probably not true ❓ ❓
Big Dave(Quote)
Newkie you say “Ba is being played centrally now because he’s the only one scoring properly, and shouldn’t be moved away for that reason-imo”
But Ba was going to be playing there no matter what way he was playing because Pards gave him the assurance before the season started ❓
As for the 3 yeah it worked great with Cisse in the Middle Ba on the left and Benny right.but going by Pards Cisse will have to try out on the side because Ba is going to be in the middle
Big Dave(Quote)
Newkie/Aussie – the problem we have is that Ba and Cisse will always have slow starts to the season because they will be weak during Ramadan. Cisse may have played 8 games but he’s probably only been 70-80% fit for those games. Of course the same argument applies for Ba, but just as we didn’t give up on Ba last season we should be over critical of Cisse now.
There’s only one way to make sure he scores and that is to play the lad.
Sharpy17(Quote)
come on the toon
hitman(Quote)
@BD “But for me Ba would have to take stick for not being a team player and holding the team and Pards to ransom for his own selfishness”
I just don’t think there’s any proof at all.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Just throwing this out there but does anyone think that maybe Pardew feels Ba’s best position is playing throught the middle and that is why he gave him assuarances about his role?
Johno Toon(Quote)
See QPR are getting beat again 😆
Bet Hiollett is over the moon he went there now – greedy little ****!.
Still would have been interesting to see him on one side and Benny the other like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
ST well I don’t think there’s any proof of it not being the case ? we had him pushed out to the left last season and a few times when he was subbed he snubbed everyone it was clear to see he wasn’t happy, he also came out at the start of the season stating that he wasn’t happy about things, his agents said he wasn’t happy being played out on the left then all of a sudden Pards publically states that he will be played in the middle ?? I would say you could add all that up and it would give you a fair idea of what has happened 😉 why else would Pards tie his own hands behind his back by making that statment unless he had no real option otherwise Ba would look for somewhere else and we would get peanuts for him because of his clause.
Big Dave(Quote)
Johno @ 44 but why not then just play him there why come out and publicly state it to the world ❓ so do you think he maybe see’s Cisse’s best to the side of Ba ? because I think Ba can play both roles but I don’t think Cisse can as I think he is a typical No9 position ❓
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave-but he got dropped at Everton? So clearly he wasn’t a shoe in? Pards said he would play Ba in the centre 90% of the time. When he made that statement, I suggested that Ba might not be starting as many matches, and that he and Cisse would be rotated…Benched against Everton, and he’s been firing ever since.
Newkie(Quote)
Pardew left him on the bench against Everton. I think that shows that he isn’t being forced to do anything.
I think it really is as simple as aussie says – Cisse isn’t scoring atm. Ba is.
Last season he never once moaned about playing on the left, he said he was upset with his lack of form. I believe him.
You should believe what Ba says over what his agent says.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
Big Dave- Did Pardew actually give Ba assurance he’ll play down the middle? Did he actually come out and say that? Not trying to be sarcastic or anything but I really don’t know. Maybe I missed out on something during the summer. Too much alcohol in the blood can do that to you
Joe(Quote)
Sorry I meant assurance tht he will play down middle no matter his form
Joe(Quote)
Why are people using the Everton game as an example that Pards will drop him etc ? ever think that he mightn’t have been fully fit etc ? no
ST when did Ba say that it was because of his form that made him snub his manager, team mates etc and in his interview when he said he wasn’t happy about a few things he never mentioned form ? why didn’t he tell HIS agents to shut up why has it been carrying on ? I just don’t think it’s a simple as you try to make it that if Ba says he’s happy etc he is hardly going to come out and say otherwise 😕 so thats my opinion on it 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave – the thing is tho that Ba could have left anyway. Pardew made those statements before deadline day. So if Bas nose was so out of joint he still could have left before this season even kicked off.
He could have even give it ‘the club haven’t shown enough ambition in the window’ excuse and to be honest, most fans would have forgave and agreed with him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Why on earth wouldn’t Ba have been fit? He clearly was, Pards switched formatin as well back to a 4-3-3 to see if Cisse would start firing (what so many fans were crying for) oh look, didn’t work, 4-4-2 Ba on the pitch, 2 goals, boom. It’s also why Ba was disappointed, if he was injured then I imagine he would have accepted it, but as it was he was fired up.
In Pards’ own words “I decided to go with one striker today, and papiss got the nod over him”
You’re clutching at straws Dave 😀
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – ‘BOOM’ – how street are you mate?! 😎 😆 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy-I’m in Ranger’s crew mate, thug4life, you get me? 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Dave ,I totally agree@ 52. Why in the world Pards has come out and said Ba will play 90% of the time up front I don’t know ,and he said that at seasons start when Cisse was coming off the back of an amazing goal rush and Ba was impotent in front of goal. In what way does it make sense to guarantee up top position 90% of the time to a player who had totally dried up in front of goal, Tell me this , if he wasn’t scoring now would people still be happy with that statement from Pards, or would they think it was foolish ❓
KIMTOON(Quote)
It’s not nice to see our no.9 being written off so soon by the way , I can’t remember BA getting such a lack of support. I understand that Ba puts himself about maybe more and is perhaps more versitile but Cisse is a target man and I don’t think he’s forgotten how to score ,just out of sorts. Anyone ever thought that maybe the Ba promise has unsettled him ,after all he came here as our new no 9 ,our talisman if you like ,but he’s having to watch Ba take all the pludits just as Ba had to watch Cisse bask in glory when he was scoring for fun ,and look how he went off the boil. 😉 Strikers are a funny lot ,they feed on confidence and faith from the gaffer as well as the fans imo.
Sorry Aussie ,not ignoring you ,had to feed Lewis his lunch 😉 Yeah I’m hopeing he starts and scores too. 😀
KIMTOON(Quote)