Demba Ba 'doesn't understand' Newcastle United role
Last updated on .From the section Football
Demba Ba's agent says that his client "does not understand the management" of Newcastle after starting the 2-2 draw with Everton on the bench.
The 27-year-old forward came on to score both his side's goals, saying later he was unhappy at being named as a substitute by manager Alan Pardew.
"Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Demba doesn't understand the management," said Alex Gontran.
"If he continues to be a substitute all season, we'll look at other solutions."
After Ba was named on the bench, but before his introduction to the action at Goodison Park, his brother Hamady wrote on Twitter that manager Pardew was "crazy" for leaving him out.
"Demba is happy at Newcastle. He is playing in the Premier League, with lot of fellow French speakers and he loves the club's supporters," Gontran told BBC Sport.
"He would like to start every game but he respects the choice of the coach, even if he does not always understand or agree."
Pardew claimed after the draw that he could not keep everyone in his squad happy and that "sometimes players play better when they're angry".
Ba has started all three of Newcastle's previous Premier League games, but has been regularly deployed on the left since fellow Senegal international Papiss Demba Cisse was signed from Freiberg in January.
After scoring 15 goals in 19 Premier League games prior to the Africa Cup of Nations and Cisse's arrival on Tyneside, Ba found the net just once in his remaining 15 club matches in the 2011-12 campaign.
"How could you put your best striker with full confidence on the left wing?" added Gontran.
"The choice to put Demba on the left last season was good for the club, because Cisse scored 13 goals.
"But there was a lack of recognition for Demba. It is more difficult to play well when you don't have the confidence of your staff."
Speculation linking Ba with a move away from Newcastle in the last two transfer windows was fuelled by a now-expired release clause in his contract that would be triggered by a bid of about £7.5m.
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Pardew was manager of the season last season. Not sure he needs telling how to do his job by a moneygrabbing agent and hanger-on brother.
People seem to be forgetting Newcastle have 3 games this week, so its hardly unusual to have some people on the bench.
It's a non-story, unless you happen to be a sycophant, parasite agent trying to lever some more cash...
Think everyone should take note that this story is coming from his agent. Yes, his agent.
All agents talk about is the unhappiness of their client. Nothing else.
The lad plays with a smile on his face, only quotes i've ever seen from him he sounds happy
Agents should be subject to club and FA fines, the same as anyone else. They cause most of the problems.
Great start to last season, scoring for fun and touted as the signing of the season. New striker comes in and hits the ground running, scoring for fun, also touted as signing of the season. Does Cisse not deserve to play based on his form?
Ask Hugo Lloris, if the player in your position is in form, he will keep his place
As others have pointed out, Newcastle's games are coming thick and fast. I'm not a massive admirer of Pardew for a number of reasons but the decision to leave Ba on the bench to start the game was perfectly understandable.
The lad is good and will get his chances - everyone is left out occassionally.
Toon, Toon, Black n White Army........
Liverpool still think they are a "big" club in todays market. They still think they can lure players to their club just by being Liverpool.
Doesn't work like that now, you need the £££ to compete with the richer clubs now. Not saying I agree with it, but it's what the football world has come to.
I'm sure he could be prised away for around the £35mil mark - I mean Liverpool has done it before - ahem :)
A note to the BBC, I don't pay my TV license to have to put up with this. Please pass Mike Henson onto the Sun where he obviously belongs. In one word embarrassing!