I think the worry is that for 2 successive years now Ba hasn't been able to maintain his form for a whole season (for whatever reason).

 

Apparently he insist on fasting for Ramadan, I read this on a BBC Article last week:

 

 

I'll openly admit I don't know when Ramadan falls in the year but maybe this could coincide with his drop in form? Or maybe I am way off. 

 

Point being, he just doesn't seem to be able to maintain his form and I was very underwhelmed with the majority of his performance for us after he signed and overall was no more of a goal threat in the league for us than Torres was.

 

Ramadan occurs during the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. It starts on the evening of July 8th (today) this year. So tomorrow should be the first full day of fasting. Next year, I believe it starts June 28th.

 

The dates shift by 10-12 days every year because it coincides with the lunar calendar and not the solar calendar.

Ramadan occurs during the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. It starts on the evening of July 8th (today) this year. So tomorrow should be the first full day of fasting. Next year, I believe it starts June 28th.

 

The dates shift by 10-12 days every year because it coincides with the lunar calendar and not the solar calendar.

 

Ah okay, thanks.

 

In which case, I have no explanation why his form drops off from around February.... 

Must be tough to go through pre-season training while fasting.

Must be tough to go through pre-season training while fasting.

 

if i was a manager id enforce a paycut for those who are fasting. too bad in this day and age the media would hang you and label you a racist for something like that

if i was a manager id enforce a paycut for those who are fasting. too bad in this day and age the media would hang you and label you a racist for something like that

You cant punish someone for having a religion, maybe should fine any christians who eat easter eggs too.

You cant punish someone for having a religion, maybe should fine any christians who eat easter eggs too.

 

listen, for a whole month hes coming unfit for what is essentially his work. hes not eating anything throughout the day, so hes almost useless. if i was coming in for work sleeping just 3 hours per day, because of my beliefs, id get a serious talking to.

 

i even heard muslims whos jobs involve heavy physical activity are exempt from rigorous fasting. im not seeing as punishing someone for having a religion.

 

i may be biased because i feel religions are just brainwashing, money making organisations, but it still comes down to him being unfit to do his job, especially considering how much he's being paid

Edited July 8, 201313 yr by Lane

Except to say that anyone who is willing to fast during daylight hours for a month is probably going to consider his religion more important than football. Ba is master of his own body, something he would have to be remarkably good at to succeed at this level, and any attempt to dissuade him (especially if it is public, or if you tell him he has been 'brainwashed') will only serve to alienate.

 

As far as I am aware (and I am certainly not an expert on Islam) the only exemptions to participation in Ramadan are people who are not at full physical strength (e.g. the young, the sick, the old, pregnant women, etc...) and Ba, as world-class athlete, certainly does not fall into that category.

Doing hard labor/working in Ramadan is actually a good thing. The faster gains more rewards.

It's not new to football, Anelka, Ribery, Kanoute and Kalou just to name a few all played while fasting.

listen, for a whole month hes coming unfit for what is essentially his work. hes not eating anything throughout the day, so hes almost useless. if i was coming in for work sleeping just 3 hours per day, because of my beliefs, id get a serious talking to.

 

i even heard muslims whos jobs involve heavy physical activity are exempt from rigorous fasting. im not seeing as punishing someone for having a religion.

 

i may be biased because i feel religions are just brainwashing, money making organisations, but it still comes down to him being unfit to do his job, especially considering how much he's being paid

Then dont sign him and expect him to change and go against his religous beliefs. You cant sign a player then say "oh, your a muslim? We didnt realise, in that case here`s a months docked wages, how dare you have a belief system that we knew nothing about.

I think the worry is that for 2 successive years now Ba hasn't been able to maintain his form for a whole season (for whatever reason).

 

Apparently he insist on fasting for Ramadan, I read this on a BBC Article last week:

 

 

I'll openly admit I don't know when Ramadan falls in the year but maybe this could coincide with his drop in form? Or maybe I am way off. 

