Tooj Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-demba-ba-showdown-talks-1139862 Pardew has told Ba he will be used in a more central attacking position for more games - including a huge increase in work load caused by the Europa League - and that he is searching for a way of getting the best out of his talents. Pardew faced questions for the first time after the summer break yesterday and sent a strong message to rivals considering plundering his fifth places finishers that "inflated" prices will be forced on any buyer. On the Ba saga he admitted: "I just think the whole thing with Demba has been constant and whether that changes now I don't know. I've not seen any sign from Demba since he came back that suggests he wants to find another club. I don't sense that at all. "I genuinely don't see a situation where he wants to move on. He has not stressed to me he wants to move to pastures new. "He has said to me he wants some reassurance from me. He wants a more striking role this season and I think he will. "He played a couple of roles that were unorthodox for me last season to help the team, that's the sort of person he is. He wants to play through the middle and score goals, that's what he does best. "He has a contract to Newcastle and he is loved here. He had a brilliant, especially the first half, last season. After the African Nations, I think it did not go as well for him as it could have. "That is something we will look at because we want him to be at his very, very best. But we are planning for him to have another great season with us." Positive comments, wonder what he can mean by the bit in bold though. More 4-4-2? Surely he doesn't mean Cisse out wide. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan_Taylor Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Sigh 4-4-2 hoofball it will be again :/ Why? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 The thing is Ba did actually spend quite a bit of time centrally in the 4-3-3- and all of this would probably be ignored if he'd have had a bit more luck in front of goal. As quite often Cisse would score early so Ba would spend the majority of his time centrally for the rest of the game to try and get a goal. At times to the detriment of the team might I add. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiresias Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Just him playing centrally next season, I know i'm being silly over-reacting Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 4-4-2 doesn't have to be hoofball, as we will probably see when we phase out Williamson and Simpson. For some reason I cannot imagine a backline of 'Santon Coloccini Douglas* Debuchy*' being set out to contain teams and hit it long. *The style of players we are looking to bring in atleast. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 I do prefer 4-3-3 fwiw, I just don't think we should let our bad experiences of 4-4-2 last year effect our system next year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 And whilst 4-4-2 was painful at times, we did finish 5th using mainly that formation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 The thing is Ba did actually spend quite a bit of time centrally in the 4-3-3- and all of this would probably be ignored if he'd have had a bit more luck in front of goal. As quite often Cisse would score early so Ba would spend the majority of his time centrally for the rest of the game to try and get a goal. At times to the detriment of the team might I add. Totally, they were rotating pretty well at times. If Ba had picked up a couple of goals we probably wouldn't be worrying about this. I don't think he's ideal for the 4-3-3 role, but he's good enough and will also get opportunities when Cisse is out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiresias Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 I agree but out late run was propelled by Ben Arfa and Cisse's form, both suited to a more fluid formation Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
loki679 Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 4-4-2 doesn't have to be hoofball but what we saw last season was that 4-4-2 almost always ended up with us playing hoofball. The fluid 4-3-3 gave us so much more in terms of movement and options on the ball. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeloEmre Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 We ended up playing hoofball because of Williamson and Simpson. I think it's that simple. Get Douglas and Debuchy in and i'm confident that 4-4-2 won't mean hoofball. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 We ended up playing hoofball because of Williamson and Simpson. I think it's that simple. Get Douglas and Debuchy in and i'm confident that 4-4-2 won't mean hoofball. That's basically it for me. I don't believe it was a tactic, I think it was because of player limitations. I do prefer 4-3-3 though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Flash Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Did we have all this over analysing tactics stuff when Ferdinand and Shearer were upfront together? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Did we have all this over analysing tactics stuff when Ferdinand and Shearer were upfront together? What's your point? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Flash Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Did we have all this over analysing tactics stuff when Ferdinand and Shearer were upfront together? What's your point? Tactic banter melts my brain. It was a lot simpler before the internet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Did we have all this over analysing tactics stuff when Ferdinand and Shearer were upfront together? yes we did as we never looked as good as we did the season before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Flash Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Did we have all this over analysing tactics stuff when Ferdinand and Shearer were upfront together? yes we did as we never looked as good as we did the season before. Didn't they get about 50 goals between them that season? Keegan leaving in January probably didn't help either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 4-4-2 doesn't have to be hoofball, as we will probably see when we phase out Williamson and Simpson. For some reason I cannot imagine a backline of 'Santon Coloccini Douglas* Debuchy*' being set out to contain teams and hit it long. *The style of players we are looking to bring in atleast. No it doesn't, but 4-3-3 allows you to keep the ball better and have a better balance between attack and defense. Not to mention it suits Cisse, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Jonas etc etc a lot more. As England showed at the Euros showed 4-4-2 is fine without the ball, but in possession you lack options to go forward properly which is where 4-3-3 excels. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 It's not really that confusing. Most people think we looked much better the small period we played the 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 lark than we did playing 4-4-2. I don't mind 4-4-2 but I don't think it suits any of our players that well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiresias Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 It's not really that confusing. Most people think we looked much better the small period we played the 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 lark than we did playing 4-4-2. I don't mind 4-4-2 but I don't think it suits any of our players that well. This. Nowt wrong with the 4-4-2 when we want two strikers against a weak defence, but we looked better keeping the ball at our feet with 3 in the middle and Ben Arfa pushed further up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skirge Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Demba had plenty of goal scoring opportunities in the 4-3-3 system, he just did not take them, I get he prefers to be more central any striker would but it does not mean he can't have a great season playing wide left in a front three. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Demba had plenty of goal scoring opportunities in the 4-3-3 system, he just did not take them, I get he prefers to be more central any striker would but it does not mean he can't have a great season playing wide left in a front three. Agree, he was close to getting a few goals towards the end. Looking forward to seeing how he does this season, sure he'll be fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
madras Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Did we have all this over analysing tactics stuff when Ferdinand and Shearer were upfront together? yes we did as we never looked as good as we did the season before. Didn't they get about 50 goals between them that season? Keegan leaving in January probably didn't help either. they got goals, we never looked as good as the season before though. keegan left after we'd just stopped an eight game spell without a win playing our worst football in 4 years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 None of of our wingers apart from maybe Marveaux (haven't seen enough yet) are particularly good at the traditional wingplay stuff. Ben Arfa looked far better pushed forward, cutting in without the defensive responsibility and Jonas looked IMO more at home when he doesn't have the creative burden on his shoulders. If we had two flying wingers on either side who's strength was putting crosses in you could see the benefit of going 4-4-2 more. It also freed up Cabaye in midfield more. As good as he is at the defensive side of the game you don't want to limit him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Archie Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 I remember how fans of his previous clubs told me that Ba was a good player but ultimately a mercenary. Makes me a bit reluctant to embrace him fully. Given his knee and fitness levels I'd say Newcastle is a good fit for him, but it seems like he is the sort of player who is always on the move. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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