Babayaro

[James]

A poster recently posted statistics on whether we have won, lost, or drawn when each of our players were on the pitch.

 

Most of these results were inconclusive, I thought, as they showed little causality due to simultaneous injuries occurring being unable to prove that player X was making our side worse when playing.

 

However one interesting point was the much higher than average win ratios for both Shay Given and Celestine Babayaro. In fact after yesterdays game, Babayaro has a higher win-ratio than any other Newcastle United player. The same was the case last season too.

 

It is clear to me, that his presence in the team is of great benefit.

 

He has his flaws, which others will no doubt point out, but the fact is that full backs are very specialised positions, but you must be pretty bad if players playing out of position do the whole job better than you (ie Carr).

 

With Babayaro, expect defensive gaffes, but also expect his decent level of footballing ability to put us under less pressure, and to help us score more goals.

 

Therefore, I can't understand how others can justify their preference to have Edgar, Huntington, Ramage, Taylor, Duff or Carr in that position instead of Babayaro. By all means, buy a better left back at a high price* to replace him, that would improve the team. Until that day however, Babayaro will remain my first choice left back, and will get my full support as a Newcastle player.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Unless we can really negotiate a good price for a want-away left-back, a left back whose contract will soon expire, or a prospect who hasn't reached their potential yet, betterring Babayaro will be costly. His £1m transfer fee reflected his injury-proneness and squad status at Chelsea, rather than his ability. A first-teamer who plays consistently who is of the same level of ability as Babayaro would cost £3m-£5m in my opinion, while a regularly fit left back, better than Babayaro will cost in the region of £6m-£8m - Is Fat Fred willing to invest so much money on such an unglamourous position?

[Guest Darth Toon]

Well done to the lad - decent performance and the kudos he'll get from the fans for playing in such circumstances might just help salvage his toon career.

 

Still think we need a new left back, but happy enough to have him as cover if he can keep himself fit.

[Dunedin]

Let's not take this thread out of context.

 

Take any arguements to PM, we don't need to witness every single empty threat made from behind a monitor.

 

Spoil sport. Internet hard men are what makes the 'web great!

 

Wana take this outside?

 

Oh wait.. that would involve leaving my seat.. I'll pass.

 

And its cold and wet. And FAR too far from my beer to be wanting to go out there.

 

Let's end it! I win, good times. Now... Back to baba.

 

Sorry to hear about his brother. It's quite bizzare, because he appeared to play better today than he usually does.

 

He DID play better - i.e. not COMPLETELY s****, all of the time. There were even passages of time where he looked like a (admittedly lower-table) Premiership player.

 

But lets face it, that doesn't make him any good. He's got his entire time with us to make up for, because he's been f****** shocking.

 

Shame about his brother, clearly, losing someone isn't nice, and if he felt he was ok to play, fair enough. But the idea that this somehow makes him good enough to play for us is a scary one.

 

Yeah, I assume he wanted to take his mind off it, which I can understand.

 

And definitely, I think at times today he seemed like a decent player, one that may be worth the shirt on his back. But the odd glimpse of "talent" isn't gonna change the fact he's been diabolical for us since he's arrived.

 

Exactly - one game where he was mainly ok does NOT suddenly make him good enough.

 

The sooner we get a decent LB in - and Roeder had better sort it in summer, in the sad event he still has his job - the better.

I completely agree. Roeder is not good enough. Can you imagine the supporters of any Prem club looking enviously at our manager and hoping that he might be recruited for their club. Actually, I would also apply that to Scottish clubs as well.

[biggs]

Really mean no disrespect but is this what it takes to get the man on the pitch for a game of football?

 

Seriously, timing is pretty suspicious and i'm sorry to question it but howay..

 

 

 

We had a week off before the game so many players returned from injuried/see Liverpool

 

And i admire him for playing despite his brothers death,we should give him a week off so he can go back to Nigeria with his family..

 

 

 

Fair enough, but am sure we've asked him to play even with injury, we've asked him to play because we've had no one else, but all of a sudden his Bro dies and he's up for selection?

 

Very very fuking cynical of me, but i have to ask.

Really mean no disrespect but is this what it takes to get the man on the pitch for a game of football?

 

Seriously, timing is pretty suspicious and i'm sorry to question it but howay...

 

 

mmm you are being  pretty heartless if you ask me ,doubt anyone needs a death in the family to get on the football pitch

 

So where has he been?

 

All of a sudden galvanised ready to play in an important match with his brothers pride on his shoulders.

 

where was he when we needed a LB over xmas and new year?

 

Its not heartless, i just find the co-incidence suspicious.

 

I know from a NUFC footballer (or his opinio) that Babayaro picks his games, is this another case?

 

are you for real. i wouldn't have been on the pitch if that was my brother!

maybe baba will come out and say why he played everybody has there own way to greive and he is from a different culture why doubt his reason for playing give it a bloody rest

 

Like i say, i apolosgise for questrioning it.

