Ba was barracked by sections of the crowd for all the time he was on the pitch, and was subjected to ironic cheers when he was withdrawn with padding under his nose after a coming together with Fabricio Coloccini which ultimately resulted in Ba being diagnosed with a broken nose. Mind you, Rafa Benitez is having a laugh claiming it was a red card offence by Colo. It was just one of those things that happen unfortunately…
Obviously I understand that not all fans were party to this tribal behaviour and some will have, quite rightly, applauded him after his efforts for us during his stint at Newcastle. My question is though, what has Ba done to deserve such treatment from fans who used to worship him and begged him to stay?
The facts are that he was always going to leave at some point and I get the feeling that we were just a stepping stone for him. The thing is, it worked for us as we had a striker who scored prolifically for us which gave us the springboard to reach Europe. Put simply it worked for him as much as it worked for us. It was a gamble that paid off for both sides.
Now Ba always remained non-committal when it came to commenting about his future, which tells a story in itself. The presence of that release clause should give you another clue as to what his intentions were from the start. But in fairness there was no badge kissing from Ba, no “boyhood dream” stuff that we heard from another semi-recently departed striker. Basically he didn’t feed us words we wanted to hear and had his own agenda.
People will say that he moved for the money and that’s probably a part of it, but he’s also moved to a club that, despite the fact we beat them yesterday, are always up near the top of the league challenging for honours and are generally good for a cup final appearance at least. Basically he’s got himself a pay rise and will be in with a shout of winning silverware. Can anyone tell me what is wrong with that? Can anyone else say that they wouldn’t do the same if you were playing for a club that you had no real connection with?
I didn’t want to drag the whole Demba Ba thing back up again as it’s history for me, but the stick he got yesterday seems unjust for a player who produced the goods for us time and time again. Yes people can say he was a disruptive influence and caused friction by wanting to be played as a striker, but that’s his position and being truthful it’s a good job he did as we’d have been even shorter on goals if he didn’t.
I just don’t get why he got such a hard time? Andy Carroll did far worse after waffling on about his dreams and moving on shortly after signing a new, long-term contract, yet a lot of fans who dished out stick to Ba would welcome Carroll back with open arms. Baffling.
At the end of the day it’s been and gone now and hopefully people have got that bit of frustration out of their system. Just remember though, Ba was as good for us as we were for him. The marriage between NUFC and Ba wasn’t one of love even though I don’t doubt that he enjoyed his time here, instead it was a one of convenience which both sides ultimately benefited from in one way or another.
It’s just business…
No.
funkyjesus(Quote)
No.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
I’m with Funky – I say no aswell. If he had left for a club like QPR and it was all about the money then I’d say yes. Nolan and Barton deserve boos coz they left for money reason IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
No, he served us well whilst he was here. However, Cisse led the line better than he did, but the booing was definitely out of order.
Groucho(Quote)
Absolutely agree Toonsy,
There is a lot of berating against players that I think is unjust. The abuse Jonas got recently, Shola gets constantly etc etc..players who have the right attitude and want to be here, so not surprised Demba got abuse really. Makes us look a bit silly as the European Champions wanted him and were going to pay him more money? Not like he was a local born number 9…
Moreno(Quote)
I think you have to distinguish between the booing and jeering that is banter and that which is for dislike of the player or person. That is said easier than done. In fact impossible. I would like to think it was banter but if booing an opponent gives us an advantage and fires up the crowd etc and good comes of it the for me it is acceptable from a tribal point of view
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
It was a shame as he did well for us, however the player made it plain he wanted to move, his comments didn’t help when he went to Chelsea and the team had to play around him which had its tole on others. Sir Les always got a fantastic welcome others to but it is those who didn’t want to move or made comments when they did that are respected. I believe that Ba was probably the victim of his agents greed, but his demands on what position he played etc. goes against team spirit.
WallsendStu(Quote)
Not really. But the ‘stick’ is nothing personal for me as our job as the home crowd is to intimidate the opposition, by booing and jeering etc. Give me Ba’s reported 90k a week and I’ll take all the stick Suarez gets from every crowd, never mind the bit of booing poor Demba Ba got. Hell, I’d take a kick in the face every week for that. 😆 If he understands football then he won’t take it to heart, like I said it’s to get us an advantage. I wish him all the best whenever he doesn’t play us but when he does he’s the enemy, and he gets treat the same as the rest. Now I think about it, he got off lightly yesterday considering he left us in the middle of a relegation scrap in January.
