Demba Ba Joins Chelsea / Six Months Too Late

Good morning.

Demba Ba has completed a transfer from Newcastle United to Chelsea, just days after we said it wouldn’t happen. Bleeding typical. At what first seemed to be a smokescreen, has materialised to be genuine interest on Chelsea’s part and they’ve gone ahead and signed him according to Alan Pardew, who had this to say to Sky Sports:

“It’s done, he will go to Chelsea with our blessing. He has done fantastically for us, it’s a big club, good luck to him. For us, it’s not a bad thing because of all the uncertainty of whether he was going to stay is now done. We can move on, we’re a massive club here. This club is bigger than any player for sure. In some respects, I’m pleased.”

In signing Ba, Chelsea equip themselves with options in attack and a more prolific striker than the ailing Fernando Torres. The Spaniard can have his good days, but when he has a bad day, he plays like a gigantic mountain of poo and when he’s had those sort of games, Chelsea have had no one else to turn to. Look at Roberto di Matteo’s last game in charge against Juventus for example, where he dropped the out of form Torres and played Eden Hazard as the central striker. It didn’t work, Chelsea were thumped by Juventus, dropped out of the Champions League at the group stage and di Matteo was sacked. Had he been able to call on Romelu Lukaku, or anybody for that matter, then maybe things might be different.

“Maybe”, “might”; nothing is certain what would have happened had Chelsea plumped for Demba Ba in the summer, when he was still at the same price they’ve bought him for now, but I’m confident that had they signed before the season got underway, then Chelsea would be much closer to the top spot, because for all their striker worries, they have played some wonderful stuff at times and their triumvirate of Oscar, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard in full flow can be a joy to watch. It’s just a pity on behalf of Chelsea supporters that they’ve had to wait until now to see a focal point to their attack. Are Chelsea supporters confident when they see Torres get the ball? No, and that transcends to the players, who know just as well as anyone that Torres won’t score 25 goals this season and power them to the top.

Take last night for example; a home defeat to rock-bottom of the league, terrible, shambles of a team, QPR. Chelsea should not lose that, even if they’re playing badly. Post-match, Chelsea supporters on Twitter were irate with Torres for another lacklustre performance. It isn’t too much to ask of a £50 million footballer to grab a game by the scruff of its neck and bag three points. Didier Drogba used to do just that for Chelsea, Robin van Persie is currently doing it for Manchester United and Manchester City have three players capable of winning a game.

Demba Ba might not be good enough to grab a match by the short and curly’s, but he will damned sure work for the team, run all day long and do his best to score. That alone is an improvement on the cumbersome Torres. All in all, a terrific signing.

He’s just arrived six months late.

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Posted on January 3, 2013 by Craig in England, Premiership Leave a comment

Demba Ba Not Expected To Join Chelsea

Good morning.

As expected, Demba Ba’s representatives have revealed that they do not expect Ba to join Chelsea after talks last night were unproductive between Ba and Chelsea over any potential deal.

Demba Ba was never going to be joining Chelsea, that much is a fact. That his representatives were so open about interest from Chelsea tells me that they were laying bait down for other clubs to come sniffing. This supposed “interest” from Chelsea is nothing more than a decoy whilst they fish around for more lucrative deals for their client. Conveniently, the news of Demba Ba was broken just after Chelsea had beaten Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park and the team doing the analysis for Sky Sports on the QPR v Liverpool match broke the news. What a perfect time for an agent to contact Sky and leak a bit of news such as that.

For Demba Ba to leave Newcastle, all that any club has to do is invoke his £7 million release clause and after that, there’s not much Newcastle can do other than beg to the heavens that Ba doesn;t fancy the contract on offer.

Chelsea fans, understandably, will be gutted that Ba won’t be joining them. Initially, before I actually thought about, I believed Ba to Chelsea would be a stunning purchase for the Blues. The Senegal international offers something different to Fernando Torres, he’s another option and more importantly, he’s been prolific at any club he’s been at. For £7 million, he’s good business for any side and the club that snaps him can count themselves lucky.

Not signing a striker in the summer transfer window, for me, played a massive part in Roberto di Matteo being sacked by Chelsea. Obviously, it’s results which got him sacked, but if he’d signed one or two strikers, rather than four attacking midfielders, then I think he’d still be at Stamford Bridge. If Torres is having a bad game, which is often, lets face it, then there is precious little scope to change the system and that played a large part in di Matteo’s downfall. If Ba, for example, had been signed in the summer, then I think the Italian would still be at Chelsea.

If it isn’t Ba, then who can Chelsea go for? Robert Lewandowski’s contract enters its final year this summer, so there’s an option, whilst Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao still haven’t been snapped up by any other sides. Chelsea have the funds, so why not go for one of them? Signing a player as expensive as Falcao or Cavani however, would mean they need to clear out a lot of dead wood, such as Florent Malouda, Paulo Ferreira and they’ve already done a little in that regard by selling Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool.

