Ramadana-ding-dong! Demba raises the Ba at last.

Posted on September 26th, 2011 | 100 Comments |

It's Demba Ba day on NUFC Blog!
It's Demba Ba day on NUFC Blog!
Demba Ba got his Newcastle goal tally up and running against Blackburn on Saturday at Saint James’ Park in sensational fashion.

After early indifference from some, when he was not quite up to pace due to his religious commitments, he’s slowly started to build his fitness. He started to show some of his movement, touch and hold up ability last week versus Villa and before that in a brief cameo at home against Fulham.

Like all players coming into a new club, and in this case a ‘new’ team, it was always going to require a little patience while he found his feet and got to know his new team mates and surroundings.

Well it seems he has!

What a cracking first goal for your club at home his first strike turned out to be!

His strike partner, Leon Best, taking a pass out wide that he kept hold of and cut inside. As he made his way towards the box he cracked in an early ball, with plenty of pace on it, to Ba making himself available in the middle of the area. Typical striker ball, for me just how Shearer might have in days of yore. Great work and vision by Best. Ba still had plenty to do with his back to goal, defender hanging off him, he had to take the pace off the ball, trapping it, letting the ball do the work, a swift turn and ‘Crack’, a rising shot flies into the top right of the Leazes end goal, leaving Robinson with no chance.

What a great way to open your account!

1-0

His relief was palpable in the way he dropped to his knees and kissed the holy turf. Maybe there was a nod to his other faith in there too?

He didn’t have to wait long for his second either, as less than four minutes later, with Newcastle on the rampage, a good ball was flighted, invitingly into the box that Steven Taylor rose highest to nod back across the six yard box, it deflected off of a Blackburn defender straight into the path of Demba, who’d got just in front of Leon Best to easliy cushion it past the hapless Robinson.

2-0

This was now looking easy!

Crowed by his team mates Demba was in his stride. As we got into the second half Blackburn had replied and were pushing on in the early first few minutes. But that was snuffed out.

Tiote rode a ‘tackle’ and pushed towards the corner of the Gallowgate box. He then curved a beautiful cross in, not unlike his one to Best in the previous game, that found Ba peeling off from the Blackburn defender. A looping header drifted over the flailing Robinson and as Best charged in, with defender in tow, it somehow evaded everyone and nestled into the back of the Gallowgate net.

3-0

A great hat-trick and the first for Newcastle in the Premier League from an overseas player.

Cue wild Geordie celebrations!

It was the killer blow, one you just knew Blackburn wouldn’t come back from. Demba had a smile as wide as the Tyne!

He had all of his team mates sign the ball and had a lot of family at SJP for the game from Paris, they must have been very proud of the lad. After initial punditry put down Demba is up and at ’em!

So now the race for top scorer is on, Ba and Best now both sitting on 3.

Welcome to the Toon Demba!

Howay the Lads!

Demba Ba’s hat-trick


NU3-BR1 by heybs

Poll

NUFCBlog Author: CLiNT FLiCK Cut me in half & it'll say Newcastle United F.C. just like a stick of Black 'n' White rock! CLiNT FLiCK has written 42 articles on this blog.

Related Posts:

  • No Related Posts


100 Responses

  1. Poo!
    Spot the deliberate mistake?

    3-1, not 3-0.

    & Crowded, not crowed*…Ooops!

    Good work worky, ta mate!
    ;)

  2. I’m not sure you should be using the Muslim month of Ramadan asa title like that. It’s in poor taste, and the Muslims do not like that stuff. Considering Ba, Ben Arfa, Tiote, and Abeid are all Muslims, I would say you would be offending our most promising players.

  3. Dani,
    that’s fair enough mate, & i’ve gotta say: not my idea!

    Maybe a switch to the orig. may be in order?

    ;)

  4. Dani M. says:
    September 26, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    “I’m not sure you should be using the Muslim month of Ramadan asa title like that. It’s in poor taste, and the Muslims do not like that stuff.”

    Dani M, I have quite a few Muslim friends down here and they all have something called a sense of humour, even the devout ones. What makes you think they don’t?

  5. Demba raises the Ba…and the race is on!

    i.e. the race for top scorer as both he & Best are on 3.

