I mean Harry Redknapp has been at it again today and claims that the release clause is less than the £7 million that has been previously quoted. I won’t go on a rant about him chatting about players contracted to other clubs too much. It’s unethical but hey ho. I expect nothing less from him so I can’t say I’m surprised.
The easy way to put a stop to it is for the club to come out and say something. On one hand, why should they have to say anything? On the other though it would clarify things once and for all. I’d hazard a guess on their silence being louder than any words would be however. There is almost certainly a clause in his contract, but what the clause is remains unconfirmed. Arguably as it should be…
Should we be bracing ourselves for the departure of Demba Ba though? Perhaps not now, but maybe in the summer? With the striker fluttering his eyelashes towards PSG and a whole host of interested suitors thanks to his supreme start to life at Newcastle Ba will have no shortage of options, especially if he is available at a knockdown price.
It’s easy to resolve of course, well, relatively easy anyway. Give Demba a new contract that reflects his ability. He’s proven that he can cut the mustard so there is an argument for the club giving him a contract that can reflect that which is a risk when you consider his knees. It’s a risk that another club will be willing to take however, of that I have no doubt.
I honestly don’t believe that Demba Ba is here for the long haul anymore. We’ll be lucky to get through January with him still in black and white and that, I feel, is only down to his participation in the African Cup of Nations.
I have no expectation of loyalty from any player anymore. Andy Carroll ended that particular train of thought for me. Ba will go where the best offer is, which you can’t blame him for really. We’d all do it. He may be happy on Tyneside at the moment, but I imagine he could be just as happy anywhere else. He’s not like us and doesn’t have an affinity to the area – it’s just a job. Plus you have to question just how long he intended staying around for anyway with such a release clause in his contract?
Make the most of it while you can!
Maybe he does have a bit of loyalty considering he had no one knocking on his door except us (or stay at West Ham in the Championship), and we put faith in his health and ability?
If he does have genuine alternative either in January or the summer, as long as he gives us a chance to improve his terms then fair do.
I think he’ll hang around until at least the summer then move abroad if he goes any where.
EvilFranky(Quote)
Tried to look it up toonsy but couldn’t find an answer, can Ba even leave this window?
I know you can’t play for 3 different Prem clubs in a season, but a season is different to a “year”, ie Ba played for West Ham last May, so does that mean he can’t play for a third club before then?
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
a bit off topic but toothpicks make great walkingsticks for mice!!!!!! 😉 1st!!!!!!
john(Quote)
Not so sure. He’s not exactly been known for loyalty throughout his career. Then again, he’s no different to the majority of footballers in that department!
toonsy(Quote)
ST – It’s calendar year I believe.
toonsy(Quote)
Where else would he be the main man? Not in Manchester, Dalglish doesn’t really seem to know what to do with highly rated strikers. Arsenal have rvp, gervinho, etc. Chelsea are stacked as well while waiting for Torres to get his groove back.
‘Arry is the only manager above us that would possibly use him as the main striker, which would be what Demba would want. So of course he is doing this **** on purpose! He wants him for a cut price and wages Tottenham can afford. Hate him
AndrewT(Quote)
I just don’t understand why the club would put such a clause in his contract. And I dont believe they have, a simple release clause anyway.
I think if there is such a clause it is related to relegation or him suffering a knee injury. With the lack of clubs interested in him I’m not sure his agent would have risked jeopardising a deal by demanding a release clause.
If it is true I really hope our team spirit counts for something, the players all seem to get on. Maybe football is so alien to other professions but for me getting on with people at work certainly counts for something..!
Our first team is so close to being awesome as well, if Enrique had stayed I think we’d be 3 players away from challenging anyone in the league. Again I hope Ba would look at that and decide it’s worth seeing how we develop.
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
If it’s calendar year then he won’t be going in January to a rival then…
EvilFranky(Quote)
I thought it was a calendar year, but look at page 9 of the FIFA Transfer Laws:
http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/06/30/78/statusinhalt_en_122007.pdf
“Players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during
one SEASON. During this period, the player is only eligible to play
offi cial matches for two clubs.”
blip(Quote)
Hmm… where to start…
I’m still highly sceptical about this clause. I cannot think of any advantage to ‘arry in telling the world about it if it’s true. The only explanation I can think of is that there isn’t one and this is his ploy to unsettle the player because that’s the only way to get him. Otherwise, he’s just putting the price up by starting a bidding war.
