Jump to content
Newcastle-Online

Demba Ba (now retired)

jdckelly

by jdckelly
in Football

 Share

Recommended Posts

Elliottman

Elliottman

Posted
Posted
DEMBA BA and Papiss Cisse will be given the job of shooting down Norwich City today – but both have been warned they must find their best form and soon.

 

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew revealed yesterday that Ba had apologised for what his agent Alex Gortan said after last Monday’s draw with Everton, when he claimed his client had not been shown enough respect and would quit the Magpies if he wasn’t a regular starter.

 

Ba came on at half-time at Goodison Park and scored twice to win his side a point in a 2-2 draw, but last season’s sensation Cisse is yet to score for his club and had looked well off the pace.

 

Both strikers will be given another chance by their boss this afternoon at St James’ Park in a game Newcastle are desperate to win after three Premier League fixtures without a victory.

 

But while Pardew retains confidence in his two Senegalese stars, they are under strict orders to start scoring goals.

 

The Toon boss said: “Ba and Cisse will start. Make no mistake about that.

 

“But we need them back to their best because they haven’t been at their best, either of them, until that second half at Everton when I thought, suddenly, ‘Here we go’.”

 

Asked whether the Ba story had been overblown, Pardew added: “Well I think so. In all honesty, Demba hasn’t been playing well. But he came on (at Everton) and proved what a great player he is, and he is a great player.

 

“But we all need to focus our minds on the job in hand and that’s what we’re doing.

 

“Demba and I are quite intelligent about the way we go about things. He’s an intelligent boy. Things have been said from within his camp, which I think have been unfortunate. We’ve had somewhat of an apology for that as well and we look forward to the game on Sunday.”

 

Pardew insisted he did not drop Ba last week to make a point.

 

He said: “I don’t think he deserves that and I certainly wouldn’t go down that line.

 

“I think he’s far too intelligent, and I am, to fall into that trap.”

 

Cheick Tiote may start on the bench, while Vurnon Anita is available after becoming a father to a baby girl on Thursday.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Mole_Toonfan

Mole_Toonfan

Posted
Posted

4-4-2 :(

 

Play it like we did against Everton in the second half, that was attacking not just sitting too deep.

 

Aye, Cabaye and Ben Arfa was further forward and Cisse and Ba wasn't really getting in the way of each other i'd be fine with 2nd half Everton every week tbh.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Shak

Shak

Posted
Posted

The system isn't the main issue, it's our movement off the ball.

 

In the 4-4-2 only Ben Arfa and Jonas ever stray from their position at all. The two CM's both sit deep (Cabaye really needs to get into more advanced positions) and neither striker has been working the channels at all.

 

We've tried to play it on the ground more this year, but it's not as simple as just deciding to pass it around a bit. We've ended up playing it long a lot simply because the movement off the ball isn't good enough for us to consistently pass the ball through teams.

 

Long term I think a 4-2-3-1 is the way to go for our squad, but switching to it now won't cure all our problems by any means.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Ted Maul

Ted Maul

Posted
Posted

The system isn't the main issue, it's our movement off the ball.

 

In the 4-4-2 only Ben Arfa and Jonas ever stray from their position at all. The two CM's both sit deep (Cabaye really needs to get into more advanced positions) and neither striker has been working the channels at all.

 

We've tried to play it on the ground more this year, but it's not as simple as just deciding to pass it around a bit. We've ended up playing it long a lot simply because the movement off the ball isn't good enough for us to consistently pass the ball through teams.

 

Long term I think a 4-2-3-1 is the way to go for our squad, but switching to it now won't cure all our problems by any means.

 

Agree with that.  You can't expect to play an attacking game at home when you have Jonas on the left and Cabaye who when in a central midfield two naturally seems to sit back.  The front two in that formation become horribly isolated which is what we've seen recently when we play that formation at home.  It's not as much of a problem when playing away but it becomes a huge one when you're against a team who has set up to soak up pressure - they will be clearing up long balls to Ba and Cisse all day with little trouble.