  6. In that Ba has raised the bar by getting his 3 in one game.
    as opposed to Best getting his spread over 3 games.
    Maybe i shoulda put this into the post to avoid confusion.
    Maybe i’m too concise for my own good sometimes & brevity isn’t always bestways.
    ;)

  7. Worky, its your prerogative. You can do whatever you want here. I was just pointing out something which is a real possibility. Why do something which can create controversy, when you can easily avoid it without any consequence whatsoever. Anyway, you like the title that you thought of, fair enough.

  8. worky,
    obviously i don’t wanna upset/belitte or alienate/offend any of our Muslim fans/readers.

    My Muslim mates have a sense of humour too.
    ;)

  9. A great display on Saturday by the lads.
    The most important improvement, as I see it,is the ball distribution from Krul.No clearing long balls up the middle hoping to find a black and white shirt,with the result of lost possession, cutting out Cabaye and Tiote,s involvement.
    In the last two games the ball has been rolled by the keeper, not loosing possession and involving our midfield to
    build an attacking play.I think this approach with the midfielders we have will see us beat most teams in the PL.

    htls

  10. Jinky,
    great point mate & something i noticed about Krul, damn, i got distracted when writing the ratings & forgot to put it in.
    Good shout mate.
    ;)

  11. Dani M. says:
    September 26, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    “Why do something which can create controversy, when you can easily avoid it without any consequence whatsoever.”

    Dani, We’ve been getting loads of Mackem spam from an MOT centre in S________d today. Now that really IS blasphemy on this site!

  12. CLiNT FLiCK says:
    September 26, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    “Norwich down to 10 men now too.
    & 5 mins overtime.”

    We’re all Canaries now. I divven’t have four thumbs mind!

  13. Why would you like to offend our Muslim Newcastle players & fans by resorting to such bad manners? Our Muslim players didn’t eat or drink from sunrise to sunset for a month in their holiest month but they still, as professionals, turned up & trained just like the rest of the squad. Their attitude has to be respected & noted.

    Ba thanked his creator his first goal for his new club. Tiote was back to his ferocious form from last season. HBA finally made his big came back.

    They deserve more respect.

  14. I hope Steve Bruce doesn’t get sacked. That sincere bagpuss face he puts on when they lose is comedy at its finest.

  15. ramalama ding dong,,,,,, Mackems are shagged again . Wots the odds on old strawberry heed gettin the bullet any time soon. ?

  16. This could be a lesson learned and we might want to use the muslim players sparingly in the first month of the season and give a chance to others like Sammy.

  17. Oh Clint you’re so offensive :-)

    Good article mate, nice to see Ba find some form. His first goal was a typical ‘Ba’ goal if you know what I mean.

  18. Speaking of offensive things, Tripp I’m from the east, though more south, but I can take offence to your comment at 26 :-)

    Though not from Norwich / Ipswich (awful areas), or from the worst and biggest ‘hole’ in the UK… Peterboro…

  19. GS says:
    September 26, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    “This could be a lesson learned and we might want to use the muslim players sparingly in the first month of the season”

    GS, Muslims engaged in highly strenuous physical work may be exempted from daytime fasting during Ramadan, and I think that being a Premiership footballer certainly falls into that category. Hence, I’m a little confused about this issue with Ba.

  20. Jimbob says:
    September 26, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    “Speaking of offensive things, Tripp I’m from the east, though more south, but I can take offence to your comment at 26”

    Good job you missed mine then Jimbob!

  21. That was more of an offence to the canaries Worky, and you were correct with your assumption of mass thumbs.

    You could add, eyes too close and gills on the neck.

  22. Worky:

    have you seen some of the players that have played for us over the years? If they were doing “strenuous physical work” it must have been at a second job because they certainly weren’t doing any of that on a football pitch.

  23. Jimbob says:
    September 26, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    “That was more of an offence to the canaries Worky, and you were correct with your assumption of mass thumbs.”

    Are you a Suffolk lad then Jimbob? And do you have a tractor? :-)

  24. GS says:
    September 26, 2011 at 10:40 pm

    “have you seen some of the players that have played for us over the years? If they were doing “strenuous physical work” it must have been at a second job because they certainly weren’t doing any of that on a football pitch.”

    Is Shola religious?

