10 Newcastle Players Who Turned Around A Bad Start

10. Demba Ba

The common misperception that exists with Demba Ba is that he hit the ground running at St. James' Park upon his arrival on a free transfer from West Ham in the summer of 2011. With question marks surrounding a supposedly dodgy knee, Alan Pardew had placed his faith in the Senegalese frontman, and was rewarded with a debut return of 16 goals. Unbeknownst to many these days, however, Ba actually took his time to find some form on Tyneside, looking slow and unfit in the opening weeks of the season. With Ramadan having just ceased, there were questions regarding what sort of toll it would have on his physical state. Five vapid displays were churned out for a worried Toon faithful, as the side remained unbeaten but their number nine toiled up front in search of a goal. It was to be his sixth game where Ba exploded into life, venting is frustrations with a hat-trick against an unfortunate Blackburn Rovers. ''He's had a slow start here because of mainly Ramadan in my view. He had a couple of substitute appearances where he just started to show a little bit of sharpness. Strikers thrive on goals and that confidence that Demba's going to get from those goals here in front of the Toon army will have done him the power of good.'' - Alan Pardew, September 2011. The former Southampton boss' statement certainly rang true, as the Senegalese clinician would go on to establish himself as Tyneside's most potent finisher since Alan Shearer.