Clearing deadwood however, is much harder than it looks and if you have poor players on big contracts, it’s very hard to sell them for a fee. Look at Arsenal; they have average players on large wages and they can’t sell them. Marouana Chamah, Andrey Arshavin, Johan Djourou and Sebastian Squillaci are still at the club, while they can only get rid of Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson on loan.

With that in mind, it seems sensible that Chelsea scrap plans for Falcao and Cavani, and instead go back as serious contenders for Ba. You don’t get that quality for south of £10 million too often and they’d be foolish not to go for him.

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Posted on December 31, 2012 by Craig in England, Premiership Leave a comment

Newcastle Line Up New Contract For Arsenal Target Demba Ba

Demba Ba.

Good evening.

Alan Pardew is anxious to sign star striker, Demba Ba, to a new contract before the summer in a bid to fend off interest from Arsenal as they look to take advantage of a £7 million release clause in the Senegalese striker’s contract. There is still every chance that Ba could leave in the January transfer window, with Arsenal reported to have all but agreed a deal to take the striker to the Emirates Stadium, but Pardew is in bullish mood over Ba’s contract, saying he won’t let the current deal, complete with release clause, run till the summer.

For me, Demba Ba will seek an exit this January if Newcastle receives a concrete offer from Arsenal, having already expressed a desire to play under Arsene Wenger, saying it would be “a dream” to play for Arsenal. That release clause doesn’t Newcastle room in which to negotiate and if the Gunners meet that price, Ba will be heading down south quicker than a hot air balloon without a… well…. urm… ballon, I guess.

Note to self: Get a new comic writer, never try it yourself.

I’ve long been an admirer of Demba Ba, since his days playing for Hoffenheim and I was very impressed with West Ham United when they managed to sign him a few years ago and even more impressed when Newcastle United picked him up on a free transfer just a few months later. Not only had Newcastle sold Andy Carroll or £30 million and replaced him, but they’d upgraded on a £30 million striker for zero cost.

The insertion of a buy-out clause of just £7 million is incredibly puzzling to me. I mean, what sense is there in negotiation something as low as that? Strikers who score goals in the Premier League attract big money and with that in mind, why insert the clause? It baffles me.

Should Arsenal be looking at Demba Ba?

For me, Arsene Wenger is looking at the wrong striker at Newcastle. Demba Ba, though clearly a very good striker, is very similar in his approach play to Olivier Giroud. At the moment, the only difference between the two is that Ba is accustomed to life in the Premier League. In a few months time, Giroud will have acclimatised to England and will (hopefully) be the player he was for Montpellier. With the rise to prominence for Giroud at Arsenal just over the horizon, I see no need for Arsenal to sign a like-for-like striker. If Arsenal are to look at any Newcastle United striker, it should be Papiss Demba Cisse, whose movement is different Giroud, he’s quick can finish just as well.

Arsenal don’t need to sign a big target man, as they already have one, They need a player who operate behind defenders and move across the back line. For me, that is Papiss Cisse, not Demba Ba.

Hold the phone!! Robert Lewandowski’s contract at Borussia Dortmund runs out next summer and with the Pole not set to renew, then surely he’s there for the taking? He complements Giroud, he’s international class and has proven Champions League quality. What’s more, he’s available on the cheap, surely a dream Arsene Wenger signing?

With all of that considered, I think Demba Ba won’t receive any offers from a club he desires and will stay at Newcastle United, having accepted a revised contract.

So, everything ends happily ever after for all concerned. Isn’t that nice?

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Posted on December 28, 2012 by Craig in England, Premiership Leave a comment

Sterling Set To Sign New Liverpool Contract / Ba Could Leave Newcastle

Good morning!

Hurrah, it’s Friday and thus, the last day of work before a Christmas holiday for most people. Over the Christmas period, there will be no posts on here on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day. I plan to be knee deep in Christmas pudding, pork pies and a rather excellent Chilli Mustard I bought the other day. Read more

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Craig in England, Premiership Leave a comment

Everton 2-2 Newcastle United / Further Cases Made For Goal-Line Technology

The flag stayed down…

Morning.

Well, what a game that was last night between Everton and Newcastle United. In the first half, Everton dominated, in the second, Newcastle came back into it and equalised. As time was running out and the scores locked at 1-1, Victor Anichebe rolled a shot past Steve Harper to give Everton what they thought was the winner just minutes from full-time.

Then Shola Ameobi teed up Demba Ba, who poked a shot through Tim Howard’s legs within two minutes of going behind. 2-2 the final score. Wow.

Whoever decided to bring back Monday night football to Sky Sports, I want to give them a massive ‘thanks’. Finally, the monotony of going back to work after a weekend off feels worthwhile with a game of Premier League on offer every other Monday evening.

