Demba Ba (now retired)

[AyeDubbleYoo]

The manager's been working with them both for nearly a year, why do they still occupy the same space in his preferred formation?

 

 

It's hilarious how they both run to the center of the box. Lemmings.

 

I'd imagine in training at a PL football club one might be instructed to come to the near post or come short/drift to the edge of the box. Not on your nelly! Straight to the middle.

 

Neville was stating it as a plus point how they follow each other on Monday iirc, pointing out the goal against Wigan where 'if Ba didn't put it in Cisse would have'

 

It's a very basic approach to playing in a front two that you stay close to your partner. The subtlety is not actually making the same moves. And when the ball is wide or at a set piece, don't make the same run near/back post etc.

[Wilson]

The crossing at Fulham was laughable, more than usual tbh. We got into so many positions and produced absolutley nothing.

 

 

Don't think I've ever seen Simpson cross a ball that hasn't been pennyfloatered through the air.

 

so bastard frustrating, must be like training/practice for the opposition.  They just know he's going to float it in from the right about 25 yards from the by-line every time.

[Scoot]

He said cross, not corner....

 

So he did haha.

 

Anyway, that stat for corners is horrendous.

[Parky]

The manager's been working with them both for nearly a year, why do they still occupy the same space in his preferred formation?

 

 

It's hilarious how they both run to the center of the box. Lemmings.

 

I'd imagine in training at a PL football club one might be instructed to come to the near post or come short/drift to the edge of the box. Not on your nelly! Straight to the middle.

 

Neville was stating it as a plus point how they follow each other on Monday iirc, pointing out the goal against Wigan where 'if Ba didn't put it in Cisse would have'

 

It's a very basic approach to playing in a front two that you stay close to your partner. The subtlety is not actually making the same moves. And when the ball is wide or at a set piece, don't make the same run near/back post etc.

 

That's complete bollocks.

 

You're meant to give options in or near the box not hold each others hands. Easy to close out the hot zone for the defenders if as they do they run into very similar areas.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I've heard many coaches and analysts talk about the importance of a strike partnership playing close enough to each other. Sorry it doesn't meet your high standards of opinion though.

[Cajun]

£7.5m 

[Tooj]

Despite Ba's monumental goal return and the fact we need to tie him down to a new contract, I would still rather play Cisse as the central figurehead with Ba a bit wider if we are playing one out and out striker.

 

The reason is that I think Cisse has better ball control, better vision and isn't as selfish as Ba is.

 

More often than not you see Ba get the ball when crowded out and instead of waiting for others to join the attack he'll either end up trying to take about 3 people on or will try and score from some impossible position.

 

His first touch at times is inconsistent as well compared to Cisse's, plus we all know about his stamina issues as playing that roll often requires a lot of selfless running and pressing.

 

The best goal scorer we've had for the best part of a decade though so don't get me wrong I think he's class but in the role he's playing at the moment I think he could just do with playing the percentages a bit better and work more for the team.

 

I expect this to go down well.

[ATB]

Selfish, selfish and selfish again. Doesn´t matter how many goals he scores, I will never really like him.

 

Cisse should, without doubt, play in the middle. That would be the best for the team, which is the most important thing.

[Unbelievable]

Selfish, selfish and selfish again. Doesn´t matter how many goals he scores, I will never really like him.

 

Cisse should, without doubt, play in the middle. That would be the best for the team, which is the most important thing.

 

Aye, not scoring goals will really help our cause. Ba needs to play, his place to lose. Shoehorning Cisse out wide is not the solution though. Bench him and play two real wingers if we are going 4-3-3.

[captainhaircut]

Despite Ba's monumental goal return and the fact we need to tie him down to a new contract, I would still rather play Cisse as the central figurehead with Ba a bit wider if we are playing one out and out striker.

 

The reason is that I think Cisse has better ball control, better vision and isn't as selfish as Ba is.

 

More often than not you see Ba get the ball when crowded out and instead of waiting for others to join the attack he'll either end up trying to take about 3 people on or will try and score from some impossible position.

 

His first touch at times is inconsistent as well compared to Cisse's, plus we all know about his stamina issues as playing that roll often requires a lot of selfless running and pressing.

 

The best goal scorer we've had for the best part of a decade though so don't get me wrong I think he's class but in the role he's playing at the moment I think he could just do with playing the percentages a bit better and work more for the team.

 

I expect this to go down well.

 

Agree 100%. His decision making is very very poor and his control is average at best.

 

I'd be playing him wide but try to get him coming off the wing a bit more than he was last year.

[WarrenBartonCentrePartin]

sometimes wonder if he's actually on his toes enough.  So many times it's played through to him and he's just that one yard away from getting there.

[Beren]

Despite Ba's monumental goal return and the fact we need to tie him down to a new contract, I would still rather play Cisse as the central figurehead with Ba a bit wider if we are playing one out and out striker.

 

The reason is that I think Cisse has better ball control, better vision and isn't as selfish as Ba is.

 

More often than not you see Ba get the ball when crowded out and instead of waiting for others to join the attack he'll either end up trying to take about 3 people on or will try and score from some impossible position.

