How can we expect Ba and Cisse to play?

Soon we'll get to see Ba and Cisse link up in Newcastle shirts for the first time, with the likes of Jonas, Cabaye and Ben Arfa feeding them the ball. Personally, I haven't been this excited since Ben Arfa returned from his injury for the first time.

But what can we expect?

To me, there are a few clues:

- Cisse has the number 9 shirt for starters

- "He's a player who plays off the shoulder and wants to go in behind, but he's got a little bit more to his game than that."

- "Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew said: "Ever since Andy Carroll left, Papiss was my first choice in the specific role he has at the end of the play."

- "He is a finisher with an already-established CV in the Bundesliga, where we have monitored him for the best part of two years."

As many have probably found out already, he certainly seems like a Bent-style finisher. A poacher. Someone with no-frills goal scoring who just gets it in the net as many times as he can. Basically, someone to spearhead the attack and lead the line so he can get behind defences and work his magic. The sheer number of times he's been offside indicates that he's the type of player who stays close to the defensive line and then makes his runs behind the defence whenever he can. Obviously however, his timing is off every now and again.

This brings us onto Ba, who isn't just a prolific goalscorer. There are many times he's dropped deep to link up with the midfield and then bring the ball forward, often playing it through to team mates who then link back up with him and assist him for an effort on goal. He doesn't wait up the pitch for the ball. He goes and gets it.

Therefore, it's safe to assume that Pardew has this in mind:

Ben Arfa --- Cabaye --- Tiote --- Jonas
------------Ba ---------------------
---------------------Cisse------------

Not an attacking midfielder type of formation, but Ba sitting a little deeper whilst Cisse leads the attack and stays high up the pitch.

Not only does Ba STILL manage to get goals by playing a little deeper and bringing the ball up, but it also seems to be the prime position for Cisse and his poacher style of play.

However, if this does happen, and we actually keep Ba, I expect Cisse to overtake him as leading goalscorer. Not because Cisse is necessarily a better striker (although there are some opinions that he is) but because the formation and tactic will simply put Cisse in front of the net more than Ba.

What do you guys think?

 

Ba can drop back into midfield and help out. He has the strength and pace to run with the ball and I agree with your line up.

Cisse is definitely the better finisher, and should be further up the pitch.

 

Ba drops deeper when he plays alongside Shola so his role won't change, will have to see if Cisse can win headers and hold the ball up. Maybe he is what Pardew was waiting for before changing to a less direct form of football.

 

im not fused whos the better scorer aslong as the balls going in the net and we get points im happy ,i give mr carr credit for this signing

 

That's pretty much what I'd expect too. Hopefully it will cut out some of the long ball play by not having Best/Shola on the pitch.

 

i expect that but this assumption that Ben Arfa will play on the right is way off the mark. we'd all like to see him play there but he won't. pards has basically said as much. i reckon he'll only throw him into wide positions when we're chasing the game.

 

I think we'll see a change. A modest one perhaps, but a change nonetheless.

Ba can now have confidence that he'll be passing it forward to a natural goal scoring finisher. We all know Ameobi is a **** goalscorer, but some people rave about how he 'holds up the ball' or whatever it is, and basically praise him for attributes which would class him as a secondary striker who supports a finisher. That's kind of what Ba is as well, so you end up with two supporting strikers.

Now though, with a proven natural finisher, Ba doesn't have to take it upon himself to get all the goals. He can pass it forward to Cisse with confidence that it'll turn into something.

 

Same as we play now, Ba behind a natural number 9. Difference is I bet Cisse leads the line a hell of a lot better than Shola or Best. Ba wouldnt be playing attacking midfield though, just as a second striker where he has thrived this season.

 

i think pards opinion of benni is changing and can see the advantages of playing him out wide. possibly not for all games where he wants to keep things tighter but more often than we have seen recently

 

If one scores 20 and the other scores none, assists 20 then I'll be happy!

 

I reckon Cisse will slot reasonably seamlessly into our system: he'll take up Best's role in the Ba-Best thing, so pretty much what you said Chappaz. We might see Ba in a formal number 10 role though.