“especially if he is available at a knockdown price.” – he’s not. If there is a clause, it just means that once bids reach that trigger point, they have to let him go. They can still let him go to the highest bidder, and right now that ain’t going to be £7m.
“We’d all do it”. Speak for yourself. Money means ****-all once you have some – or should do, but footballers seem to have found new levels of stupidity that make them immune to that kind of sense. Just ask one “Mr Utterly Miserable Jonas of Liverpool”.
As for whether he’ll stay, I think Ba’s said it all himself – he’ll stay around until the summer, and if his boyhood club PSG come in for him he’ll try to make it happen. At least that would be for good reasons. And we’d get a decent whack for him, hopefully.
Whumpie(Quote)
why should a footballer be loyal to fans that can be so fickle?good luck to him if he can create a better life for him and his family….and dont tell me.(der…they get the money for it blah blah ….)……done well for our club the lad needs to move on to better things and we should, as he helped our club big style!….but we all know a player like that will go to a big club in the prem dont slate me lads cos you know i,tl be true
john(Quote)
we are doing well and every1 is talking about are players that is a good thing…news rules help us in the long run…city and chelsea cant buy anymore big name signings if they wont 2 play in europe…
asim(Quote)
Yeah actually i agree with that Whumpie. Harry could’ve swooped under the radar and signed him up, really strange that he broadcasted if true.
Tbh I don’t think any team will EVER sign one of our players after just half a good season again!!
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
I’ve read somewhere that his wife and family are settled in the city (dunno how true it is) I don’t think Ba is going anywhere. I think this release clause is nonsense, if there was a clause we’d certainly do our utmost to make sure it wasn’t leaked, and certainly not leaked to the likes of redknapp. It’s the michael owen scenario all over again. I remember when we signed him people just couldn’t accept he’d signed for us and kept asking and subsequently banging on about his supposed release clause.
Chris(Quote)
👿 Harry Redknapp,AVB, Kenny Dalglish,wenger and fergie can all **** OFF and buy your own striker just becasue liverpool and chelsea bought flop striker worth 50m and 35m and who cant score for **** and we buy a striker on the free and score15 in the frist half of the season shouldn’t give them right to go o look a good stiker playing for newcaslte yet again less throw 100k week wages at him so the so called elite team in PL can stay an the top with all they money.
Dearka(Quote)
Toonsy, agree that Ba – like any other player, will go where the best offer is but I don’t think PSG will be in for him. They seem to want the huge names I.e. Pato, Tevez, Eto’o.
Also I don’t think we can rule out us offering him a new contract, we did it with Cheik and he had only joined in the summer!
dan4toon(Quote)
How do we prepare?
nobby(Quote)
Chris, good point on Owen, same kept being said of Martins too when he was doing well in his first season!
dan4toon(Quote)
Nobby – I’ve sort of got my hands near my head ready to put them on my head when he does go. That kind of thing 😉
toonsy(Quote)
If i had my way i’d **** can the Jan transfer window!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 👿 👿
Nathandio(Quote)
Yep good ppint on Owen. Forgot about that 🙂
toonsy(Quote)
well if there was no clause in his contract im sure Lambastad wouldn’t be too long in coming out and telling us.
The only way I would be happy for him to go would be a swap with Liverpool and we get our local No9 back 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
@Chris
I couldn’t accept we’d signed Michael Owen, because we could have had Defoe, and Owen is/was **** and for 17mil I wanted to cry because I couldn’t believe we’d blown all our money on a ***** like him…
Got slated for it then, but now everyone agrees 😆
I seriously doubt Ba will be sold this transfer window anyway. I’d bet my house it won’t happen.
And to answer the question, yes we should prepare for his sale. Just as we should prepare for the sale of Coloccini, Cabaye, Tiote, Santon when he comes good, Ba, Ben Arfa etc… they are quality players and quality players will always be in demand.
JJ(Quote)
Meant to say now that Carroll has made his mistake and seen that the grass isn’t always greener atleast now that Nolan isn’t hear pulling his strings we should get some loyalty from him as he is one of us
Big Dave(Quote)
@EvilF
Classic! You have just bleated whilst on the other thread that this was a boring story and not worthy of discussion.
I come on here and you are first to post. 😯
Woo hoo hoo hoo 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Big Dave
I don’t want that women beating Judas back… He can **** right off.
He is overated anyway and it’ll just mean more long ball bullshit.
No thanks. Wouldn’t take him back for 5mil.