 

I'd like to see us try Marveaux and Ben Arfa either side of Ba or Cisse at home (with Marveaux on the left as opposed to the right where he looks much less effective), and make sure Cabaye is pushed up forward where he can make effective through balls and pull the strings with two more defensive-minded midfielders like Tiote and Anita/Perch backing it up and protecting the back four.  It's vital with two DMs though to have full backs who can actually attack - no problems with Santon on the one side but Simpson on the other is a different story.  This is partly why the fact that we missed out on Debuchy was such a bitter pill to swallow.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Mole_Toonfan

Mole_Toonfan

Posted
Posted

The system isn't the main issue, it's our movement off the ball.

 

In the 4-4-2 only Ben Arfa and Jonas ever stray from their position at all. The two CM's both sit deep (Cabaye really needs to get into more advanced positions) and neither striker has been working the channels at all.

 

We've tried to play it on the ground more this year, but it's not as simple as just deciding to pass it around a bit. We've ended up playing it long a lot simply because the movement off the ball isn't good enough for us to consistently pass the ball through teams.

 

Long term I think a 4-2-3-1 is the way to go for our squad, but switching to it now won't cure all our problems by any means.

 

Agree completely.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Yorkie

Yorkie

Posted
Posted

There are several issues with the 4-4-2, including a lack of movement off the ball, but the main one was that we had two right-footers down the left, and one left-footer down the right, leaving us completely unbalanced.

 

We addressed that at Everton and looked a lot better for it. If we're going 4-4-2 again today i'll be frustrated if it's not left-HBA/right-Jonas.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Shak

Shak

Posted
Posted

Honestly think that was only because Baines was down the left for them and Pardew didn't trust Ben Arfa to mark him. I don't think it was done for the benefit of our attacking play at all.

 

Jonas will be on the left again today IMO. Agree that it'd be nice to see them where they were against Everton though.

Link to post
Share on other sites
TRon

TRon

Posted
Posted

The system isn't the main issue, it's our movement off the ball.

 

In the 4-4-2 only Ben Arfa and Jonas ever stray from their position at all. The two CM's both sit deep (Cabaye really needs to get into more advanced positions) and neither striker has been working the channels at all.

 

We've tried to play it on the ground more this year, but it's not as simple as just deciding to pass it around a bit. We've ended up playing it long a lot simply because the movement off the ball isn't good enough for us to consistently pass the ball through teams.

 

Long term I think a 4-2-3-1 is the way to go for our squad, but switching to it now won't cure all our problems by any means.

 

Good post.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Dave

Dave

Posted
Posted

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2207519/Alan-Pardew-praises-Demba-Ba-scoring-Newcastles-winner-Norwich.html

However, having received an apology from Ba and, Pardew revealed, an olive branch from his representative, peace appears to have broken out once again, although the £7.5million release-clause in his current contract remains in place.

 

The manager said: 'There has just been so much nonsense written about it. His agent sent me an e-mail saying he was misquoted, and I actually believe him.

 

'I am not usually one to believe agents that much, but I do believe him on this occasion, and I also think Demba's anger has been generated in the right way - to improve for Newcastle United.

 

'There is no way that Demba can play every game this season. He is going to miss some other games - so will Shola [Ameobi] and so will Papiss [Cisse].

 

'The best thing we can do is try to play the best players we have and get a win, and Demba led from start to finish today - not just his goal - in the dressing room, everything about him was top drawer.'

Link to post
Share on other sites
wormy

wormy

Posted
Posted

"He's not happy at the club"

 

Fuck off Murray you cunt.

 

Such a prick. :lol:

 

What a needless conversation based on all ifs and buts. If he's not performing for the team you'd be unhappy, Freddie? Good thing he's still performing then you shits. :lol:

 

That music just turned that into such a cringeworthy montage ffs. :lol: Surprised Lawrenson hasn't asked for his own montage every week he's on.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...