Demba Ba (now retired)

[LesPaul]

Can't be doing with every 5 months we got to talk about his clause, not good for the team or club, if he's not willing to sign a new contract without release clause then it's for the best for all parties that he fucks off.

 

I don't know why people hold this against Demba. We could have given him an improved contract if we wanted to but clearly other clubs can pay a lot more than us. At least we'll get something back from it and we've had one and a half magic seasons from him. Good luck to him I say.

 

It's been very, very annoying reading about this shite for over 12 months though, hope we avoid these clauses going forward.

 

Agree with the idea that it's no good for squad morale either.

 

Yeah but again, that was hardly Ba's fault. We put the clause in to safeguard our interests. If we hadn't put that clause in I doubt we'd have done the deal so just got to take what we can from this one I think.

 

The clause doesn't protect us whatsoever FFS.

 

Well it would if his knee had exploded. That was the point wasn't it?

 

 

How does a minimum fee release clause protect us against a career-ending injury?

 

I would have said that Ba wouldn't have signed had we not put the clause in but that doesn't seem to be what TRon is arguing.

[Ash]

What concerns me slightly about Cisse is that last season he scored a lot of stunners and missed a lot of far more straightforward chances. Right now at least, we're losing the better finisher IMO.

 

The better all-round player is going, don't think there's any doubt about that at all.

 

However, I've personally got no doubt that if it's down to Cisse to take the central role on his shoulders and be the "main man" again he'll come up trumps for us. He's a special player in his own right.

 

Agreed. Think Ba is the better all-round footballer but Cisse is the better out-and-out striker.

[Mole_Toonfan]

Cisse is the better player and one of Ba or Cisse had to go.

 

Why are people so appalled? I would be far more annoyed had Ba signed a new contract and Cisse shipped out.

 

Why did one have to go?

 

You could argue because they can't work together..... either Cisse is outwide and quite frankly useless or Ba and Cisse are up top and the whole team can't function.

 

Despite the dreams of rotating Ba and Cisse it was never going to happen under this management so maybe in the long run shipping Ba out for someone who could you actually make the attack function as Ba and Cisse have never really functioned together.

 

Will probably end up with egg on our faces but that's the rationale behind it i believe.

 

 

 

[Jack Flash]

"One of our two 20 goal a season strikers had to go" ffs.

[littlelunchbox]

What concerns me slightly about Cisse is that last season he scored a lot of stunners and missed a lot of far more straightforward chances. Right now at least, we're losing the better finisher IMO.

 

ATM yes, but Ba's overall play on the ball and distribution of the ball has always been shocking,  Cisse will find his feet no doubt again and he's far more intelligent and skilful on the ball and far more suited as a lone striker.

 

 

[Interpolic]

Can't be doing with every 5 months we got to talk about his clause, not good for the team or club, if he's not willing to sign a new contract without release clause then it's for the best for all parties that he fucks off.

 

I don't know why people hold this against Demba. We could have given him an improved contract if we wanted to but clearly other clubs can pay a lot more than us. At least we'll get something back from it and we've had one and a half magic seasons from him. Good luck to him I say.

 

It's been very, very annoying reading about this shite for over 12 months though, hope we avoid these clauses going forward.

 

Agree with the idea that it's no good for squad morale either.

 

Yeah but again, that was hardly Ba's fault. We put the clause in to safeguard our interests. If we hadn't put that clause in I doubt we'd have done the deal so just got to take what we can from this one I think.

 

The clause doesn't protect us whatsoever FFS.

 

Well it would if his knee had exploded. That was the point wasn't it?

 

 

How does a minimum fee release clause protect us against a career-ending injury?

 

I would have said that Ba wouldn't have signed had we not put the clause in but that doesn't seem to be what TRon is arguing.

 

Yeah, it doesn't like.

[TRon]

Can't be doing with every 5 months we got to talk about his clause, not good for the team or club, if he's not willing to sign a new contract without release clause then it's for the best for all parties that he fucks off.

 

I don't know why people hold this against Demba. We could have given him an improved contract if we wanted to but clearly other clubs can pay a lot more than us. At least we'll get something back from it and we've had one and a half magic seasons from him. Good luck to him I say.