Sissoko(Quote)
He is a greedy ****
Cisseisgod(Quote)
My god, Enrique is **** since he went to Liverpool to be with his world-class players. A shadow of the player that was at the toon.
DJG(Quote)
Moreno – I don’t agree with Carroll being booed either – (well not before he took that DIVE!). I don’t believe well ever know who was the driving force of that move but I reckon £35m upfront played a big part in it. Nevertheless, we made a fortune, he left for a club where he’d win trophies (and did last year) and would get a bigger wage. Carroll has never completely looked happy by the move and for me, he’s still a Geordie so part of me will always want to see the kid do well, wherever he is.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The reason I think Ba got, and deserved, stick is because he is clearly self centred and greedy. Yes he did well for us but it was a by-product of him furthering his own career IMO. Yes all players want individual success but it has to be a balance between the club and the individual, it is a team game. Ba said it himself, we are now just another fixture and another 3 points to him now he has abandoned us for more personal success. Does he care about us, does he heck, why should we care about him?
DJG(Quote)
Yes- i applauded him pre match, over the moon he get taken of 😈
wind up the old boy= hopfully put them off 😉
toonarmybill(Quote)
Probably not but as Sissoko said its the crowds job to unsettle them and I was at a field the 1st time Carroll played against us and he go far worse!
Les toon(Quote)
He should not have been booed at all. He is a quality striker but because of his knee no one has ever thought him worth the risk. He has scored wherever he played but no one ever offered him the big wages because they thought he might break down at any moment, all the while there are strikers getting paid much more than him who are getting injured anyway or not scoring when they are fit. Now, in what will probably be his final ever contract, he has some stability and is on the big wages his numbers deserve. Good on you Demba and thanks for all the goals whilst you were here.
Charlietoon(Quote)
‘Basically he’s got himself a pay rise and will be in with a shout of winning silverware. Can anyone tell me what is wrong with that?’
The thing is though toonsy, if we could keep at first team of 11 Ba’s and Sissoko’s then why couldn’t we be in with a shout of winning something? Is it that impossible to conceive? It will never happen if we are happy to be a ‘stepping stone’.
DJG(Quote)
Well, Tiote’s coming home now.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
ivory Coast out of ACON! Tiote back for spurs. lalvey!
rossco(Quote)
Agree Toonsy, some of it was way over the top.
However, “are you watching Demba Ba” after we beat his new boys was perfectly reasonable and good banter. The other continuous booing, I thought was a bit pathetic.
Newkie(Quote)
Tiote vs. Parker?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
I couldn’t care less tbh. Yesterday we showed some grit and some fight instead of throwing in the towel. That is what I’m thinking about, not feeling sorry for Demba Ba. He’s history.
DJG(Quote)
Alain is going to have a selection headache! Surely Tiote on the bench against Spurs? Although I still see nothing in what Perch gives us. The game slowed everytime the ball went to him. I’d have Anita in and Tiote in the bench.
Stuart79(Quote)
Look if its banter that’s one thing but when he’s getting booed coz he’s coming back on the field of play when Colo kicked the lads fucking lips off then that’s bad form IMO. He wasn’t appealing for Ba to be sent off or anything like that. If he scored and ran the length of the pitch to celebrate infront of our fans as Adebayor did to the gunners fans then Boo the **** out of him.
Ba also had racist tweets sent to him when he left, which I know nobody on here would advocate, but it’s abuse from supposed toon fans.
DJG – he may have furthered his career but as a by product, him playing well made us a better team. His goals contributed to our high finish last season and I dread to think where we’d be in the league without his goals this season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
yes.. boo the *****. at the time he left we were in dire straits. no strikers, no defence no hope and looking at relegation… so he up sticks and **** off leaving us in what could have been a disaster. he showed us no loyalty so we can do the same.
craig chisholm(Quote)
http://nothingbutnewcastle.com/2013/02/blogs/video-tiote-scores-a-header-and-could-be-available-vs-tottenham
Yay, he’s back and got his coring boots back as well.