  25. workyticket says:
    September 26, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    “Are you a Suffolk lad then Jimbob? And do you have a tractor? :-)”

    Cambridgeshire Worky, though roots from London. Usually I would respond with a dig back at you… Though I’m vastly outnumbered on here, it wouldn’t be wise of me, and there are some sensitive types up north :-)

  26. GS says:
    September 26, 2011 at 10:44 pm

    “Two words,

    Jermaine Jenas.”

    You could never accuse Jonas (not Jenas) of that mind GS. Sometimes, I think he’s gannin’ to run his little legs off!

    Wasn’t too busy on Satda mind, it was all happening on the other side.

  27. Jimbob, sorry mate. I’ve been watching too much Mock the Week on youtube and they’re forever taking the piss out of the poor folks from Norwich. You have to remember that I’m an ignorant Yank and I jess believes wut the TV tells me. ;)

  28. When liverpool signed Avi Cohen Bill Paisley was told he might not be able to play on a saturday – he replied “Don’t worry I’ve got 10 others like that already” – and I’ve never heard any suggestion that any jewish person did not find that funny!

  29. Tripp, all good man. You can rip them carrot munchers as much as you like. Especially those Barry Fry lovers. :-)

  30. Ramadana-ding-dong…he won’t be offended, neither will any Muslim toon player, fan or pundit. Were the Christians offended that Carroll looked liked Christ when he celebrated, that shearer was a God, that Ashley is the anti-christ?

    Seriously now, he’s just come of a month of fasting, that’s tough and he’ll feel better about himself because of that and his faith. The phrase that led the article just pointed out and highlighted the massiveness of the accomplishment. Like ‘Jesus Christ! What a goal! (anyone offended?)

    If he didn’t have a sense of humor he wouldn’t be able to hack it in the dressing room let alone Newcastle.

    SURELY there’s some Muslim readers that can back that argument up?

  31. CLiNT FLiCK says:
    September 26, 2011 at 11:19 pm

    “is he a relative of Stephen Fry?”

    Met him in his taxi once Clint. He even knows the back alleys of Dalston. Best directions I’ve ever had!

  32. CLiNT FLiCK says:
    September 26, 2011 at 11:30 pm

    “worky,
    did he give you a lift?”

    I had to keep my head down once when I lived in Brixton as someone was trying to murder me, so I moved to a friend’s empty flat in Dalston for a while. Incidentally it was in the house featured in Mike Leigh’s “Naked”. What a dump!

    Anyway, my first night there, I went out and couldn’t find my way back; it was the days before all this GPS on your phone and such. So, I saw a black cab and asked the driver for directions, and it was Stephen Fry. The directions were absolutely spot on, and delivered in beautiful English and we had a brief chat.

    That’s the kind of reason why I live in the smoke!

  33. Sometimes political correctness goes too far. I am not sure if this is the case with this headline, but…

    I live in Chicago and people say “what the heck” instead of “what the hell”. What the hell is that about?

    Bunch of puffs if you ask me!

  34. GS says:
    September 26, 2011 at 11:44 pm

    “I live in Chicago and people say “what the heck” instead of “what the hell”. What the hell is that about?”

    Probably the same reason as my history teacher used to say “Crikey!” instead of “Christ!” GS.

  35. Just watched Liverpool/Wolves.

    Jordan Henderson, the Mackems got 16 million for him?

    A waste of money and a Mackem, all he needs now is a gold plated car.

  36. Christ on a bike! That’s a fair point. In laws over soon, Catholic, good natured and a wicked sense of humor but I’ll have to watch the old blaspheming :-)

  37. Probly Worky, just sometimes you want to tell people what you really think with no filter, but then you would probly get fired.

  38. GS says:
    September 26, 2011 at 11:59 pm

    “but then you would probly get fired.”

    GS, I did a few jobs after I finished Art College and soon realised that I was destined for self employment! :lol:

  39. Bit like Alan Pardew really. Except Stephen Fry doesn’t say “fink” instead of “think”

    But then again, I still say “me mam” instead of “moi mumsy”.

  40. GS says:
    September 27, 2011 at 12:23 am

    “But then again, I still say “me mam” instead of “moi mumsy”.”

    “Toilet” or “Lavatory” is the real acid test GS.