 

It's been very, very annoying reading about this shite for over 12 months though, hope we avoid these clauses going forward.

 

Agree with the idea that it's no good for squad morale either.

 

Yeah but again, that was hardly Ba's fault. We put the clause in to safeguard our interests. If we hadn't put that clause in I doubt we'd have done the deal so just got to take what we can from this one I think.

 

The clause doesn't protect us whatsoever FFS.

 

Well it would if his knee had exploded. That was the point wasn't it?

 

 

How does a minimum fee release clause protect us against a career-ending injury?

 

I thought it was part of the package that we agreed to in order to get Ba signed at a relatively low wage. That clause was just one aspect, the knee issue was another. But it was all part of the deal.

[Weezertron]

I like that he scores goals and he seems a good guy, but him leaving doesn't bring about the same feelings as when we sold Andy Carroll for example (or Andy Cole, Enrique etc).

 

It won't hurt seeing him play for another team. Not sure why that is.

 

All you can hope for is we'll grow as a team when he goes.

[Jaehyun]

Cisse is the better player and one of Ba or Cisse had to go.

 

Why are people so appalled? I would be far more annoyed had Ba signed a new contract and Cisse shipped out.

I'm not really sure if Cisse is a better player though. The fact is Ba outscored anyone in our team by a country mile. Yes it's not a fair statistic on Cisse because he was playing outwide but numbers are numbers.

 

Considering last season and all I'd say in terms of finishing ability Cisse and Ba are quite similar. Cisse has better link up with the team but Ba is much more intimidating due to his physical prowess. It's hard to say who the better player is really.

 

I know we all want to believe Cisse is the better player since he's the one that's staying and because Ba is the seemingly more sefish one, but I'd say they are around the same though they offer something different.

 

Well from watching the two play i'd feel Cisse is the better player - all things considered.

Fair enough, personally I think Ba can offer a bit more by himself due to his physique but we play better as a team with Cisse due to his link up. Though Ba is a fantastic striker I personally do like Cisse more as a player.

[littlelunchbox]

Shocking as it may seem but I can see a some positives with Ba leaving.

[pi_D]

Not saying it would but it'd be hard to keep Cisse happy playing on the right wing. Never mind that he is ineffective there and can't play as part of a front two. Eventually one had to go imo

 

Has it occured to you that Cisse played on the right wing because our first choice right wing player has been out injured?

 

Of course.

 

I thought it was obvious that Ba and Cisse can't play in a front two and that one would eventually lose out? What is your solution?

[Rich]

Shocking as it may seem but I can see a some positives with Ba leaving.

 

I for one am truly shocked at this.

[pi_D]

What concerns me slightly about Cisse is that last season he scored a lot of stunners and missed a lot of far more straightforward chances. Right now at least, we're losing the better finisher IMO.

 

The better all-round player is going, don't think there's any doubt about that at all.

 

However, I've personally got no doubt that if it's down to Cisse to take the central role on his shoulders and be the "main man" again he'll come up trumps for us. He's a special player in his own right.

 

Agreed. Think Ba is the better all-round footballer but Cisse is the better out-and-out striker.

 

Completely disagree like.

[Sima]

There isn't some magic formula that even begins to suggest that Cisse will all of a sudden start banging them in.

 

Ba is the more dependable of the two for goals and if I had a straight choice with no clauses, etc I'd keep Ba of the two.

[Jaehyun]

I like that he scores goals and he seems a good guy, but him leaving doesn't bring about the same feelings as when we sold Andy Carroll for example (or Andy Cole, Enrique etc).

 

It won't hurt seeing him play for another team. Not sure why that is.

 

All you can hope for is we'll grow as a team when he goes.

Have to agree. I feel exactly the same. As long as he doesn't go to Liverpool that is.

 

Maybe the fact that Carroll and Enrique had been with us for years and the fact that they got us promoted made them feel more like 'our' players.

 

I also think it might be because when Carroll and Enrique left we didn't have much hope of finding a good replacement whereas now, after witnessing them being replaced by Ba, Cisse and to some extent Santon we now that our club is back in a position; largely down to Graham Carr; where Ba can be replaced.