 

His first touch at times is inconsistent as well compared to Cisse's, plus we all know about his stamina issues as playing that roll often requires a lot of selfless running and pressing.

 

The best goal scorer we've had for the best part of a decade though so don't get me wrong I think he's class but in the role he's playing at the moment I think he could just do with playing the percentages a bit better and work more for the team.

 

I expect this to go down well.

 

Neither player should be out wide.

 

Ba should be central, but deeper.

 

Also, the guy is class. Think Ba has far better ball control too FWIW. I don't like his individualism sometimes, but I think this is a team problem more than a Ba-only-problem.

 

Give him whatever contract he wants IMO. Worth it.

[Tooj]

Despite Ba's monumental goal return and the fact we need to tie him down to a new contract, I would still rather play Cisse as the central figurehead with Ba a bit wider if we are playing one out and out striker.

 

The reason is that I think Cisse has better ball control, better vision and isn't as selfish as Ba is.

 

More often than not you see Ba get the ball when crowded out and instead of waiting for others to join the attack he'll either end up trying to take about 3 people on or will try and score from some impossible position.

 

His first touch at times is inconsistent as well compared to Cisse's, plus we all know about his stamina issues as playing that roll often requires a lot of selfless running and pressing.

 

The best goal scorer we've had for the best part of a decade though so don't get me wrong I think he's class but in the role he's playing at the moment I think he could just do with playing the percentages a bit better and work more for the team.

 

I expect this to go down well.

 

Neither player should be out wide.

 

Ba should be central, but deeper.

 

Also, the guy is class. Think Ba has far better ball control too FWIW. I don't like his individualism sometimes, but I think this is a team problem more than a Ba-only-problem.

 

Give him whatever contract he wants IMO. Worth it.

 

Definitely. In an ideal world we'd buy somebody that can play the "left forward" role and let him and Cisse fight it out as our main man. Still think part of the reason he's played centrally all season is Pardew trying to get him to sign that new contract.

[littlelunchbox]

As much as i love his goals, his overall play is still horrible.

 

Receives the ball either takes too long to control and decide what to do with it next, or he just runs into a brick wall.

[taxfree]

Despite Ba's monumental goal return and the fact we need to tie him down to a new contract, I would still rather play Cisse as the central figurehead with Ba a bit wider if we are playing one out and out striker.

 

The reason is that I think Cisse has better ball control, better vision and isn't as selfish as Ba is.

 

More often than not you see Ba get the ball when crowded out and instead of waiting for others to join the attack he'll either end up trying to take about 3 people on or will try and score from some impossible position.

 

His first touch at times is inconsistent as well compared to Cisse's, plus we all know about his stamina issues as playing that roll often requires a lot of selfless running and pressing.

 

The best goal scorer we've had for the best part of a decade though so don't get me wrong I think he's class but in the role he's playing at the moment I think he could just do with playing the percentages a bit better and work more for the team.

 

I expect this to go down well.

 

Neither player should be out wide.

 

Ba should be central, but deeper.

 

Also, the guy is class. Think Ba has far better ball control too FWIW. I don't like his individualism sometimes, but I think this is a team problem more than a Ba-only-problem.

 

Give him whatever contract he wants IMO. Worth it.

 

How stupid would that be, man.

[Guest Howaythetoon]

I thought he was fantastic today, albeit selfish at times.

[Jordan]

Was so angry at him for not passing to Cisse in the first half when he was free. Was even angrier when he then ran into two City players and lost the ball.

[Cajun]

Not sure where the idea Ba is selfish but Cisse isn't has come from, this is the Cisse who backheeled it out for a goal kick when Ba was in acres of space and if Cisse left it we would have had a corner

 

Both are selfish in their nature, it's the way they play and when it works it's fantastic.

 

I would say both players go through spells where they have a good touch and spells where they don't look like they have seen a football in their entire lives.

[Jack Flash]

6 in his last 7 in the league at SJP. No doubt he'll get more against QPR.

[Fenham Mag]

6 in his last 7 in the league at SJP. No doubt he'll get more for QPR.

 

FYP

[Unbelievable]

Not sure where the idea Ba is selfish but Cisse isn't has come from, this is the Cisse who backheeled it out for a goal kick when Ba was in acres of space and if Cisse left it we would have had a corner

 

Both are selfish in their nature, it's the way they play and when it works it's fantastic.

 

I would say both players go through spells where they have a good touch and spells where they don't look like they have seen a football in their entire lives.

 

[Guest Howaythetoon]

I think we saw the best and worst of Ba today. I especially liked his work-rate and his hold up play but he was selfish at times and very head down like. Strangely, Cisse actually played well, the two of them did, and caused Man City enough problems. The latter needs a few goals for his confidence though and badly. If he can go on a little run, it will do wonders.

[KaKa]

Please stop turning and running at a number of defenders when there is no support.

 

You're the lone striker, so please bring others into play.

 

Frustrating.

[SiLvOR]

Needs to play behind Cisse for me. Papiss has a better touch, more awareness and imo is a better finisher. The central role should be his. Ba should play the "number 10" role, just behind to provide a headache for defenders attempting to track his runs.

[Ronaldo]

As long as he scores he couldn't give a shit, man.