    Or even “Netty” :lol:

  41. They don’t know what a toilet is here. They call it a bathroom or restroom.

    Back to football though. Krul looks really good. Might save us about 5 points I think.

  42. GS says:
    September 27, 2011 at 12:41 am

    “They don’t know what a toilet is here. They call it a bathroom or restroom.

    Back to football though. Krul looks really good. Might save us about 5 points I think.”

    Funnily enough, I was just watching stephen Fry on language there.

    The US thing is probably closer to the true meaning of “Toilet” which is really the whole washing and grooming thing. However you “point Percy” or “Park your vanload” in a lavatory.

    Aye getting back to football, I think that Krul is talented, but still a little inexperienced and mistake prone. I think that Steve Harper has had a hard time of it and I’d be a bit sick of it if I were him.

    I suspect that with Krul’s two friendly caps with the Netherlands, the club might be trying to fatten his price up to send to market. It’s just a cynical hunch on my part though.

  43. Yes, I have to agree the title (Ramadana-ding-dong) is a bit insulting. Muslims do have humor but we dont use it on religious stuff.

    Please respect each other’s belief, not too much to ask for. tHank you.

  44. What about cartoons of the prophet though syakir? That shows a lot of humour, eh? And that was a lot of respect for another person’s belief that he did not share your religion, and drew a cartoon? And the Van Gogh guy who got killed for making a film, lots of respect there!

    I love it when people only see their side of the story.

  45. We dont make fun of religion, not ours, note someone else’s. Just respect everybody, so we can live in harmony. There is nothing wrong with that.

  46. Your religion puts out a “kill” order on someone for drawing a cartoon and you talk about repect? Hypocrite.

    Sorry Worky, this nonsense is just working my ticket.

  47. But back to football.

    There are a lot of things to like about this team, especially the pace.

    And Coloccini is just pure class.

  48. Firstly, that guy was making fun of Prophet Muhammad, and he was not supposed to do so, not to Jesus, Buddha or whoever.

    Secondly, the kill order even if it was legitimate, did not came from the religion itself but instead from the government or individuals. You have to differentiate that.

    I am a Muslim, who supported Newcastle for many2 years. Why cant we just go along and respect each other when we are fans anyway? Please dont associate a “bad person” with his religion. There will be bad apple in every religion be it Islam, Christian, Buddhism or whatever. You have to be able to differentiate that.

  49. Sorry mate, I am just not the religious type and get a bit riled up when people push faith. You were getting a bit annoyed about someone making fun of Ramadan and now ask that we all get along.

    I sort of don’t agree with what you say when it translates into bombings in Afganistan or Northern Ireland. We obviously can’t get along where religion and strupid politics are involved.

    I will ask you though, if you transposed the name Zues or Horace for Jesus or Mohammad, would you still believe? The Greeks believed in women with snake hair, egypians had dog headed Gods, and Jews have a one true God that is not yours. And yet you ask us all to get along.

    And don’t ask me about the 72 virgins because that is a mistranslation of 72 grapes.

    Sorry Worky, but he can’t have it all ways.

  50. We are fans of one Newcastle United are we not? You can believe whatever you want and I dont care and will not question your belief. Just dont bring religions into this especially not other people’s religion if you dont understand them.

    I just expressed my opinion on the title, and what is wrong with that? It was just and honest opinion and I said it nicely, I didnt curse or things like that.

    Lets find a common thing to unite and that is Newcastle United. Simple.

  51. Fatwa/Fatwah = a legal pronouncement or ruling issued by an islamic scholar.

    Recent example of a fatwa = murder Salmen Rushie

    Conclusion = islamic scholars asked their followers to murder Salmen Rushdie.

    Now why can’t we all be friends when clerics are like that?

  52. Hey Sayakir, I am not against you and agree we should stick to football.

    But other people brought up the religion thing and I just wanted to point out that there is a lot of one sidededness on this issue. People are now blinkered into NOT saying they disagree with another’s religious opinion. Still, it is OK for people to have a go at me for not believing.

    More than 50% of the population of Norway do not believe in God and they are doing OK. Oden and Thor have not sent thunderbolts on their houses recently, as far as I know.

  53. Hi GS, I understand your belief and totally respected that. Maybe in the future editors can refrain from using sentences that is religion-sensitive and everybody will be happy.