JJ(Quote)
Well I guess we should never expect anything of Newcastle United as a team ever again. If we can’t keep a squad of excellent players together then we will never challenge for anything period!
So what’s the point?
EvilFranky(Quote)
Dave, with Ba playing his best football this when Best/Shola has been the target man imagine Carroll as the target man with his work rate and then Ba dropping deep linking up midfield and attack 😯
dan4toon(Quote)
I still remain, like Whumpie, sceptical about this whole situation. Lets not get ahead of ourselves and predict Ba being sold for peanuts and us being relagated and having to play in pink shirts for the rest of Newcastle United history. This rumour is still just a malicious rumour(is there any proof) and Ba just as well might be happy and is family so. Also a clause for such a small fee seems wierd. Lets not give in to the ugly press and the even uglier saggy chops aka arry the dirtbag, and their malicious attempt to shoot down our recent and relative success.
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
God you are a scaremongering bunch – sure you are not mackems.
How do you prepare for Ba to leave – you dont.
Even the feeble minded know that you cant move twice in a season under current eufa legislation so why try to create concerns where non are necessary
tom(Quote)
@Troy – No I didn’t, I said the negative **** was boring and that you can DISCUSS it all you want.
Woo hoo hoo hoo 🙄
EvilFranky(Quote)
this is what we should do the next time against spurs and hit them where it hurts!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOgTCbz-XmU
😎
AlanPardewProject(Quote)
jj what proof have you got of “the woman beating judas”?wtach your words mate thanks
john(Quote)
Can anyone think of a reason why ‘arry-the-***** would be banging on about this if there IS a release clause?
Seriously – I think that’s the key point. As far as I see it, there’s no way to explain it apart from it being his way to get around the fact that there ISN’T one.
Any other theories?
Whumpie(Quote)
i recon harry just wants to tell things the way they are under the spotlight and why its only football banter just like on this blog site.
john(Quote)
@23 JJ, yeah tbh there is no point worrying about these things.
I’m just going to not pay any attention to all the tabloid rumours concerning the likes of Cabaye and Ba etc, more often than not they come to nothing.
It is a sign of how well we are doing that our players are being linked to champions league clubs. The only way to stop the rumours? Having a **** team.
So if we want to build towards success we have to accept that we are going to have our players linked everywhere, even now Arsenal and Tottenham still have to put up with it. (which is why you’d think ‘Arry would be a bit sympathetic!)
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
I don’t think Carlo Ancelotti would be interested in Ba at all. he seems to want poach his ex clubs,Milan and chelsea.
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
It winds me right up that there isn’t any loyalty in sports. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions though and I’d like to think that as we were the only club who would take a chance on his fitness he’s like to repay us? Jelousy is a funny thing, Torres 50m, Carroll £35m, Ba £0. Do the math!
Ben(Quote)
Easy solution to the problem for me. Offer him a new contract and the number 9 shirt. He’s proven he can cut it. If he loves playing for the Newcastle fans as much as he keeps saying, he’ll sign and all of this will go away.
Can’t see it happening though because what he’ll be able to earn from a new contract will probably price him out of an Ashley offer. Come the end of January I totally expect Ba and Tiote to go on deadline day because the offers that came in were too good to turn down but hopefully I’m wrong.
Mark(Quote)
Well, enough of this bollix – one known crook (due in court this month, isn’t he?) with a face like a paper bag full of chisels does some wumming and we’re all on about it. Must be a Monday. 😆
Far more important: I’m flying up on Saturday with a mate, to get pissed up and then watch the QPR match on the Sunday. Everyone I knew who lived in Toon is either now elsewhere or (sadly, in the case of poor Tomma) dead. Anyone fancy a beer, and helping me wind up my QPR-supporting mate?
Whumpie(Quote)
I dont understand ba – when you play for a club you shouldnt be talking about other clubs you would love to play for its terrible!!! It is literally saying psg come ang get me!! Im not happy about it , hes been fantastic 4 us but from what hes saying i doubt he will be here long! Gutted
Army69(Quote)
F*ckin’ Hell!
Emotions high today fellas?
I just properly ‘Lol’d’ at Toonsy@19 😆 😆 😆 😆
I think because of all of last years outgoing transfers a lot of people (rightly so) are always going to be biting there nails every january and august.
The way I see it is, when we got back up to the premiership, to stay there and press on Ashley wanted a whole new setup – New manager – New team.
