Most of the close season has been dominated with rumours regarding the future of the striker, especially as it emerged that the release clause in his his contract only runs until the end of July, allegedly.
However Ba has called foul play and claims that the press have just been trying to find a story where one doesn’t exist. He has urged fans to read his words for what they are and to not read anything else into them despite what slant the media try to put on it.
“I don’t care what is being said. I think is part of the game,” Ba told The Journal. “However, I have never said anything other than I love being at Newcastle.”
“If they hear something from me about my future, that is the truth. Otherwise everything that is said is not true. The newspapers and I are not very friendly at the moment. For months and months and months people have been talking about me but there is nothing happening.”
“Of course, I am looking forward to next season with Newcastle. We just have to build on the progress we made last season. For me, I just can’t wait to start the first game.”
It’s true that Ba has never said that he wants to leave Newcastle, but equally he’s also been coy about his future and has, until now anyway, remained cautiously silent when asked about his future, only giving vague statements such as “I’m still a Newcastle player at the moment” and things like that, which in fairness do nothing to quell rumours.
Anyway as we’ve seen before, words mean little in the word of a footballer so I remain to be convinced that he will remain a Newcastle player beyond September, although the good news seems to be that Ba is at least happy here.
Do you feel any happier over the future of Ba after these comments?
That’s made me a lot happier! Please stay Ba!!!
NUFCgt(Quote)
And doesn’t this release clause end at the end of the month?
NUFCgt(Quote)
Drama at French FA! Hatem Ben Arfa’s father & agent come to blows outside French HQ. ‘You stole my son!’ shouted Papa HBA (via RMC)
1 minute ago
BigPapa(Quote)
I think he will stay and if he is still here in 4 days time when the clause runs out then anyone coming in for him is going to have to pay top dollar
3hourswasted(Quote)
He’s off.
DEFFO! 😯 😛
Rodzilla(Quote)
…mind, from a player’s point of view it must fkn **** you off if all you want to do is play for your club while everyone around you is constantly stirring **** about you moving elsewhere.
It sounds to me like Big Demba is fkn sick of the media ****-stirring too.
I wonder if they’re as bad as this (UK) in other countries? I suppose PL news is more ‘worldwide’ than elsewhere, thus selling more papers.
Rodzilla(Quote)
…plus, I doubt there’d be anywhere near as much bollocks being written about him, if old melty-face never opened his gob about this mysterious ‘clause’.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Good words from Ba so hopefully we can get him signed up to a new contract with no clause in it, as Ba is the only player I was worried about leaving.
Big Dave(Quote)
Bit happier, but words don’t mean too much. Come on Ba, sign up and stick with us!
Newkie(Quote)
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/7938359
Seems like the kind of player we could be after…
French, available at a cut down price, just turned 26. Plays as a winger/striker, is pacey, scores goals with either foot.
I expect us to put in an offer of 2mil in the next few days with the French Club telling us they want 6.5mil. 😆
JJ(Quote)
…I just saw that too JJ, he does ‘fit the mould’ as it were.
I think your expectations echo mine anyway.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Ye Rodz,
Its fine when it comes off, but sometimes I wonder where the line is between, “If we don’t get value we will walk away from the deal,” or “If we can’t rip the selling club a new one, and have to pay market value, we will walk away”.
JJ(Quote)
JJ, my take on it is I reckon the board probably have a big list of prioritised targets and come in at half every player’s value with their opening bids, then work their way down the list in an attempt to get the best value. When the bottom target fails they go back to the top one with an improved bid and just wait until someone buckles.
It’s a cut-throat business at the end of the day, buying players. Everyone wants to ‘rip a new one’ I suppose. We seem pretty good at doing it but it does cause concern when we lose a top target by not upping our bid by 25% or so (given our average target seems to be worth around 6-7m).
I suppose there are plenty fish in the sea, and Graham Carr seems to have a very impressive rod. 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
Have I just read on another thread that Martin O’neill wants the Bigger lad at the Stad des Sh!te. ? He must be off his paddy Rocker.! What is it with the mackems managers these days all trying to commit suicide in public.
