Article: Full backs: Raylor, Santon & Simpson | Football, Newcastle

Taylor ar right back as he has more to offer than the self publicising Simpson. It will do the latter good to have a reality check.

 

I think you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who suggests Raylor should be dropped.

Part of me says introduce Santon gradually, part of me says Raylor will also need to get used to the RB position.
Knowing Pardew, I THINK Santon will be on the bench but subbed on halfway through for whichever full-back is performing subpar.

 

Yep you're right but the idea of Ferguson and Jonas playing off each other going forward sounds immense. I'd like to see Fergie get some more games this season too, and with our huge amount of choice in midfield its unlikely unless he goes LB. Didn't he even say he wanted to play LB himself?

Overall btw I agree, Raylor should be playing ahead of Simpson atm.

 

Raylor is **** at defending - he has had so much support from Jonas its unbelievable and this is the main reason he should not play at RB as there is no support down that side ala Jonas. Now, if we are to drop Simmo then I would play Santon at RB and keep Raylor at LB with Jonas basically being a wing back. However, I would prefer personally Simmo as RB and Santon at LB

 

This.

Two right-footers on the left wing is asking for trouble. I believe Ferguson played LB against Wolves last year and did a good job, he's not the best defensively but neither are Simpson, RTaylor and Santon if we're being honest, and he'll get plenty of protection from Jonas.

As for the arguments of him (Ferguson) being a winger not a full back, Bernard was a winger at 20 and Bale was a full back. Nothing's set in stone at that age and Ferguson is young enough and good enough to adapt to either.

 

I think if played on the right we'll see Taylor's defensive problems, on the left whoever plays there they will always get cover from Gutierrez, so will always be made to look a better defender than they are (in most cases). That's why I'd play Simpson - - Santon, firstly because I believe Taylor will get caught out more than Simpson does on the right hand side, and also that Santon will need Gutierrez protecting him on the left whilst he beds into the new league & team.

 

Taylor's been nowt special at LB and he isnt going to score a free kick every week. No better than Simpson, so why chop and change what has been a steady defence? Santon and Simpson for me.

 

Simpson and Santon for me too. Don't wanna mix things up too much!

Of course, this is until January... when we sign Pieters and can have Santon Taylor Colo Pieters.

That's the dream, right?

 

Santon at LB and Raylor at RB

 

Does everyone really think Raylor's actually been better than Simpson this season? Hasnt stood out for me and we have other players who can take a free kick.

 

Simmo at RB & Santon at LB

Raylor may have scored but Simmo has cleared a goal off the line. (both equal each other out in my book) Defensive duties, what he's there for.

 

Simpson has had a poor start to the season maybe due in part to his baby daughter being in hospital. Maybe a rest would do him good and put Raylor in at RB as the lad has done well at LB.

 

Raylor has earnt the right to play and I believe young Santon might aswell go in at left back as he is the most comfortable of the three there. Longer term we still need to sign a left footed natural left back so we can shift Santon across into his natural position on the right. This will spell the end of Simpson for me.

Raylor has done really well so far and has been the best he has since joining us. Simpson has enough on his plate with his private life at present to keep him occupied and it is showing. It would be tough on Simpson regardless what people think of him as a player. He has been part of a defence and team who have started the season well. We've conceded one goal in three games and while I'm not about to get carried away (Wolves, Wigan, Villa and Stoke have done likewise), it does deserve credit. I just feel you might aswell get Santon involved because he is cut above both.

 

I'd possibly like to see this, but only because of the balance it brings. I must admit I'm firmly in the camp that Ferguson is a winger. I personally think he has hugge talent and I wouldn't want to see formative years wasted playing out of position. With Bernard/Bale I have to say it is slightly different. Both powerful players so playing either role is less of a transition. Ferguson is more of a tricky skilful player for me.

 

Raylor will probably get sent off this week for a lunge at Joey. His tackling isn't the best. He was short of match practise last season when he got his red but if Joey's going to get under anyone's skin I fear it will be Raylor.

 

This! I'm a little worried that Santon will be wasted on the left and the team would benefit far more if he were to play on the right, as he has no left foot and just cuts inside rather than going down the touchline on the left (from what I've seen of his youtube vids) which might take Jonas out of the game completely. Let him loose on the right and no doubt we'll see attacks coming down the right hand side of the pitch for the first time in years.

Although Ferguson is undoubtedly a winger, he is the only left footed player we have who is capable of playing LB and looks great going forward and as long as he's helped out more by Jonas than the last time he played there, then they could form a good partnership down that left hand side at least until we sign a propper left back.