I think we should see where we are next season to see if Ashley has any kind of aspirations to take the club forward.
This is the way i see it:
He messed up, we went down.
We came up – He’s CHANGING (highlight present tense) the staff.
I hated him for a while after each ‘Hero’ went but i can say i’m safely over it now. Even Enrique (whom i loved and met on a few occasions in eldon square! lucky me!)
I know a lot of people might see this as Rose tinted/delusional but the proof is always in the pudding and at the moment the puddings in the oven – it hasn’t been served yet.
Obviously i could be wrong and he is just in it to make a quick buck and be happy with mid table but – the way I see it is, we’re forever being told that Ashley is a gambler… if he is a gambler doesn’t that mean he likes to win things?
Us as toon fans never want to dream and hope at the minute as well think we’re setting ourselves up for a fall. Again – maybe rightly-so. But are we being over protective of ourselves?
Anyway, just went a bit serious there so now to look ahead at QPR
10-0 to the toon 😆
nobby(Quote)
Tom@30″Even the feeble minded know that you cant move twice in a season under current eufa legislation so why try to create concerns where non are necessary”…and how many times as he moved this season?……incase you’re struggling it’s none, therefore… 🙄
richietoon(Quote)
@Tom: Page 9 of the FIFA Transfer Laws:
http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/06/30/78/statusinhalt_en_122007.pdf
“Players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during
one SEASON. During this period, the player is only eligible to play
offi cial matches for two clubs.”
Ba can go if an offer’s accepted, mate.
blip(Quote)
Oh Thomas…. 🙄
Nathandio(Quote)
Strange old story this about Ba having a release clause..
Both Daily Mail & Mirror running claim Redknapp revealed to other paper..
No evidence he even said it .. Could it be another paper lie acredited to other rag ..
Why would Newcastle put in such a clause & also how would Redknapp start a rush by other clubs to sign him ?
Does Harry have an inside track to his contract details.. With him in such hot form and such a low price why tell everybody..
Daily Mails rumours are usually illusions at best and think this has added whiff by claims Redknapp says included !!
Gav(Quote)
Am I right in thinking that when we negotiated with Ba, WE were in the driving seat where terms in the contract are concerned?
Surely, with his knee situation, we took a gamble and therefore, Ba wasn’t in a strong enough position to barter?
In who’s best interest is a buy-out clause?
The club or the player?
Surely the club would have refused such a clause during negotiations, and instilled there own clause of, say a career threatening knee injury would activate his release, or something like that.
Or am I just totally wrong?
For all his faults, MA wouldn’t take a risk on a player who is known for risky knees if he thought he was going miss out on millions in a possible future transfer.
I know he came free but come on, if you were MA, would you take 5m from a release clause or 15-25m in a transfer in 12 months?
I think we may well be worrying over nothing.
Hope so.
skipwallsend(Quote)
NIce one, Nobby – very level-headed.
…why are you on THIS blog, then? 😆
Whumpie(Quote)
Skip…..I don’t know if a club is ever in the “driving seat” unfortunately 😕
Did ya have any luck finding a solar panel company willing to take a punt on a slightly weird Toon fan? 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Ba is currently at the African championships in a closed enviroment.
When he returns the transfer window will be closed…Same for Tiote.
BillytheFish(Quote)
What’s the other option Whumpie? Go on to Ed’s blog?
I haven’t got ‘Kill Ashley’ tattooed on me forehead so I’m not allowed. 😆
nobby(Quote)
Richie @43, beat me to it…
JJ(Quote)
BILLYTHEFISH
I said that earlier but no one takes any notice of me.
I’m too level headed 😆
nobby(Quote)
Billythefish
Agree mate, Ba’s agents are just drumming up interest to see what they can do during the summer transfer window.
That gives us five months to secure him to a new deal. Hopefully that happens.
JJ(Quote)
Who cares, nowt I can do about. Worry about it if it happens. As said before a release clause on relegation is believable, probably enough to cover signing on fees & wages, so £5m believable.
owt else fish wrappings
Premandup(Quote)
Billy…Hopefully, although transfers have been done for players in the Euro Championship and World Cups in the past so you never know 😕
richietoon(Quote)
JJ@52 you always were a bit slow 😉
richietoon(Quote)
NATHANDIO – That avatar is mint.
I used to like Shamrocks but he’s chaged it to a boring one. 😆
Mine took months of hard graft and a masters degree in graphic design.
nobby(Quote)
Ritchie.
