You've got to like these guys

Ba talking about transfers:

"I never talked to anyone to say I wanted to leave," said Ba. "I was just listening to people saying: 'He's going there, he's going there, he's going there' and I had a big smile on my face. It was funny to me.

"I was just listening to people saying: 'He's going there, he's going there, he's going there' and I had a big smile on my face. It was funny to me."

"The most important thing is being happy with your football and I am happy here."

"I look at the table and think 'Fifth? Woah!" We just need to continue our road, continue doing what we're doing this season and see where we are in the end.

"We need to keep our focus but as long as we do that, we'll have some very good games. I don't want to talk about exactly where we'll finish because it depends on a lot of things but as long as we keep going we'll be a dangerous side."

The 26-year-old's compatriot Papiss Cisse marked his debut with the winner against Villa and Ba is confident the January signing will be a big hit at Newcastle.

"It was a great signing," said Ba. "I was very happy when he signed.

"I wasn't too bothered who we signed as long as we got a new striker it would help us. But fortunately for me it was someone from my country who I know well and I know how good he is.

"He talked to me before he signed a little bit. I just said to him 'Go on - sign'. He asked everything about Newcastle - how were the supporters, the club.

"I've not told him everything because I want him to see for himself what it is like here. But he's going to see it now. He loved the reception he got."



I don't have the quotes from Cisse's interviews, pre and post debut, but they boiled down to: I'm going to work hard, listen to everyone's advicce because they know more about this league than I do and I have to thank everyone, especially the fans for the welcome.

Plenty of attitude from both of them. It's just that, unlike most attitudes, it is humble and positive

 

I think Papiss is going to score a boat load. I think teams may struggle to prise either away. The key line for me is what he says about being happy with your football. They compliment each other well, Ba comes short but can go in behind, whereas Cisse is your Andy Cole type who sits on the shoulder and then steals a yard. His runs are very cute and he reminds me of Cole/Shearer the way he hovers behind someone so they lose where he is and then darts in front. I'm quietly confident about these guys. Both have ability of course, but they seem great characters too.

 

Awwww

 

Do you think this is our best front line since 1997 when we had Shearer and Ferdinand?

 

Got to like what we're seeing of them and hearing from them.

Hope they'll stay happy and keep on doing the business.

 

Certainly could be our best forward line since those two but Shearer/Bellamy was **** hot too. Both partnerships will take some surpassing of course but if they strike up a partnership even half as good as those two we'll be laughing. Judging from what we've seen of Demba who knows how good they can be.

 

Not many clubs have 'partnerships' any more. They usually have one main guy and a team built around him. Bent, Van Persie etc.

I'm liking the look of what we have going on at the moment. Just waiting for one to get injured now though

 

Bent?

 

Good chance it could be, though Bellamy and Shearer and Ferguson and Shearer were good together. Just a shame Ferguson was injured a lot of the time.

 

Lets just hope that talk of a new contract wasn't just fluff and he gets one with full wages rather than just bonuses

 

My bro scored for a bundle at the away game against Leicester when Leicester were a good team. Took Ferguson to score first in a 2-1 win and got 66/1.

I took Shearer to score first in a 2-1 win @ 33/1.

 

Demba 1, Demba 2, We've got more Dembas than you. With a nick nack paddywack, both can score a goal, Geordie boys from Senegal

 

May I respectfully suggest:

Demba 1
Demba 2
We've got more Demba's than you
When both score a hat trick, who get's to keep the ball ?
Geordie boys from Senegal.

I love yur version, but "ball" rhymes better with "Senegal"

 

I was there, it was brilliant, remember Neil Lennon doing the half time draw and getting abused by the Newcastle fans, so being typical Lennon he responded by sticking his fingers up. Just riled our fans up more for the 2nd half and Shearer scored just after half time. You just got the scorers the wrong way around.