Still, never mind, saves us humiliating them again. HaHaHa. Good luck theneet lads. Toon Toon !!!!!!!!!
Porciestreet(Quote)
…I’m amazed MoN is still there Porcy. I’m sure he’ll get bored/infected soon.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Your very chipper today Roz, you on a promise tonight mate? ? 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Roz = Rodz 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
bit of handbags ganning on like 😆
http://www.nufcfans.co.uk/hatem-ben-arfas-dad-and-agent-involved-in-violent-exchange/?
icedog(Quote)
…”chipper” ❓ ….I’m guessing that’s Oz slang for light-hearted or sumik.
The only promise I’m on tonight mate is one of cider, gambling and football. My usual Saturday night will be stepping back in time by a day.
Rodzilla(Quote)
well the way it seems to most Carr can watch as many players as he wants but if the club **** about whats the point of having him as it seems a bit of a waste having him scout players.
Most fans at the start of the window before letting anyone go said we needed 2-3 top players along with a few back ups.
But I have noticed a few now are changing their opinion and saying we’ll maybe only get 1 main player? So would that mean that they would agree that the club are failing us and the team, if they don’t get the players in that we need ?
Big Dave(Quote)
More of a yank word Rodz 🙂 was trying to cover a international blog fan base.. 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Well Carr has 8 years up his sleeves to find our next player 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Ice, “coming to blows”….”violent exchange”….err, well it looked like his dad shouted at his agent. Definitely handbags. The French source they got the article from says his dad pushed the agent, who didn’t respond.
ULTRA VIOLENCE 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
Meant to add that if we don’t get a striker in we could be well and truely fuked if /when the Dembas go to ACON as there is no way Strolla is going to become a good enough striker to score the goals we’ll need to maintain our top 5 or 6 status.
Big Dave(Quote)
Angry Toon striker quashes departure rumours in emphatic style. NUFC Fans
More Token Ba Commitment Quotes. Toon Army Blog (Weblog)
Same story as this would you believe.
premandup(Quote)
Way to go Oswaldo! 😯
WOO! 😎
I dig your humor.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Dave, regarding the top 5 or 6 status. Interestingly enough I was checking out some football odds the other day and the bookies don’t rate us as a ‘top six side’ for next season, which I find a bit odd.
They have Spurs and Liverpool above us. We’re around 3/1 to finish in the top 6, which looks like a good bet to me.
I guess the bookies think we’re not gona strengthen appropriately and will suffer fatigue.
…still, plenty of time to bring players in. It would’ve been nice to see someone over line by now I must admit. Just hope Fatty pulls his chubby finger oot soon.
Rodzilla(Quote)
@Aussie
Your comparison on the other thread was very poor. You are trying too hard fella. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Rod can you honestly see us getting the 2-3 top players and the back up players that we’ll need to maintain a top 6 finish when you consider the extra games we’ll be playing in Europe this year ?.
Big Dave(Quote)
Huh, sorry mate, I had moved on from that, suggest you do the same 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
I think we’ll see Debuchy in plus a striker. I’d like to see a CB but maybe Pards thinks Perch and Tavs will provide enough cover for the usual 3.
MDS(Quote)
Dave, I know what I want, but I don’t expect it to happen. Like you said earlier we needed 2 or 3 players before losing Best, Guthrie and Lovenkrands.
I think we’ll scrape the barrel again and gamble on not losing players.
I also think the board will be looking at Marveuax and Saylor as ‘new additions’, so as far as they see it we just need two defenders. That’s my take on it anyway.
I think we’ll bring in 2 ‘defensive players’, which I guess would make us stronger than last season (given our players coming back from injury), plus the fact that some of our youngsters are looking sharper,
It’d be nice to see 4 or 5 ‘proven’ players through the door, which would make life a lot easier, but I very much doubt it will happen.
Anyway, who knows 😯 …we may all be pleasantly surprised yet!
Rodzilla(Quote)
@aussie
I never let people off the hook until they’ve admitted they made a right fool of themselves. 😉
My hook is on maximum tension with you at the mo. 😆
Anyway, 3 days to go for Ba’s contract clause to run out and then we know he’s ours.
I know this as I read the papers and listen to sloppy chops and the football news.