In the first half, Everton outplayed Newcastle and fully deserved taking the lead in the 15th minute through Leighton Baines. Having penned Newcastle back from the first whistle, Baines and Steven Pienaar played a one-two on the edge of Newcastle’s penalty area and Baines smashed a very fine finish into the bottom corner. I’m currently watching Gary Neville’s analysis of the match as I write this and it’s interesting of him to note the relationship between Baines and Pienaar as being ‘telepathic’. With familiarity, as Neville says, comes comfort and the ability to try different things without thinking about it. That analogy is obvious, that with familiarity comes stability, but what Baines had added to his game in terms of being able to underlap and offer a serious goal threat is great and if both full-backs enjoy good seasons, then Baines and Kieran Gibbs will be going to the World Cup in 2o14 and not Ashley Cole. Both are very good technically and last night, Baines was Everton’s man of the match, it was such an impressive forward from one of the most influential full-backs in the league. That stat of Baines being the second highest creator of chances in the Premier League so far is a wonder-stat.

After Baines had opened Everton’s account for the evening, they failed to add the second goal that their superiority merited. Phil Jagielka went very close with a drive from lange range, as did Kevin Mirallas, cutting in from the left to shoot with his right. Everton deserved more, and in the second half they were made to pay for not taking their chances.

Demba Ba replaced Sylvain Marveaux for the second half and almost instantly, Newcastle looked a different team, scoring just three minutes later from Ba’s introduction. Yohan Cabaye received possession in midfield, sent a perfect pass for Demba Ba to run on to and he shot with his left, moving away from goal, to his opposite corner. Tim Howard should have saved Ba’s effort, no question. Ba wasn’t shaped to shoot with his right as he would have lost balance and conceded possession to Jagielka, so had to shoot with his left. Also moving away from the goal, Ba could only pop his shot into the opposite corner. Now, a goalkeeper of Howard’s experience should have anticipated where Ba was going to place his shot.

Then, drama unfolded. First, Marouane Fellaini was judged to be offside and Anichebe had a goal disallowed as the linesman didn’t think it had gone over. Now, despite the fact both decisions were called incorrectly, it’s not the fault of the linesman who doesn’t allow those goals to stand, it’s the fault of football’s authorities who don’t give them the correct tools to work with. Yes, goal-line technology is coming, we know that now, but it can’t come a day too soon. As I’ve said before, matches shouldn’t be decided by a human stood twenty-five yards away from the incident, but by technology which can efficiently decide decisions on the spot, without highly tedious discussions over this decision and that decision. So, don’t blame the assistant referee for calling a split-second decision wrong, he shouldn’t be making that call in the first place. It should be a human assisted by technology making big decisions, not a human relying on what becomes guess work and perception for matches at the highest level.

Having had two goals disallowed, Everton were right to feel a little peeved about the whole evening and Anichebe, the guy whose goal ruled out for not ‘not being over the line’, thought he’d scored Everton’s winner when he scored late on. Receiving the ball in the Newcastle penalty area with his back to goal, with Steven Taylor closely marking him. To turn round and find room to fire off a shot is a great bit of skill on Anichebe’s part. Steve Harper stood no chance.

Then Newcastle scored. A great big, hulking long ball was chested on by Shola Ameobi to Demba Ba, who nutmegged Howard and equalised within two minutes of Everton having taken the lead.

The final whistle went a few minutes later, boos ensued from Everton fans and the impartial viewers of Sky Sports 1 went to bed very happily.

But please, Everton fans, don’t blame the assistant for getting a decision wrong, blame the Michel Platini. The great big fool.

That’s all from me today, see you tomorrow!

Follow @J4goalpostsblog

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Craig in England, Premiership Leave a comment

Arsenal Transfer Saga Continues / Newcastle Hang On To Ba

Santi Cazorla and his Dog set for a move to Arsenal?

Good morning Jumpers For Goalposts fans!

After nearly two weeks of reading gossip regarding the future of Malaga midfielder Santi Cazorla and a possible transfer to Arsenal, I’m already sick of it. It’s astounding how intricate transfers can be. You’d think, that in an ideal world, money would be bid, the player meets the club, has a medical check, signs a contract and starts playing. If you’re ambitious, that process could take a day.

Unfortunately however, it doesn’t. On Football Manager I’ve been locked in talks with Lars Bender of Bayer Leverkusen for three weeks, his agent is proving to be quite the problem!

David Orsntein of the BBC has reported that Arsenal are very near to clinching a deal for Cazorla, and another for Turkish international and Real Madrid player, Nuri Sahin. Malaga’s hefty financial problems are far from over and the £17 that Arsenal have bid would clear their problems in an instant. Reluctantly, Malaga have agreed to sell Cazorla to ease their worries, and what a massive coup it is for Arsenal. Read more

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Craig in England, Europe, La Liga, Premiership, Spain Leave a comment