Santon at Left-Back against Chelsea, Good Ol' Ryan on the Wing?

Here it is. The chance is now. The opportunity to finally embed Santon into the team. Now, don't get me wrong, Ryan Taylor has done very, VERY well at left-back this season. THAT goal at the Stadium of...you know the rest, the thunderbolt against Everton (WHAT a strike lad!) but we did sign Santon for a reason. Now, I know Taylor's been good, but I think we all know who the better player is.
Santon came from Inter Milan, and has Champions League experience. Even Jose dubbed him the 'next Paolo Maldini'. Some doing. I actually rate Danny Simpson (don't shoot me), he's played with maturity and has been strong mentally in the wake of the unfortunate news surrounding his daughter. Look at his clearance off the line last weekend - up there with Richard Dunne's intervention in Russia as one of the best pieces of last-ditch defending I've ever witnessed.
Santon must be ruddy fed up - he's left the heights of Serie A, to the cold bench up north in England. We need to integrate him soon, or he's going to be making noises, and this won't be good for harmony to have a sulky Italian. So, here me out. I think Sammy is rash, and at times clumsy. I just don't think he's quite ready, I really don't. Why not play Ryan on the wing against Chelsea, with Santon behind him? This way, we won't have to ditch Taylor's fantastic set-pieces or knock his confidence, and we can finally take the opportunity to see what Santon's made of.

What do you think?

 

No for me. Team stays as it is with only jonas to be replaced. He may even play Ben arfa on the left if best is fit.

 

T4E?


someone's a-trollin'

 

Santon was on a warm bench in Milan when we signed him I think. Sometimes on the fields of other teams around Italy on loan but wasn't first choice at Inter.

He's only 20, I don't think he'l be to disheartened in the long run about not playing straight away, although I'd expect him to be chomping at the bit to get on and play.

Also i don't think Raylor should be moved further up, he's a good crosser but right footed and doesn't really have the ability or pace to create space himself and due to Chelsea's midfield, oppourtunities for him to cross will be limited from midfield IMO. I'd rather have Sammy, even though he is raw he has the pace to hurt them on the counter and give the full back problems.

 

No thanks, don't think Raylor is good enough to be a winger, recently looked uncomfortable on the ball even if he has been playing in defence. Would just stick sammy in their!

 

I've just realised the name. Wasn't HMT Toon 4 Europe once? Or was that a malicous rumour?

 

T4E

The original?

 

Shame Marveaux is out, woulda been perfect for him to show how good he is on the left wing in the premier league. Jonas doesn't miss a lot of games!

 

Yep, it's me. But this isn't about me. It's about Santon.

 

Wait, T4E was Tash, so this person claiming to be the original T4E is claiming to be tash? ..

Anyway, yes to Santon, no to Raylor right wing.

Krul
Simpson Saylor Colo Santon
Obertan Cabaye Tiote BenArfa
Ba Best

Because Raylor would be destroyed on the left hand side without Jonas covering his ass, this should be our formation.

 

Santon for CM for me.

 

Tash was never T4E??

 

Tash was never T4E. I thought T4E was a little irish kid who fancied zeTom?

 

The amount they fancied each other was adorable.

 

Damn, beat me to it..............Where is NUFCBano when you need him?

 

Reveal yourself!..........Lads seem to think you have history....LOL.........where were you posting previously?

 

No for me - partly because I don't think we should upset the defensive balance - the current back 4 have worked so weel this year as a unit, and I think that's mainly because they have got used to playing and defending together, so to throw someone in there who hasn't had a chance to work with them for a tough game like chelsea, I wouldn't risk it.

But it is a dilemna as I don't think we should wait too long to get him invovled, so I can definitely see the flip side.

 

No I don't think anyone deserves to be dropped. I'm sure Santon is just fine. I wouldn't expect him to be over the moon with having to wait, but I'm sure he is mature enough to understand he has to wait. He came to us with any number of niggles and I'm happy to let him slowly regain his fitness and confidence. He'll get his chance anyway over the coming weeks when the team will have to change, or we'll be dead men walking by February

 

I definitely remember talking to T4E alot on old BBC 606, it definitely wasnt tash though!! Welcome back T4E (hope I havent been tricked here)

 

Cheers ModernEpic, tis I, don't worry! =) Now just where are my old pals zeTom and borogully?