Cheers for asking mate but no, its took a dive so poor owld skip’s still breadlining 😥
Hoping to be making rope at Haggies on the banks o the Tyne in Waaallsend in the comin weeks tho mate, fingaz crossed 😯
skipwallsend(Quote)
Richie @57
Thats funny, your misses is always telling me I’m too quick 😯 😆 😉
JJ(Quote)
Skip… NT council were installing them on a few houses where I’m from, some deal they have going, dunno which company they’re subbbing it to though.
richietoon(Quote)
JJ…she told me that too, she said I had a “problem” with premature ***********, I told her that if she can’t keep up with me, that’s her “fecking problem” not mine! 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Hahahahaha…
JJ(Quote)
Ritch, tried mate. They’re paying off ,booo!
Anyway, at school for kids so I is outta here on a buggerin off styleeee.
skipwallsend(Quote)
Skip…ah, good luck wi Haggies.
richietoon(Quote)
We should get someone on a plane to the Senegal camp, take a new contract offer to Ba, show him how much we value him by travelling to meet him as well as upping his wages.
ArchieMag(Quote)
First of all I think we should be preparing for another CF in the summer whether Ba stays or goes but not a panic buy. I hope Mr Carr is carefully scouting some now. Also it is clear that the time has come to tie down Ba on a bigger contract as his agent is obviously doing the rounds with his release clause trying to make a quick buck otherwise how would people like old droopy chops know? We were the club that took a gamble on him and he turned out to be class so it’s time to pay him whet he’s worth, especially with Alan Smith off the books at end of this season. I doubt Ba really wants to leave if the offer is right. It was probably a case of being polite when asked would he play for his home town club. If he wants champs league though who knows he might, but he just seems interested in the ACN at the moment.
DJG(Quote)
I love Demba Ba and he has shown what a great goalscorer he is however I have it in my mind that he is one of those players who is going to have a different club every season or two.
He has said he doesn’t want the number 9 shirt which ive heard some people say because he doesn’t want to be with us long term, but I think his number 19 is a sacred number to him and good for him.
I don’t think he would leave January however as others have stated but come the summer we could be looking at him moving on if we don’t get European football??? As he said ‘ finish what started with Newcastle ‘
Fabulous Marv(Quote)
Archie…..I’ll go, got nowt on at the moment 😎
richietoon(Quote)
As a Spurs fan i would like to apologise for our manager speaking before he thinks.If a rival manager was talking about one of our players this way i would be very angry.Good luck for the rest of the season.
Wyart Lane(Quote)
DJG @67 – “agent is obviously doing the rounds with his release clause trying to make a quick buck otherwise how would people like old droopy chops know?”
Know what? What makes you think it’s true? Sorry to pick on your post particularly, but it’s a good example.
I’ll ask a third time for anyone who can be bothered to answer: How can you match up these seemingly incompatible statements?
1. There’s a release clause where Ba can leave if a club offers (say) £6m or more for him.
2. ‘Arry wants Ba.
3. ‘Arry knows about the clause.
4. ‘Arry hasn’t triggered the clause.
5. ‘Arry’s telling everyone about the clause, thereby raising interest in Ba.
My explanation: THERE IS NO BLOODY CLAUSE!!!
Anyone going to attempt an alternative, or can we all shut the hell up talking about it as if it exists?? Please?? 👿
I need a lie down.
Whumpie(Quote)
There have been some really good opposition fans coming onto the blog recently? Its strange.
JJ(Quote)
Cheers Wyart Lane – yet another balanced comment from a Spurs fan. It was like that on here the last time we played; plenty of attempts to wind up some banter, but the Spurs boys kept being so damned polite and knowledgeable it was just impossible!
Whumpie(Quote)
Whumpie @71
I known theres no clause since I was seven. My dad got sick of putting the old red suit on and buying me one extra gift. So he said, there’s no Clause, no gift, so **** off!!!
JJ(Quote)
One possibility i read re Ba was that like a lot of players, more than one agent will claim to be acting for him and will be hawking him around clubs without authority, he is the hottest property so it makes sense that everyone is talking about him whilst the rest are trying to get a piece of the transfer action.
Redknapp should keep his thoughts to himself, im sure he wouldnt like SAF talking publicly about Modric or Bale, what is funny is some comments i read on Teamtalk from mackem fans imploring Oniel to buy him, now thats taking ridiculous to a new level.
Robert(Quote)