Andymag(Quote)
Interesting article Toonsy ,good question . It’s never nice to boo ex players as by and large they do their best for you .But we have a complex situation in Ba , a totally committed goal scorer who gave us lots of goals while at the Toon but an aloof emotionless character who goes for the best offer rather than the best stadium /fans etc. We always knew he was using us as a stepping stone just as we used him to get us goals 😉 .The thing with Ba was after being the main man goals wise along came Cisse who started up front ,not unreasonable considering he was our no.9 and proceeded to smash em in at a rate of knots. Ba would of known that his loss of form and goalscoring oppotunities would cost him a lucrative move to the Chelseas and Manures and Citehs of this world and that would be a disaster for him since that was his next step ,which I have no problem with. What Ido have a problem with is him demanding to take the spot off Cisse and Cisse being shunted out to the right where he was untried previously. Imo it had a terrible effect on the team set up /moral but in fairness Ba got a hat full ,Cisse however did not and looked lost and a shadow of himself. The fact that ba was getting us lots of goals was great for Ba first and foremost , but it was always a shop window display for him and never about Newcastle imo ,if it were he would of stayed and helped us avoid relegation , no. Only now are we starting to see a confidence return to Cisse who must of wondered what he did so wrong last season for Pards to give Ba the staring role .His offsides are getting fewer too and his passing and link up play are very good again ,now he’s back up front . I think that’s the reason he was getting boos yesterday and whilst I wouldn’t of done it I understand why . I also don’t think his goals are that important as they could just of easily of been scored by Cisse had he had faith shown in him from the start and many times Ba has shot when he should of passed for a better chance . But that’s just my opinion ,right or wrong . I will now wait for Micheal12 to hunt me down and shoot me 😉
KIMTOON(Quote)
Good to have him on the bench but surley we cant make changes too the starting line up ,we have won 2 on the bounce ffs . Yesterdays performance was sheer class from all 11, it was a pure team effort you cant change after that . Too think what our bench is going too be with Tiote added to it . Pards has selection problems now 😀
Axel(Quote)
Benny is here to further his career and has stated he is more than willing to join Chelsea, Manure, Liverpool et al. Would I have had much bad will to him if he left on the last day? Not really, he’s one of the most talented players I have ever seen, and is better than what we can offer him really…that’s football. I hope fans don’t turn on him if he leaves amicably.
Newkie(Quote)
Moreno @5
‘Makes us look a bit silly as the European Champions wanted him and were going to pay him more money? Not like he was a local born number 9…’
Hmm. Did they want Cisse at the end of last season? Did Cisse put a clause in his contract? Did Chelsea say we want this player and will pay whatever it takes to get him, a la Torres? Or where they only interested because of Harry, Ba and his agents? It all stinks to high heaven doesn’t it.
DJG(Quote)
Craig – your post surprises me mate, I wasn’t expecting that to be your viewpoint on the matter 😯 😆
As I say, the blokes goals this season have almost guaranteed that we aren’t languishing bottom of the league right now. Don’t forget, he could have easily left in the summer via the same release clause and went to a Turkish or Russian club probably for as much as Chelsea are paying him.
Sharpy17(Quote)
While i would not of booed him and hate Violence it was funny watching him come back on with that white bandage covering his nose and upper lip , and what a kick in the face it was . Why the bloody hell they tried getting the poor sod back on the pitch beggars belief
Axel(Quote)
I understand not wanting to change the team based on yesterday’s performance, but for me Tiote and Benny walk right into the team whenever they are ready
MDS(Quote)
Newkie ,Benny is a different kettle of fish imo,you never really hear him moan about where he is asked to play .And even after Pards was saying pubicly that he needed to do more defensive duties he didn’t sulk he just got his head down and did as he was told .Ba was never going to accept being put out left even though he CAN play there . Last season it benefitted the team and Cisse was on fire but it didn’t suit Ba’s agenda and so it got changed. The first game after Ba left when Cisse scored the players celebration of his goal all mobbing him spoke volumes to me.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim-As far as I’m aware, Benny has complained the same amount of times as Ba has about position-once. In fact, he may well have mentioned it more times. It’s not up to Ba who Pards choses to play where…
I’m not going to get into the Ba on the wing thing again, it’s enough to say he’s not playing there for Chelsea. They’re playing a 3.5 mil striker over their 50mil striker, right up front…
Newkie(Quote)
Tiote in for Perch is a no brainer
Robert(Quote)
With Tiote back it means Bigi will also be dropped from the bench (whether Tiote’s on the bench or the first XI), seems a shame really. The best thing then would be to start Bigi in EL games, would enhance his development and would rest key players. Him and Perch at CM with Obertan and with Marv or Sammy on the wings would be good.