    That is what make us human beautiful. We are so diversed with different beliefs and cultures and it is so exciting to learn and understand others when their cultures are so different then ours. Life wont be so boring.

  54. Why should editors refrain from writing things in order not to offend narrow minded people?

    If they did, wouldn’t that be supression of free speech.

    As I said, you cannot have it both ways. You cannot speak up and ask others not to speak.

    But, we will never agree so we should only talk about football. But banning talk of religion or politics on any forum is a rocky road my friend.

    Ask Joey Barton, he has read Orwell :)

  55. I can’t see how the headline could possibly be construed as offensive in any way. It is simple word play drawing attention to the fact now the Islamic holy month is over Demba has raised his game. It in no way tries to belittle Islam or Ramadan. It’s no different to….. Say last December we had gone on a storming run and someone had put the headline “hughton brings toon Chris-mas cheer”, would we have had to worry about upsetting fundamentalists? Pathetic, why do the nut jobs on all sides spoil it for the rest of us?

  56. Toonpaul:

    I think I am pretty reasonable. You have never heard of a secular nut job have you?

    I agree with you, and was pointing out in my own not very subtle way that this is about football and not religion.

    Good analogy by the way.

  57. GS says:
    September 27, 2011 at 3:11 am

    “I think I am pretty reasonable. You have never heard of a secular nut job have you?”

    Aye, Richard Dawkins and some of his acolytes are pretty much secular nut jobs GS.

    Somewhat ironically, the way they worship the gadgie tends to point to a fundamental human need for a religious side more than anything else.

    Incidentally, while I would never attempt to justify the responses in a million years, those cartoons you referred to above really were deliberately disrespectful and provocative, and Theo van Gogh was an arse of the highest order.

    syakir says:
    September 27, 2011 at 1:28 am

    “Firstly, that guy was making fun of Prophet Muhammad,”

    syakir, the Muslims I know usually wouldn’t speak or write the name of the Prophet without saying (or writing) “Peace be upon him” or “PBUH” afterwards.

  58. Well I hate all religions they all end up thinking they are the one true belief system and all the rest should be exterminated.

    I would like to see all believers in ALL religions exterminated.

    RIGHT NOW

    They cause this world nothing but complete pain and misery because the humans that shout loudly about how they believe in them never actually read the instruction on the box.

    Not one religion says its good to kill people yet they all have supposed representatives of their religions who spend their whole lives telling their religions followers to do so….normally whilst shouting about how it is in the name of God.

    Well lets get it right…

    First of all it is the person shouting KILL that is the killer and second of all..

    THERE IS NO GOD OTHER THAN KEEGAN SO THE NEXT PERSON WHO MENTIONS RELIGION WILL BE HUNTED DOWN AND MURDERED IN THE NAME OF MAKEM

    all joking aside.. fek religion I only have three beliefs…

    Newcastle, Hibernian and my family and friends.

    errrr not necessarily in that order my love :-)

    (just in case she reads this)

  59. PS…

    See when you die.. sorry to do this to you religious types.. but see then.

    WELL yer DEEEEED and the worms get ya

    end of …case closed…

    NOW do your bit and make sure you carry a donor card so other people can get yer alcohol bloated livers .

    I know I will.. :-D

    ah…freedom of speech. I wish you all a very good evening.

  60. Worky:

    I tried to read “The God Delusion” but the type face was too small and the few pages I did read were very boring. Seriously.

    I try not to push my against religious views on anyone unless it inteferes with NUFC or if anyone tries to be on a high horse about religion.

    I have thought this all through and believe if there was a God he would support NUFC. So why haven’t we won the league in 80 odd years or the Cup in 56?

    As Joey Barton would say – everyone is a pacifist until their family is threatened and everyone is an athiest until they get a brain tumor.

  61. Worky: also, disrepectful and being an arse is one thing. Putting a religious hit on somebody is another.

    With all due respect.

  62. GS says:
    September 27, 2011 at 4:06 am

    “I have thought this all through and believe if there was a God he would support NUFC. So why haven’t we won the league in 80 odd years or the Cup in 56?”

