donttreadonred wrote:I would love to see Ba get off the mark today against Blackburn. I do think he is a quality striker, even if he is not the answer to NUFC's problems filling the #9 shirt. Ba's physical performance has been restrained by his observance of Ramadan. However, I do applaud his devotion. I can't imagine how difficult it is to observe a tradition of fasting throughout the day as a professional athlete. This has to have a considerable effrect on performance, and as such, I'm not convinced we've seen the Best he has to offer. (Haha, get it? I know. It was a horrible joke.)

Immaculate_Mole wrote:

donttreadonred wrote:I would love to see Ba get off the mark today against Blackburn. I do think he is a quality striker, even if he is not the answer to NUFC's problems filling the #9 shirt. Ba's physical performance has been restrained by his observance of Ramadan. However, I do applaud his devotion. I can't imagine how difficult it is to observe a tradition of fasting throughout the day as a professional athlete. This has to have a considerable effrect on performance, and as such, I'm not convinced we've seen the Best he has to offer. (Haha, get it? I know. It was a horrible joke.)

Ba scored twice in the first half, i think your a good luck charm mate

donttreadonred wrote:I should try this goal predicting thing more often. It seems I have a hidden talent.

I really do think Ba has the potential to be a reliable striker. I don't know that I would pin Newcastle's hopes to Ba's ability to be a prolific striker just yet. However, he's making his case to be the answer to Newcastle's offense, as he just got his third goal.

magpie wrote:Damned, I might not be here so RedOranje and I can watch the game together at the pub...

Immaculate_Mole wrote:Davide Santon is in the squad for Saturdays game at Wolves.

RedOranje wrote:

magpie wrote:Damned, I might not be here so RedOranje and I can watch the game together at the pub...

Yes, because you make it to so many of those games at the pub anyway...

RedOranje wrote:

magpie wrote:Damned, I might not be here so RedOranje and I can watch the game together at the pub...

Yes, because you make it to so many of those games at the pub anyway...

ynwa wrote: Drop points please.

ynwa wrote: Drop points please.

magpie wrote:

RedOranje wrote:

magpie wrote:Damned, I might not be here so RedOranje and I can watch the game together at the pub...

Yes, because you make it to so many of those games at the pub anyway...

Sorry, sort of want to graduate.

RedOranje wrote:

magpie wrote:

RedOranje wrote:

magpie wrote:Damned, I might not be here so RedOranje and I can watch the game together at the pub...

Yes, because you make it to so many of those games at the pub anyway...

Sorry, sort of want to graduate.

Yes, I can see that when you're busy playing Pokemon.

RedOranje wrote:

magpie wrote:

RedOranje wrote:

magpie wrote:Damned, I might not be here so RedOranje and I can watch the game together at the pub...

Yes, because you make it to so many of those games at the pub anyway...

Sorry, sort of want to graduate.

Yes, I can see that when you're busy playing Pokemon.

NEWCASTLE are eyeing FC Twente’s Holland forward Luuk de Jong as they continue work on a January striker hitlist.
Stung by accusations that they didn’t do enough to bring in a forward in August, the club are determined to find reinforcements who fit into the recruitment blueprint.
And the 21-year-old has been identified as one of a handful of Continental stars capable of hitting the ground running in the Premier League.
At 6ft 2ins and with a goal record of nearly one every other game, he is under consideration after catching the eye of Toon scouts last season. He fits United’s profile of being under 24 although Twente would be looking for big money for their rising star.
As revealed in the Sunday Sun last week, Mobido Maiga remains the club’s No 1 January target – but they know they need alternatives in case negotiations prove as tortuous as they did this summer.
Maiga is currently on a red-hot scoring streak and Sochaux will be looking to extract more than the £6million that they were asking for in August.
Meanwhile the Sunday Sun understands that negotiations have begun with Fabricio Coloccini’s representatives over a new contract to extend his stay at St James’ Park.
United want to keep the defender on Tyneside and the Toon hierarchy have been delighted with the way he has taken to the captaincy since Kevin Nolan’s departure.

NEWCASTLE are breathing a sigh of relief after Yohan Cabaye’s international injury turned out to be a minor knock.
Cabaye came off in the second half of France’s defeat of Albania on Friday with an ankle problem but the Sunday Sun understands tests have shown no ligament damage and he is set to be involved in the crunch Euro qualifier with Bosnia on Tuesday evening.
Nervous United were seeking assurances on Cabaye yesterday and dispatches from the France camp were that it was a minor problem which will certainly not affect his participation in next weekend’s game with Spurs.
Cabaye said after the game: “I hope I will be fit for Tuesday and that this game does not pass me by.
“My left ankle got stamped on. I didn’t want to take the risk and came off.
“I will have tests, I don’t know whether it is a sprain or a bad bruise but it was very painful and I couldn’t carry on like that.”
Coach Laurent Blanc was aggrieved at the treatment handed out to Cabaye, and said: “He took a heavy blow on his ankle. Our Albanian friends shook us up well.”

HATEM BEN ARFA has “grown up” after his career-threatening leg break.
That is the verdict of compatriot Gabriel Obertan, who reckons the France midfielder is one of the most talented stars of Les Bleus gilded new generation.
Ben Arfa has spent the international break in Tunisia after being granted “compassionate leave” by Alan Pardew and the Toon hierarchy.
The United boss has already acknowledged that the temperamental play-maker will need careful man management to keep him happy at St James’ Park but Obertan, who knows him from time shared at the Clairefontaine Academy, has assured supporters he is a “cool guy” – with magic in his boots.
He said: “I have always known about Hatem as a footballer.
“I think everyone in France knows Hatem because he is one of the most talented French footballers.
“We used to play against each other in France and we both went to Clairefontaine, the Academy, together too.

“I knew a lot about him – not the person, the player. I knew of his quality and it has not surprised me to see what he can do.”
Fit-again Ben Arfa will be hoping for a recall when Tottenham roll into Toon next week – but Obertan reckons he has matured enough to accept it if the call doesn’t come his way.
“As a person I think he has grown up because of his injury.
“When you have serious injuries like he has had, you think about football and life in general too,” he said.
“As a person he is cool with team-mates and the rest of the dressing room.
“He is a cool guy, I’m happy that he is in my team when you see what he can do.”

Immaculate_Mole wrote:Europe Beckons For Newcastle – But Not Too Soon

Fabrizio Coloccini

“I don’t know about Europe next year. It is too early to talk about Europe – we need to keep going and keep working and then we will see,”

“First of all we have to build the foundations at this club.” “I would prefer to leave the Europa League for the year after next – not next year.”

“I think we need to build a good team, a good squad – that is the biggest priority for us.” “If we qualify but we do not have the right squad, it could be one year in Europe and then back to where we were before.”

“If we do it right then we could qualify every year.” “I would like us to enjoy every season – not just have one season, and then players leave the club.”

I just love his attitude and agree whole heartedly.....