Andymag(Quote)
Good heavens, what a goal by Aguero.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Newkie ,course they are Torres is ***** 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
Fans ,brilliant wasn’t it.
KIMTOON(Quote)
The thing with Benny is he needs too be loved as well , he is the sort of player that needs an arm around him and know the crowd love him too ,thats why i dont see him leaving unless its for PSG or Barca .could not see the likes of Ferguson , Mancini or Wenger treating him the same way as Pards has .
On another note i have just read that Pards blocked Simpsons move to Wigan apparently they bid 850.000 but he did not want too sell to relegation rivals . 😯
Axel(Quote)
Newkie ,When has Benny moaned about where he plays ? seriously I had no idea of that would like to see it. I know he has expressed a desire about us being more ambitious in order for him to stay .
KIMTOON(Quote)
WTF would anyone wanna play for Wigan anyway. 😕
KIMTOON(Quote)
Kim-Was in that French interview recently , they asked him about playing the number 10 role and he said he wasn’t playing the no.10 role, he was playing on the wing because “he had to” although I am relying on the french translation for that…Didn’t he also complain about his impact roles and he wanted to start? Like around december last season when he was coming back? Similar issue
Newkie(Quote)
So if we believe the talk, Ben Arfa and Tiote could both be available for the Tottenham match?
So outside Ryan Taylor, that makes all regular first team squad players available for the first time this season, right?
funkyjesus(Quote)
MDS I am a little worried about tiote coming back he has had a bad season watching him today he just fouled all game,I think he will be gone in the summer imo
icedog(Quote)
What puzzles me is that it’s only the players who do well for us that get booed when they leave.
How many would boo Best if we played Bburn, or Guthrie when we played Reading or even Simpson when he leaves at the end of the season?.
How many booed Colo yesterday?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Newkie ,I remember when he was first with us and just getting sub roles he wasn’t happy but that was more cause he was desperate to play the full 90 I think. It was aroundabout then Pards was moaning he had to defend more too.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Tiote straight in for Perch, Benny straight in for Jonas Imo. If Jonas had been performing up to this standard more than just the one match he would have given himself more of a chance.
Still think we’ll probably see him though 🙄 Wouldn’t mind him at DM instead of Perch but wing? No thanks.
Newkie(Quote)
Aguero – goal of the season so far for me like, what a finish 😯
Sharpy17(Quote)
SHARPY you should know fans are very fickle
mate,iI have stopped trying to weigh them up
icedog(Quote)
Very good article as I was ashamed yesterday at the lack of respect to Ba. Fair enough he plays for another team, but its Chelsea rather than Sunderland. lol.
I also get really frustrated sometimes watching the game when the fans moan n groan and heckle at a loose pass or bad touch. This is really annoying and in my opinion it sounds worse at SJP than anywhere else.
Anita was getting it after a only playing a couple of times!!!
And i heard in the first half the fans did it to Sissoko!!
Unbelievable!
BIGPAPA(Quote)
Just wish the crowd would encourage people a bit more sometimes.
BIGPAPA(Quote)
Kim-Didn’t he only play 3 games for us when he was first with us? Starting against Everton and City, sub role previously at blackpool, that was under hoots and it wasn’t til the summer we saw him again? Last decemberish he was becoming fit again but only started to nail down his spot in Feb/March i think.
Newkie(Quote)
Can anyone really believe how good Sissoko is?? If he continues as he started.
BIGPAPA(Quote)
Sharpy ,It might be cause when AC left it left us in the ***** striker wise and whenBa left we were /are fighting relegation . Plus it’s the hope that booing puts them off ,personally it would spur me on .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Defo deserved the stick as he said himself went to a bigger club well not in terms of stadiums,cant beleive we got peeps trying to blame ba agents if they were to blame why did he not tell them to STFU.
