Demba Ba

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Probably the difference in our style of play and the fact Newcastle effectively built around Ba. Newcastle play much more direct than what we did under Rafa as well.

exactly. when Giroud comes, I expect the same to happen, be it any striker.

[Ainsley Harriott 2,732]

No, I did not. Because it adds nothing to a discussion or a thread.

Same to you buddy. Imagine if we bought players as poor as Torres and Ba for the amount of money we did (including wages here spec for Ba) Chelsea would be in the gutters...

How about we start discussing the merits of the argument rather than how we feel about each others opinions? I am entitled and do feel the same way about opinions contrary to mine, but at least I take the time to argue.

This is going to be Giroud's second season in the Premiere, so I reckon he's going to surprise a lot of people. He's a good footballer. I look at him, not just go to whoscored.com, and see a player who can go past his man (more so now because he's gained some pace), can head the ball, and is OK playing in tight spaces. Neither Ba nor Torres can do all of that (spec heading part). So, in my personal opinion, Giroud is better and more complete than both.

BTW, Ba would have joined Arsenal on loan to replace Bendtner, not Giroud who would be the starter, as he should be.

I wouldn't mind Giroud, but trading him for two of our three strikers? No way. Would you want to go into the season with an Eto'o we don't know how he'll preform and a not yet proven (imo) Giroud?

Plus, I don't think he's the type of striker Chelsea needs. Eto'o is the only one that has a shot at being that, he can link up with the midfield quite well

[robsblubot 3,595]

exactly. when Giroud comes, I expect the same to happen, be it any striker.

I'm just not sure it's about quality, but rather characteristics (and yes a bit of quality too).

Giroud can play in tight spaces, Ba and Torres need space to maneuver, which was honestly a big disappointment (for me) concerning Ba because I thought a guy of his build would be able to use his body to play in tight spaces. Neither have the short passing, quick dribbling that you see Oscar do for example (from futsal). Neither can head the ball very well. Giroud I reckon has more of that, but I agree we still need to see it happen.

Playing for a big club like Chelsea is a bit different (understatement) than playing for newcastle, all due respect. That's *probably* the reason Chelsea are still not convinced Lukaku is really ready, because WBA play counter-attacking football and Lukaku had a lot of space to work with. Everton will be the real test for him as they play more as a possession side, even their strikers/players aren't that quick.

Anyway, can't wait... this season is shaping up real good.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Giroud suddenly isn't shit because he scored against Tottenham it seems. So fickle lol.

The man is trash and hardly ever performs against big teams. The very definition of a flat track bully, French Andy Carroll.

[Tomo 21,751]

Giroud suddenly isn't shit because he scored against Tottenham it seems. So fickle lol.

The man is trash and hardly ever performs against big teams. The very definition of a flat track bully, French Andy Carroll.

Giroud was never shit, he has always been a pretty good player, he got harshly judged last season because he was directly replacing Van Persie.

He had a decent first season and is getting better this time round.

[Tomo 21,751]

read my reply to alex's next post.

I have just read your response and i disagree that they didn't have the season people expected them to have, i thought they had a very good season.

83 points is a very good return and 9 times out of 10 that will have you in the title race right up until the last couple of games of the season and sometimes even winning it, they were just unlucky that they came up against the most complete team in Premiership history.

[didierforever 7,349]

I have just read your response and i disagree that they didn't have the season people expected them to have, i thought they had a very good season.

83 points is a very good return and 9 times out of 10 that will have you in the title race right up until the last couple of games of the season and sometimes even winning it, they were just unlucky that they came up against the most complete team in Premiership history.

precisely my point. even 83 points dint win them PL because there was a big difference in class of top 4(3) and the rest of the league. we cant expect the same thing right now.

i am not denying that we were GREAT that season. i mean conceding 15 goals in 38 matches is so mean task. alex's original point was that even with a striker force of DD (first year), gudjonsen and kezman in 2004-05, we were able to win the league so comfortably but what we lacked in our striker force was OVERLY compensated by our defence which right now, seems far from reality.

[Tomo 21,751]

precisely my point. even 83 points dint win them PL because there was a big difference in class of top 4(3) and the rest of the league. we cant expect the same thing right now.

i am not denying that we were GREAT that season. i mean conceding 15 goals in 38 matches is so mean task. alex's original point was that even with a striker force of DD (first year), gudjonsen and kezman in 2004-05, we were able to win the league so comfortably but what we lacked in our striker force was OVERLY compensated by our defence which right now, seems far from reality.

Actually i think the only problem that year was Kezman. Drogba was actually pretty good that season despite the urban myth's suggesting otherwise and Gudjohnsen was never a prolific scorer, but made up for it in nearly every other sense.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Giroud was never shit, he has always been a pretty good player, he got harshly judged last season because he was directly replacing Van Persie.

He had a decent first season and is getting better this time round.

Yeah and missing half a dozen sitters in your first few weeks with a club doesn't really help your cause. But i really like Giroud. His movement and link-up play is excellent. When on form (in terms of finishing) he's a top striker.

[The_Flash 1,144]

Wish we had Victor over Demba

[different level 1,056]

Wish we had Victor over Demba

Why is that? One of them is a winger and the other is a striker and they are not really comparable. After the signings of Willian, Schurrle and the return of De Bruyne, Moses became the 7th choice for an attacking midfielder so loaning him out makes a lot of sense.

[Kieran. 6,317]

Still think he deserves a few starts in a row. Maybe he starts against Basel.

[Sheva. 5,373]

This guy is a testament to the bad luck we have with strikers. You can say Torres had injury problems and was not even playing well when we signed him, or Sheva was on the decline, or Eto'o has not played high level football in 3 years, but Ba was one of the top scorers in the premier league the same season we got him.

How he went from scoring in his first game for us, to now being behind a 32 year old striker and Torres is remarkable. I wanted him out during the window, but i still have some slight hope for him because - he has proven everywhere else he's played he can score goals, just needs some luck for that to happen in a Chelsea shirt.

[bushman 2,043]

According to BA:

" What matters is the next few months with Chelsea, that´s all. " If I play well, I will deserve to play & the manager will pick me in the team.

In other words, if I can I will try my hardest. If I won´t get picked, I am off in January, that´s the way I read it.

[robsblubot 3,595]

deleted - have already made my point before.