Demba Ba: Running away from Toon? Not yet says Philippe Auclair.In an interview with “Talk Sport” radio, their French correspondent, Philippe Auclaair, who claims to know Demba Ba and his entourage well, tried to clarify comments made by Newcastle United hitman Demba Ba in a recent interview with French sports radio RNC.
In the interview he said he thought that the player would stay at Newcastle until the end of the season, but also expressed doubts that he would be a Newcastle United player beyind the New Year if his current form continued and his knee held out.
When asked about the player’s commnents, which you can see in full by following the link above if you don’t know them already, Auclair responded:
Esmeralda!After strongly suggesting that Newcastle United hitman Demba Ba was available on a release clause of less than £7 million, Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has now changed his tune somewhat.
The droopy featured North London manager has now admitted that neither he nor anyone else apart from Newcastle United and Ba himself know what the figure is (if, indeed, there is a figure at all).
Originally, when Redknapp was asked if the figure was £10 million, as claimed by well known bastion of truth and justice, The Daily Mail, the floppy chopped gaffer responded:
“I think you will find it is a lot less than that.”
When asked if the figure was even lower, less than £7 million, he continued:
Carved out his niche?Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has baffled fans for a lot of the season by not playing Hatem Ben Arfa, but Pardew has now explained his reasoning and how Benny’s work on Saturday may just have earned him the free attacking role he craves.
Until recently, Alan Pardew has seemed reluctant to start with Hatem Ben Arfa, much to the frustration of the player himself who had a few choice words to say about Alan Pardew’s tactics last week.
However, in a recent interview in the Journal, Pardew has explained how he sees the Ben Arfa situation developing on the pitch. Talking about the weekend’s game at Blackburn, Pardew said:
“It’s all about balance. His work-rate was quite good, it’s just sometimes intensity that’s the difference. It didn’t help in the first half that Mehdi stepped off a little bit and was a little bit too deep and therefore that didn’t help Hatem either. It all sort of combined.
“I was really pleased with his attitude when he went on to the right. He could have gone, ‘What am I doing out here?’ but he attacked the position. That’s really pleasing.
“I knew if we got the ball to his feet he was going to cause the full-backs a problem.“
On the verge of Demba Ba’s departure for the African Cup of Nations, Newcastle United striker, Demba Ba gave an interview for French sports radio station, RMC. When asked by the station if he could join moneybags Paris St Germain, the Carlo Ancelotti managed Manchester City of France’s Ligue Un, our goalscorer in chief gave the somewhat worrying reply:
“Yes why not, it’s possible.”
“I have always supported the PSG, and it’s a club that is enticing.” (more…)
Blackpudding Rovers are n Toon!Good afternoon Geordies and welcome to our latest match banter feature.
This one sees the Magpies hosting the team who have been recently renamed, from “Blackburn Rovers” to “Troubled Blackburn Rovers” because of their trials and tribulations in the relegation zone, and also the rather unfortunate behaviour of some of their fans towards manager Steve Kean, which has almost certainly made a bad situation worse. The cups however are a different matter, with quite a few teams in the past putting poor league form behind them to excel in cup competitions. The last of course being Birmingham City, who did the “double” of winning the League Cup and getting relegated last season. Our cousins from the “Paris of the North”, Middlesbrough, being another example in 1997 when they at made the final of the FA Cup in one of their relegation seasons.
It also shouldn’t be forgotten that it was Troubled Blackburn Rovers who ditched us out of the League Cup too, a 3-4 extra time thriller back in October of last year, with Blackburn’s Gael Givet eventually sinking Toon’s League Cup dreams in the 120th minute. Also, while we may be riding high after our glorious victory over the current Premiership title holders on Wednesday, Blackburn also managed the same feat on new Years Eve. On the other hand however, we did beat Rovers 3-1 in our previous Premiership meeting at St James’ Park the month before. But anyway, I won’t go on for too long here, if you would like an extensive and rather thought provoking look forward the game, DO check out UTD111’s excellent match preview, which really is a cracker this week! (more…)
