Davide Santon

Any news on him? I'm hoping he is near to fitness as R.Taylor looks vulnerable at LB. Junior Hoillet and Wright Phillips have exploited him in the last 2 games. Admittedly he is out of position and has a killer free-kick. I wouldn't mind seeing Ferguson start at Wolves next week, as he is young and needs games. Always does well when he plays.

 

Santon trained on Friday, just missed out on Blackburn so I think he may start next week.

 

Raylor has had one bad game so far, and his overall season performance has been better than Simmo's.

If it aint broken, don't fix it. Just because Santon maybe be a better player, doesn't mean we should put him in yet. Raylor has been in and around the team for years, so he knows it well.

Santon hasn't played regular first team football in the Italian league never mind the premier league. He should be eased into the squad slowly, like a sub appearance or a cup appearance. Just throwing him into the squad is too much of a risk.

 

If he starts against Wolves I hope he's prepared for their particular brand of football!

 

Keep Raylor and Simmo together for now. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Give Santon 10-20 minutes vs Wolves if he's back (probably on for Simmo, moving Raylor to RB), see how that works.

 

Apart from giving the ball away which led to their goal, Raylor dealt with Hoilett quite well yesterday in my opinion. I would rather Raylor at LB than Ferguson, who should be played on the wing.

 

Raylor's done OK but when he faces a half decent winger (SWP/Hoillett) he has no chance, I'd be trying to get Santon in the side ASAP, he is a far better player.

 

I know Raylor hasn't done too bad for a player out of position but he may come up against Jarvis next week, another winger who could exploit him.

 

So you'd rather chuck in either a left-winger playing out of position or hand a PL debut to a 22 year-old confidence player?

 

He did alright vs Gervinho, and was certainly not raped by Hoilett. Just because he has a **** game vs SWP, people say he'd get beaten easily by a good winger?

He did well vs Gervinho, and well enough vs Hoilett. Simmo's nightmare seems to be ****ing Solomon Tchoi

Simmo's sense of marking is ****e. The last couple of home games, opposition players lose him incredibly easy, and allows them free headers and shots on goal.

Raylor has hardly been worse than Simmo

 

Simpson's been surprisingly solid, people who hate him cant delude themselves into thinking Raylor is "the answer" at RB just because he can take a free kick. Arsenal didnt score but he faced 3 different wingers that day and they all tore him a new one, the centre backs and keeper won us the point in that game. SWP took the piss as well, should have got slaughtered, and if Hoillett wasnt the only good player in that Blackburn side he would have done the same to him. He's done OK but there's no point playing him when we have a better option.

 

Raylor's freekick will be made obsolete by Cabaye when he is given the duty - some shot on the boy!

 

Yes but he did handel Hoilett quite effectively if I'm honest.. even without the help of Guti. Although Gervinho and SWP ripped him a new one!

But I'll keep the team unchaged next week.. and start Santon on the bench. If possible give him a run-out next weekend depending on the scoreline and the moment..

 

He's done OK and I'd have him ready on the bench every game, it's invaluable to have a player who can genuinely cover 5 positions (LB/RB/LM/CM/RM) available, and do them to a good standard. But the fact is he is just cover, so we might as well get Santon used to playing there for us, as he is the long term solution.

 

I have a feeling Pardew won't change anything until we have lost a game

 

As long as he is fit, get him in the team and Raylor out of it. He has did OK, helping Blackburn score made my mind up though.

 

Rather change things that are possibly holding us back (Raylor at left back, which holds Jonas further back) instead of just waiting for a defeat, knowing it will come.

 

This and I hope it doesn't take until Stoke to do this..

 

SWP gave Raylor a torrid time, but that aside I think he has done well given who he has been up against. Gervinho, Agbonlahor, SWP, Hoilett, theres some pace and talent there! He made a couple of goal saving cover clearances with head and feet yesterday. He did well against easily their best player. Hoilett is going to be a bit special for me. I think all the players trying to get in are going to have to work hard. Simmo did ok going forward yesterday and his passing was better, but he is so one footed and this gets him into trouble when trying to cover/make clearances. He goes with the wrong foot all the time. He looks more likely to make way if anyone but I don't think you can change anything. Maybe away from home and against better teams, we'll need the additional midfield player in Benny or Marveaux, but you can't drop anyone otherwise.

 

this and i don't think he should change it either like someone said earlier if it ain't broken don't try and fix it