I can’t say 100% that it’s true cos I haven’t seen his contract personally but I wasnt in the world war but I know it’s happened. 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
*Marveaux 😯 😳 😆
Rodzilla(Quote)
* Only 6 league goals in 42 games (1 every 7 games/1 every 516 mins)
* 5.2% conversion rate (Lowest of any striker in the PL)
* Passing accuracy in opposition half: 57% (Lowest in LFC’s squad by a long way)
* Overall Shooting accuracy: 35%
* Only 64% of aerial duels won, despite his height + alleged ability in the air.
Above are stats on Andy Carroll for last season. Worth 17mil to you?
JJ(Quote)
If we don’t buy anyone then the club should rake in around £40m profit surely from TV and all other revenue streams. 😯
Mike knows what he’s doing. 😐
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy, I heard WW2 never happened. It was all shot at Pinewood Studios. 😯
Rodzilla(Quote)
Troy, as Bazil Fawlty said to the Major “don’t mention the war”” 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
JJ
We all know stats are deceptive.
How many starts?
Were the other players supporting him when he got the ball?
How long did it take for him to recover from injury?
Stats can be
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Look out! Troy has us not buying anyone now … just a day or so he was calling for us to chillax.. my what a turn around…
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
JJ@35, by those stats no, for sure. That’s why it’d be foolish for them to sell him now IMO.
I’m guessing his stats were a lot better than that when he played in a better team though.
Rodzilla(Quote)
@Aussie
I believe we will buy a couple of quality players but I’m just pointing out that if we don’t the profits should reach £40m.
I’m normally right but occasionally wrong so I was giving both scenarios so this time so I’ve covered all angles. 😎
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Exactly Troy@39 😉
…despite the truncated post I agree with you.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Carroll would have to hold the record for the amount of excuses made to cover his lack of talent.
Where do I begin.
He is home sick.
He was forced out and didn’t want to play for Liverpool.
He was injured.
KK didn’t play to his strengths.
He didn’t start enough games.
If only he got a run of games.
He is good at defending though.
He is not happy.
He will come good given the chance.
The goal keepers kept on saving his shots.
The 35m price tag is weighing him down.
He misses his family and friends back home.
Newcastle played to his strengths.
Liverpool didn’t play to his strengths.
Liverpool like to keep the ball n the ground.
Have I missed any…. more than likely..
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
All that effort Aussie, jettisoned into the dark void of the tinterweb.
Lost forever…
New article up……
😆
Rodzilla(Quote)
Some wing man you are Rodz, you could have told me that before a started typing all that ****. 🙂 🙂
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
@Aussie
You are trying too hard fella. Relax and let it flow. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
You could always pull the most heinous of blog crimes, and whip out a crafty copy/paste Aussie 😉 😆
Rodzilla(Quote)
Let what flow?
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Rod @ around 31 – 33 we live in hope 😆
Aussie @ 44 ? so what would you say was the problem with Torres last season as he is without doubt a very talented striker, so would be interested on hearing your take on it ? has he any excuses or is he just **** ❓
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave, so now we are comparing Torres with Carroll. Carroll has had 1/2 a season of good football and that is it. Torres has played many seasons of good football but seems to have lost his passion for the game. You can not compare the two. One has been there done that and the other hasn’t even left home base.
aussie magpie fan(Quote)
Aussie yeah I think you can compare the 2 imo they both suffered due to changing teams and struggling to settle in. Yeah we all know that Torres is a better player than what he was at chelski.
But we all know that Carroll is better than what he was at the dippers.
JJ the same goes to you aswell since your into the stats what is the total of the games he started, or the total mins on the pitch instead of the very suspect stats that you have put up.
Big Dave(Quote)
Big Dave, Torres was down in the dumps well before he left Liverpool. His is a heart issue if you ask me, just doesn’t seem to have the passion any more. Torres has shown over 4 or 5 seasons that he has what it takes. Carroll on the other hand has yet to truly prove himself over any stretch of time, so who is to say the changing of club is the reason for him not scoring. Like I mentioned before, there are a lot of excuses being made for him. What if he is simply not as good as first thought.
aussie magpie fan(Quote)