Demba Ba debuts in style as Blues thrash Southampton

New signing Demba Ba was immediately put into the starting XI by Rafa Benitez as Chelsea began their FA cup defense with a convincing 5-1 victory over Southampton at St.Mary's. Two goals on debut from the Senegalese striker and  goals from Moses,Ivanovic and a Lampard penalty followed Southampton's opener.

While Demba Ba's first goal was a simple tap in from Mata's effort, the second goal showed the real striker's instinct in Ba as his delightfully ran in to a through ball from Hazard and passed it past the Southampton keeper. Lampard won a penalty late in the game and chose to take the penalty himself,denying what would have been a debut hat-trick for the Blues most recent signing. Based on his debut, we can very well say that Ba will get more opportunities for a lot more goals with the likes of Hazard,Mata,Moses,Marin and Oscar behind him. He just needs to keep applying the finishing touches to the passes and he may well go on to become one of Chelsea's best signings. It would be interesting to see how Rafa manages both Torres and Ba. Based on this game, Ba has surely earned his right to start the next game, but Rafa will need to start the Spaniard up front against the Swans in the mid week Capital One semi final as Ba is cup tied. The same problem will arise when the  Europa League starts as Ba played for Newcastle in the earlier stages of the tournament. So basically Ba will be available only for the PL games and the FA cup,but if Torres's inconsistency continues, Ba will surely surge ahead of him as the club's main striker.Playing both of them together will also be another option that Rafa might need to consider.With Torres finding the back of the net much more and Ba a proven goal scorer,the selection dilemma is obvious ,but a nice problem to have for the manager.

Demba Ba signs for the Blues

Demba Ba had been a target of several clubs and it was always going to be difficult for Newcastle to hold on to the Senegalese striker once his 7 million buy-out clause was made public. With Daniel Sturridge moving to Liverpool for 12 million ,it left Chelsea with only Torres upfront and the need for reinforcements was even greater.Thankfully, Chelsea moved in quickly and snapped Demba Ba who has signed a 3 and half year deal at the Blues.

Joint 2nd top scorer in the Premier league this season, Demba Ba has proved his credentials in front of the goal and in the premier league and that's why his signing would well prove to be a very good one. Torres' up and down form is slowly testing the patience of the supporters and Ba's arrival will be a welcome boost to the team. Also, Torres has started almost every game, and it is important that he gets some rest.A proven goal scorer with familiarity with the English game was the need of the hour and Demba Ba fits the bill.

Demba may very well get some playing time or even start in the FA cup fixture at St. Mary's against Southampton and with the Capital One fixture against Swansea also coming soon,the timing of the signing is almost perfect. The embarrassing defeat against QPR at home in the weekend again proved the need of a poacher in front of the goal and Ba'a arrival might well prove the difference between success and failure in the coming months.

Hopefully Ba gets playing time in the same way Torres got. With the attacking midfield that the Blues possess , Ba will have even more chances to score than in his Newcastle days, so expect to improve a lot on his current PL goals tally. Hopefully Rafa will be unbiased in his selection of the striker.

Can't wait for Demba in action for the Blues.