 

Point being, he just doesn't seem to be able to maintain his form and I was very underwhelmed with the majority of his performance for us after he signed and overall was no more of a goal threat in the league for us than Torres was.

 

I think his drop in form at Newcastle was more down to them signing Cisse resulting in Ba being shifted out wide.

 

As for his form with us, they do say strikers who join teams mid season tend to struggle although there are many exceptions to this. But I do remember Anelka in his first half season for us had 2 in 24 and went on to score 25 the next. 

I am genuinely concerned now. If we go into the season with Torres, Ba, and Lukaku I don't think we will win the title.

Then dont sign him and expect him to change and go against his religous beliefs. You cant sign a player then say "oh, your a muslim? We didnt realise, in that case here`s a months docked wages, how dare you have a belief system that we knew nothing about.

 

well i probably wouldnt have signed him if i had a choice, because i find fasting for a whole month highly unprofessional

I've got bad news for Ba.

 

There is no God.

Apparently the FSW was going to convert to Islam but then he read the small print.

well i probably wouldnt have signed him if i had a choice, because i find fasting for a whole month highly unprofessional

Wow, having a religious belief is now unprofessional? Come on.

I am genuinely concerned now. If we go into the season with Torres, Ba, and Lukaku I don't think we will win the title.

 

Chelsea went 50 years without winning the title and 'survived'.

I've got bad news for Ba.

 

There is no God.

 

I cringe when he scores and kisses the floor and preys. Really gets on my tits 

^ Yeah that's really annoying.

 

I far prefer Torres' approach of not troubling opposing defences at all.

^ Yeah that's really annoying.

 

I far prefer Torres' approach of not troubling opposing defences at all.

 

haha fair play. I had that coming I guess.

 

Of course I'm happy when he scores, I just find the praying cringeworthy and distasteful but that's my opinion and anyone is welcome to bash it. 

Edited July 8, 201313 yr by JoeyN

If he is a religious man, which he obviously is if you follow him in twitter you'll see this, then I am sure he feel that his God is with him at all times and carries him through life.  Thus I am sure he feels blessed that his God has given him the opportunity to play football and therefore when he scores he is merely giving Thanks.

 

I get more annoyed at the Bale "love" hand gesture that seems to be catching on among others.

Everybody their own. Not a least bit religous myself but I respect what everybody does and believes. Luiz sends messages to upstairs and Frank sends wishes to her mother up there as well. I have no problem with it.

I am genuinely concerned now. If we go into the season with Torres, Ba, and Lukaku I don't think we will win the title.

 

Keep seeing this sort of pessimism on the boards... pre-season hasn't even begun.

 

I thought Jose's press conference, more young signings and the return of some of our younger loanees would have this place buzzing for this season. Yet most of the attention seems to be on who we haven't signed yet.

 

I see this season as the real launch of the 'squad re-build' AVB tried to begin. Yeah, we may not win the title this season, but we'll be a lot closer than we have been, and we've got a wealth of young talent that will have a season to gel and improve.

 

Instant success is great, but this summer's activities (to me) looks lot like we're really building for the long haul.

Wow, having a religious belief is now unprofessional? Come on.

 

dont twist my words, you know exactly what i mean

And you expect us to sell/loan Ba and Lukaku without signing another striker?

Well I can't say I know Schurle cos I haven't watched him play that much, so I can't comment on him. But if we enter the season with just Torres, Lukaku and Ba I can't say I'm going to be too optimistic cos I don't think any of them are good enough to help us challenge for major honours. If they stay we still need another world class striker. Though if we do sign another striker at least one of them should be sold. I'd go with Ba. Though I suspect if we sign another striker Torres will throw a hissy fit cos he won't be number one. I've always liked the guy and he'll always be one of my favourite players but I still think about his behaviour after our CL win and it leaves a rather bad taste.

Not at all religious but I don't really care if Ba and Luiz go around praying on the field, whatever motivates them.