Demba Ba and Newcastle United: The Success Story of 2011

When people talk about players being "underrated," Demba Ba fits firmly into that category. I'm just a little hesitant to continue ignoring this obvious talent any longer.

The way he scores goals is akin to many of his African counterparts. In fact, I see a bit of George Weah in the lad from Sierra Leone, although he's still got some way to go to emulate the accolades of Weah.

It appears that Newcastle have got a bargain. In fact, Newcastle's scouting team can be congratulated on a great many purchases in recent times that have proved to be excellent value for money.  Whereas Newcastle brought in the likes of Cabaye, Coloccini and Ba for relative peanuts, the likes of Liverpool have splashed out lucratively on Henderson, Coates and Carroll to very little effect. 

In addition, the likes of Ben Arfa, Lovenkrands, Gutierrez, Tiote and Davide Santon have been very astute additions and will likely sell on for a lot more than was initially paid for them. When you also look at how the club have brought on the likes of Guthrie, Krul, Gosling and Best, it's one of the success stories of the year and testament to how a club can reverse its fortunes without spending hundreds of millions of pounds.

But the jewel in the crown is undoubtedly Ba.

At age 26, Ba is not a youngster. He's reaching those peak years for a striker. 

He has scored goals wherever he has gone, from Rouen (26 apps, 22 goals) in 2005/06, to Mouscron (12 apps, 8 goals) in 2006/07, to 1899 Hoffenheim (97 apps, 37 goals) until 2011 and then onto West Ham and Newcastle, where he has accumulated 29 apps and scored 21 goals.

*all league statistics

The only issue could be fitness, or the threat of a long-term injury. He was initially set to sign for Stoke a couple of years back, but he failed his medical. Although the deal on the table was pulled, there was still a view that a pay-as-you-play or other amended style of contract would be offered. Pulis acknowledged the terrific scoring record of Ba and his ability, and so he was very keen not to see him go elsewhere.

However, West Ham offered him a lifeline on terms he agreed with, and the rest is history.

His ability poach goals is excellent, and he seems to be able to score with either foot and his head, and also has enough pace so that Newcastle now play a different style to last year, when the likes of Barton and Gutierrez were just instructed to deliver aerial balls into Carroll from anywhere within their half. 

Now, the likes of Cabaye and Ben Arfa can weave passes through and know that Ba will chase at speed and cause trouble for defences. It also means that Leon Best can replace Ba and a change in style is not necessary, as it once was when Best or Ranger replaced Carroll during games.

So it appears that Newcastle have a bargain on their hands for the time being, albeit one that may have an injury time-bomb ticking away inside him, but it wouldn't be the first time that a club medical has gotten it wrong. You need only look at the unfortunate Newcastle player Sylvain Marveaux to know how difficult it can be to judge when a player is clear of his injury demons.

In the meantime, Ba is a bona-fide £20 million striker, and one capable of top scoring in the division this year and for years to come.