    Have you ever read the Book of Job GS? I’m not sure if all the misfortunes that God visited on his most devoted subject were as bad as Freddy Shepherd and Mike Ashley though! :lol:

  63. Nah, but I lived in a whale once and put all of the animals on earth in a boat, only two at a time mind.

    When they came out the offspring all looked like Prince Charles and Parker-Bowles because of some in-breeding genetic thing. But that’s biology, so we can’t go there when we are talking theology.

  64. Cesena have a seahorse on their badge and play in black and white stripes. Are we related?

    I hope so, as it is near San Moreno.

  65. GS says:
    September 27, 2011 at 4:32 am

    “Nah, but I lived in a whale once and put all of the animals on earth in a boat, only two at a time mind.”

    It was only “unclean” anomals that went in twos, and there were fourteen of each “clean” animal. Aslo, there were only a few hundred animals and birds on Noah’s Ark according to the Book of Deuteronomy.

    Athiests can sometimes scoff at the religious because they think that they believe in myths. However we can all believe in myths sometimes. ;-)

    Believer or not, if you study religion, you may find that there is much, much, more to it than you may think.

  66. GS says:
    September 27, 2011 at 4:48 am

    “Cesena have a seahorse on their badge and play in black and white stripes. Are we related?”

    Notts County were the original “Magpies” and Juventus nicked their strip. Not sure about Cesana though GS.

    Anyway, I’m knacked. Time for bed!

  67. I told you already about Newcastle.

    There is this myth that we won the league once or twice and the F.A. cup as well.

    I don’t believe it because I haven’t seen it.

    Don’t get me wrong here, I believe in spirituality because there is a lot I cannot explain.

  68. Worky, good night, only 11 O’clock here.

    I was watching a Cesena match and that is the only reason I know about the seahorse and stripes.

  69. GS says:
    September 27, 2011 at 5:16 am

    “I was watching a Cesena match and that is the only reason I know about the seahorse and stripes.”

    I’ve been watching Freiburg matches recently to keep an eye on Demba Ba’s mate, Papiss Demba Cisse who we put a joke bid in for at the end of the transfer window. He’s only scored six in seven games so far this season.

    Anyway. Goodnight GS!

  70. Hallelujah
    Hallelujah
    John Tudor
    Hallelujah

    About as religious as I get!
    Thought I’d strayed onto a sally army web site for a minute.
    I think I’ll log on to the pope’s site now to see if there’s any football news.

    HWTL

  71. It was a great performance from Demba and he deserved his hat-trick. I thought the best player on the park was Obertan though, or Tiote. Cheick has finally found his form and hopefully he can keep it up! Obertan played his best game for us against Blackburn and I think he deserves as much credit as Demba.

    Overall performance, brilliant. The whole team. I normally would say that an away game against Wolves would be hard to win but at the moment, I think that we have a magnificent chance to win it and if we do, let’s hope Chelsea lose!

    This season has a feeling about it and I’m looking forward to see where we end up, although I don’t think we’ll finish in a European place. 8th possibly but any higher then I’ll jizz!

    Howay the laaaads! <3

  72. Bit late in the “discussion” but if I can stick my my spoon into the pot and give it a bit of a stir.

    I have often wondered about the Ramadan practice of fasting from dusk to dawn, then doing a Mr Creosote between those hours. Ok I may be exagerating a bit but where is the humility and sense in doing that. Someone care to enlighten me.

    The Earth and everything on it has been around longer than any prophet or religion and many belief systems arose from the simple fact that the sun rises every day.

    Fact is every thing is alive and energised and always has been at a quantum level, religion is irrelevant.

    Follow whatever belief system you want it makes no difference to anything. In the words of Alastair Crowley “Do whatever thou wilt, providing it hurts no one”, probably not an exact quote but it works for me.

    If his belief systems helps him score for us, then Ba can sacrifice chickens on the pitch as far as I’m concerned. Joking!!

  73. AC-“Do what thou wilt, & that shall be the whole of the law”

    Dr.Timothy Leary-“There are two laws, don’t make anyone, don’t stop anyone”
    I’ve paraphrased Dr. Tim there.

  74. CLiNT, I know my quote wasn’t full and accurate, but everyone leaves out his proviso it shall not harm any other, he is terribly unfairly misquoted.

  75. Did any one catch the post match interview by the Norwich manager. His words were “i tor I tor a puddy tat” I d say he definitely did but those black cats are just plain pussies