 

Really ridiculous of me to do so, been a bit of a tosser lately.

 

Sorry Baba, still think you are total s***, but i'm sorry to suggest your playing for personal reasons, and even if you were, you deserve to, i know i'd put in the vest performance of my likfe if it were me in your situation.

 

 

big of you to admit being rash .its a free country everyone should be entitled to there own opinion thats what makes this country what it is 

[Guest TrEe]

A poster recently posted statistics on whether we have won, lost, or drawn when each of our players were on the pitch.

 

Most of these results were inconclusive, I thought, as they showed little causality due to simultaneous injuries occurring being unable to prove that player X was making our side worse when playing.

 

However one interesting point was the much higher than average win ratios for both Shay Given and Celestine Babayaro. In fact after yesterdays game, Babayaro has a higher win-ratio than any other Newcastle United player. The same was the case last season too.

 

It is clear to me, that his presence in the team is of great benefit.

 

He has his flaws, which others will no doubt point out, but the fact is that full backs are very specialised positions, but you must be pretty bad if players playing out of position do the whole job better than you (ie Carr).

 

With Babayaro, expect defensive gaffes, but also expect his decent level of footballing ability to put us under less pressure, and to help us score more goals.

 

Therefore, I can't understand how others can justify their preference to have Edgar, Huntington, Ramage, Taylor, Duff or Carr in that position instead of Babayaro. By all means, buy a better left back at a high price* to replace him, that would improve the team. Until that day however, Babayaro will remain my first choice left back, and will get my full support as a Newcastle player.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Unless we can really negotiate a good price for a want-away left-back, a left back whose contract will soon expire, or a prospect who hasn't reached their potential yet, betterring Babayaro will be costly. His £1m transfer fee reflected his injury-proneness and squad status at Chelsea, rather than his ability. A first-teamer who plays consistently who is of the same level of ability as Babayaro would cost £3m-£5m in my opinion, while a regularly fit left back, better than Babayaro will cost in the region of £6m-£8m - Is Fat Fred willing to invest so much money on such an unglamourous position?

 

Agree 100%

[Keefaz]

Aye, maybe it's easier to bump up your win/loss ratio when you pick and choose your matches, like.

[Guest teepee]

condolencens to him and his family - also had a reasonably good game!

[nufcjmc]

Aye, maybe it's easier to bump up your win/loss ratio when you pick and choose your matches, like.

 

i wouldnt say he has good judgement then, if i was picking a game to play in why the hell would you pick a game against i side wanting to push for second in the prem. I'm not saying that he doesn't have a tendancy to disappear to the treatment room for long periods of time but like taylor27 made he was a low cost signing. I think it was more like 1.8 than 1 million though but still if we really want to stop complaining about the back 4 we need to invest into it. 9 million for one off woodgate isn't good enough when you want europe.

[James]

Aye, maybe it's easier to bump up your win/loss ratio when you pick and choose your matches, like.

 

Wouldn't have picked Liverpool the day after my brother died if that was the case.

[Tisd09]

Nice one Baba for playing in such circumstances.

 

He is the best option we have for left back even though that option is not great, after a decent start to his toon career he has had some very poor games. If he is fit then IMO he must play, but the first position I would target in the summer is left back! I think Nobby can hold his own at RB for now!

[Ronaldo]

have a feeling that (if fit) Taylor and Baba will be our full-backs for the rest of the season, personally i'd go with Solano RB and Taylor LB

 

Solano  Onyewu  Bramble  Taylor

 

could be a lot worse

[Guest justin99.]

Bramble should never be allowed in the first team again. he is absolutely rubbish.

 

IMO apart from Tayor's run in the box to earn the penalty, Babayaro played a much better game. He assisted the attack very well.

Dyer was my MOM.

[Ronaldo]

Bramble should never be allowed in the first team again. he is absolutely rubbish.

 

IMO apart from Tayor's run in the box to earn the penalty, Babayaro played a much better game. He assisted the attack very well.

Dyer was my MOM.

 

this is the most ridiculous post i have ever read

[Guest Ridzuan]

I thought Baba did OK during the Liverpool match.He should have done better for the Liverpool's goal.But despite the fact that he has lost his brother earlier,I think he has done well to cope with it.

[Guest]

Babayaro - Onyewu - Taylor - Solano would be my strongest back 4.

[NUFC06]

Babayaro - Onyewu - Taylor - Solano would be my strongest back 4.

 

I also think that this should be our back 4...although at the end of the game yesterday Titus and Onyewu looked very solid

[Cajun]

Aye fair play to him, got to give him a lot of respect because im pretty sure I wouldn't have played!

[Northern Monkey]

Well done to the lad - decent performance and the kudos he'll get from the fans for playing in such circumstances might just help salvage his toon career.

 

Still think we need a new left back, but happy enough to have him as cover if he can keep himself fit.

 

Salvage his toon career???

 

Having an okay game won't do that. He;s not fucking good enough, full stop.