Archive for category: Demba Ba.

NUFC in Europe?

February 29th, 2012 | 43 Comments |

Toon in Europe?
Toon in Europe - Be careful what you wish for?
Ok. So at this point, with 12 games of the season left and 43 points, we are looking to head to Europe; although that could tempt the “Be careful what you wish for” saying.

The squad we currently have is most certainly unable to cope with so many games in such little time if we were to get to the Europa League. Maybe we would follow the same route as Spurs, play almost a reserve team and ‘concentrate on the league,’ but that would be a waste of a flight, wouldn’t it? But is the Europa League good for us? Because after all, its second best, like the League Cup. Would we get any money from it? Not a great deal probably. We would have to somehow get the money to buy in a lot of good players (not just satisfactory) to strengthen the team during the Summer, because put simply, Perch, Williamson and Guthrie aren’t good enough. (more…)

Dirty David Sullivan spills beans on Ba’s Toon contract (and Ravel bid)

February 19th, 2012 | 49 Comments |

Demba Ba wearing a blonde wig.
Ba: Gets 50% of next transfer fee says Dirty David.
West Ham owner, “Dirty” David Sullivan (not to be confused with the other West Ham owner, “Dirty” David Gold), has been spilling some interesting beans of gossip on Demba Ba’s Newcastle United contract to the West Ham fan site “West Ham Till I Die.”

Sullivan, who of course is one of the owners of Ba’s prvious club, West Ham, claims to have heard amongst other things that Demba Ba would receive no less than 50% of any transfer fee should he be sold on from NUFC, also confirming that his latest club did pay around £2 million to Ba’s agent. He also claimed that Newcastle United bid £4 million for Ravel Morrison, even though he signed to Dirty David’s West Ham for a package which he claimed was only “up to £2 million.” When the transfer went through in the January transfer window, the media only reported a fee of up to £1 million. More on that story later though. Lets get back to the main feature of this story, Demba Ba and his Newcastle United contract.

Of course, as we already know, the African goal machine had a get out clause in his West Ham contract, something which Sullivan bitterly regrets in hindsight seemingly, and the reason why he is now playing for us. However, if what Sullivan said is true, receiving 50% of any subsequent transfer fee should he be sold on from Newcastle would cartainly be another huge incentive for his Tyneside move!

But enough of my pre waffle. After confirming that Ba did have the relegation get out clause from West Ham, Sullivan was asked by the interviewer, Iain Dale:

“How did that work? Did we pay money to Hoffenheim?”

To which Sullivan replied: (more…)

Taking the Papiss? Cissé called back to Africa this month.

February 16th, 2012 | 72 Comments |

Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba.
One's gannin', one's stayin'.
Just as the last of our African players (Cheick Tiote) was returning from the recent Africa Cup of Nations finals, there was news that Papiss Cissé will have to pack his bags for Africa once more.

Cissé, though not his fellow “Lion of Teranga,” Demba Ba, has been selected for to play for Senegal in a friendly against South Africa at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday, February 29th. This will come in the middle of Newcastle United’s next game, with Wolves on the 25th February, and the Sunday Mackem battle on the 4th of March in what could be an exhausting week for the Senegalese hitman. South Africa will also be the venue for the next Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held next year too as in future, the competition will be held in odd years rather than even ones.

As mentioned above, Demba Ba has not been selected, and has faced some criticism for tweeting about missing club football at Newcastle United as he trained with Senegal. The offending tweets being: (more…)

Howay The Lads – Reasons To Be Cheerful!

February 15th, 2012 | 97 Comments |

Table
Cheer Up!
It’s probably a demonstration of how far we have come in such a short space of time that some United fans have been decidedly grumpy following the recent setback at Tottenham. That’s understandable. However it’s a very short-term view of a one match blip in what has otherwise been a highly successful season so far. We have a number of reasons to be optimistic about the rest of the season, and perhaps the longer term future of our beloved club. Here are some of those reasons.

First of all, let’s put the Tottenham thing to bed. It was only one game, only 3 points. With their current players and manager not many teams will go there and get anything. We went there without key players like both Taylors, Tiote and Cabaye, and with our relatively small squad, didn’t have anyone as effective to replace them. We’ll no doubt repay the Spuds after “Harry” leaves in the summer. We’ve stuffed them before, we’ll stuff them again, that’s inevitable. (more…)