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Benny won’t feature in the Spurs game. Last I heard he was still in France recovering. I reckon the home game against Southampton after maybe an appearance in Europe will be his return.
toonsy(Quote)
Newkie ,god knows ,I know he was moaning about starts in 2012 though.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Noticed this bouncing around on Twitter:
Freelance journalist @indykaila
Chinese company Li Ning Company Limited have made enquiries for a stake in a #English club. They have been in contact with #EFC and #NUFC.
funkyjesus(Quote)
Toonsy
Agreed. Pardew won’t rush HBA back when we are already playing well and have depth. Tiote’s return will boost the team mentally and he should be straight in ahead of Perch. I do remember Pardew saying once that certain players are nailed on first team players. Tiote and HBA are part of that select group me thinks.
…Don’t be surprised to see Gouffran dropped ahead of Jonas though 🙄
The Kid(Quote)
KID no way will tiote come in against spurs mate ime,on the bench maybe
icedog(Quote)
Oh, I wouldn’t put Benny in before he’s ready, I just meant as soon as he’s 100% he’d be in the team. So I suppose that does still give Jonas/Gouffran a few weeks.
The kid-Yeah, Gouffran being dropped wouldn’t shock me either 🙄 Marv as a sub to change a game though, very handy.
Newkie(Quote)
Ice
Maybe not Spurs, but definitely the next following game.
Jonas is actually perfect for Spurs because we will need hard workers to stop Lennon and Bale. Gouffran has proved he has the workrate.
Bale has been drifting into the middle a lot lately, and as good as Perch has been, he falls asleep at times and leaves massive gaps. We really can’t afford do this with Bale as once he gets going he is borderline unstoppable.
The Kid(Quote)
To be honest I’d play Anita first the way Tiote has been all season.
Imagine all that energy in the middle of the park. Like a team of atoms 😆
toonsy(Quote)
Perch over Anita but Tiote over Perch. Perch compliments Cabaye well, loved the amount of times Perch just made simple 2 yard passes to Cabaye and gives more assurance than anita defensively, but if Tiote is back in time for Spurs he starts. Gives the option of Perch from the bench if we need to hold on to something
BIGPAPA(Quote)
he got the stick because he is black.y dont u do that to the other former white players?
clndr jerry(Quote)
Where has it been mentioned that Benny could be available for Tottenham? I thought he was out until the end of Feb. Hopefully we are starting to show some ambition to him with the signing of Sissoko and Gouffran, when he comes back it could be the last piece of the jigsaw I think. Yes the likes of Bigirimana, Marv and Willo are seeing their chances reduced, but… this is great. We have gone from having Willo and Collo both looking jaded to having real competition with Taylor, Collo, Mbwia all pushing for a start and Willo in reserve after that. The defense looked a lot stronger against Chelsea and it was two wonder goals that beat them to be honest. Outside of the top group of teams, the others don’t have players like Lampard and Mata. The competition is great now and everybody will get a game at some point. Allowing for a few injuries, I think we have a really healthy squad depth with these five additions in January. We have witnessed what it was like with not enough, now we are just about right I would say, it is a fine balancing act.
DJG(Quote)
JERRY. no need for that on this blog,jog on
icedog(Quote)
@ 67
WTF?
Do one… bringing that **** into it
BIGPAPA(Quote)
Toonsy I hear you on Anita but I’m just not sure that MF is defensive minded enough. Anita likes to get forward and I think you take away from his and Cabaye’s strengths by asking either of them to hang back. Nice problem to have though- this team no longer picks itself 😯
MDS(Quote)
correction @ 66 ^^^^^!!!!
BIGPAPA(Quote)
clndr jerry
February 3, 2013 at 18:29
“he got the stick because he is black.y dont u do that to the other former white players?”
Like Andy Carroll? Damien Duff? Jose Enrique? All of them got far worse and last time I checked they were white so get your facts right you fucking bigoted *****.
toonsy(Quote)
@66- time to **** off kid
MDS(Quote)
What a **** you look now Jerry!!!!! Whopper
BIGPAPA(Quote)
Ba was amazing for us and i loved him for that but he is a chelsea player now, so i don’t really care how much stick he gets.
Seen a few things around the web that Steven Taylor got a kicking last night. Cant see any mention on here though. Is there any truth in it?
Santii(Quote)