[Mole_Toonfan]

"One of our two 20 goal a season strikers had to go" ffs.

 

That's really irrelevant because only one of them can perform to the best of their abilities at any one time....

 

Either Ba offers nothing or scores all the goals or Cisse offers nothing or scores all the goals.

 

The two of them together don't work and under this board it was always only going to end one way....

[Jaehyun]

What concerns me slightly about Cisse is that last season he scored a lot of stunners and missed a lot of far more straightforward chances. Right now at least, we're losing the better finisher IMO.

 

The better all-round player is going, don't think there's any doubt about that at all.

 

However, I've personally got no doubt that if it's down to Cisse to take the central role on his shoulders and be the "main man" again he'll come up trumps for us. He's a special player in his own right.

 

Agreed. Think Ba is the better all-round footballer but Cisse is the better out-and-out striker.

 

Completely disagree like.

Yep I disagree too, I think it's the other way around.

[Unbelievable]

Cisse is the better player and one of Ba or Cisse had to go.

 

Why are people so appalled? I would be far more annoyed had Ba signed a new contract and Cisse shipped out.

 

Why did one have to go?

 

You could argue because they can't work together..... either Cisse is outwide and quite frankly useless or Ba and Cisse are up top and the whole team can't function.

 

Despite the dreams of rotating Ba and Cisse it was never going to happen under this management so maybe in the long run shipping Ba out for someone who could you actually make the attack function as Ba and Cisse have never really functioned together.

 

Will probably end up with egg on our faces but that's the rationale behind it i believe.

 

 

 

 

I'm not even on about rotation per se. Again, despite everybody here getting a hard on for 433/451, that doesn't seem to be the formation Pardew favours most of the time, rightly or wrongly. I completely fail to see why we couldn't have two quality strikers. Isn't that the least any Premiership club aiming for Europe should have?

[nufc4eva]

There isn't some magic formula that even begins to suggest that Cisse will all of a sudden start banging them in.

 

Ba is the more dependable of the two for goals and if I had a straight choice with no clauses, etc I'd keep Ba of the two.

 

The hope being clinged to is that Cisse will play through the centre and we bring someone for wing. I for one think he will start banging them in when he is main man

[duo]

This is the way I look at it...

 

Demba is the best finisher we have at the club.  Do I want him to go? No chance.

 

BUT Cisse and Demba cannot play together which everyone knows.  So IF and it's a big IF Ashley gets his cheque book out and brings in a player who can compliment Cisse then it won't be all doom and gloom if we loose Ba. For me though I'm more concerned about us not bring in a couple of defenders than Ba leaving.  It's no use scoring goals if we're letting is 11 goals in two games. Defense is the key this window.

[TRon]

There isn't some magic formula that even begins to suggest that Cisse will all of a sudden start banging them in.

 

Ba is the more dependable of the two for goals and if I had a straight choice with no clauses, etc I'd keep Ba of the two.

 

Cisse does have a pretty good record of scoring goals when he plays through the middle, even before he came here.

[pi_D]

"One of our two 20 goal a season strikers had to go" ffs.

 

I thought we were over trying to add 20+20 to get 40 goals a season.

 

If only it were that simple... Have we not yet arrived at the conclusion that Ba and Cisse aren't compatible as a strike partnership?

 

[Ameritoon]

The silver lining is we can now put out a more balanced eleven. Will always be angry at how little we profit on him, though.

[Rich]

There isn't some magic formula that even begins to suggest that Cisse will all of a sudden start banging them in.

 

Ba is the more dependable of the two for goals and if I had a straight choice with no clauses, etc I'd keep Ba of the two.

 

Cisse does have a pretty good record of scoring goals when he plays through the middle, even before he came here.

 

What is this sorcery?

[Jaehyun]

There isn't some magic formula that even begins to suggest that Cisse will all of a sudden start banging them in.

 

Ba is the more dependable of the two for goals and if I had a straight choice with no clauses, etc I'd keep Ba of the two.

 

The hope being clinged to is that Cisse will play through the centre and we bring someone for wing. I for one think he will start banging them in when he is main man

 

            Anita - Tiote

Ben Arfa  Cabaye  Marveaux

              Cisse

 

Makes me drool tbh...