New contract for Santon.

According to his agent, all of the exit talk is false and NUFC have recently offered him a new contract:

“Santon is happy at Newcastle,” “The club have just offered him a new contract.” “Are other teams interested in him? None of this talk is true, they are just rumors.”


http://www.nufcblog.com/2014/05/28/newcastle-defender-gets-new-contract-offer/

 

... Shame then.

Seriously though, I'm willing to back the guy. He's young. He's got the physical attributes to succeed. Every young defender makes mistakes. It's mostly down to experience and concentration. And besides, maybe he is a winger after all.

I think Santon has been more than a few times this season, but the main problem is we don't have an experienced substitute, as we haven't had a proper left back ever since Enrique left. Dummett is young, Ferguson was sent out on loan (and is being sold?). We don't we just get a decent no nonsense left back who can do a job?

Had we still had Perch in squad he'd have probably filled in and done a job, and probably made the positition his own. But we didn't. Of course the club thinks Raylor will come back and be the Nr1 guy to cover the fullbacks but that's very optimistic.

 

I think this is good news.

I would have no problem with Hadeira being our first choice left back and Santon being our first choice left winger provided he can improve on his crossing~!

 

NO! It is a fundamental trait of all modern Newcastle wingers that they cannot kick the ball off the floor!!!!!!!!

 

His defending has been woeful. I think he is worth a go further forward as I'm not convinced he will ever cut it as a defender. He lacks that ruthless streak defenders need, that bit of nastiness. There is talent there somewhere and maybe the managers and coaches are struggling to bring it to the fore.

 

Meh, another average player that hasn't progressed since he signed for the club 3 years ago. Wouldn't be fussed if Santon was sold, he's not a left back and isn't fit to lace Debuchy's boots at right back.

Pardew won't play him further forward so all it means is we now have 3 left backs, two of which aren't good enough (Santon and Dummett) and one that hasn't had a run of games to prove himself (Haidara). Him staying will just stifle the growth of Haidara.

 

Play him at RM. Then move sissoko in the middle. I think santon can get some goals and assists, plus hes better than whoever else we've got to play RM (except moussa)

 

I like Santon. Under a football manager, rather than our window cleaner, he'd be decent.

 

Out of all the possible LB's Haidara is the one I feel has the most potential, (have always liked the look of him as a player).
Santons had a fair crack of the whip at LB and ..he isn't good enough, agree with DMW and him not having that..needed nastiness to him.

I do think Santon could do a job on the wings though, and if gets a new contract under those circumstances would keep him , but as our primary LB ..not convinced at all

Anyone know whats happened to Enrique? haven't seen hide nor hair of him at pool this season..

 

Only problem is Sissoko looked **** when he played in the middle. He seemed to think playing as part of a three was a licence to do **** all. Who would you drop too? Anita? Tiote? They both look better at their respective role (Anita as box to box, Tiote as destroyer). Sissoko should be good competition for Anita and physically better equipped to do the role. Anita has an energy and discipline though. Sissoko certainly could not fill Cabaye's boots, he just doesn't have the class or guile.

I reckon Sissoko actually looks pretty good on the right. I wonder if Santon would be better on the left instead of Gouffran. He could cut in and seems to possess a decent long range strike. Gouffran was good for part of the season but then disappeared. Maybe having a squad is the way to go! You know when their form drops off, have someone to bring in like Rodgers did with Sterling. Perhaps if our midfield options read something like Santon, Sissoko, Goufran, Cabella, Grenier, Tiote, Anita, Colback - we won't be overly concerned.

------------Tiote----Anita-------------
---Sissoko-----Grenier-----Cabella---

Of course pigs might fly someday too.

It all depends with Santon what we want to be. Do we want crosses or not? Some teams pretty much ignore crossing in the modern game. They'll cut a ball back from the byline but see lofting it into the box as low percentage. Liverpool, Barca, amongst others, are all very much like this. Santon could be used in those type of systems (not saying he is good to play at that level before anyone gets abusive)

 

I am happy if he stays. He is only young. I think that pardew should try playing him on one of the wings. It might work out well.

 

I think if we crossover the last couple of days comments we might get near the problem. Debuchy says Pardew wants him to defend first. I would suggest that if that's the rule for the right back it's the rule for the left back.

I do appreciate that, as DMW argues, our FB's have to defend because we do not possess a Real Madrid squad and we can't just attack at all costs. I disagree it's essential, think it's more of a mentality, and I think if you want defensive fullbacks you might as well sell Santon/Debuchy and pick up people like Hibbert and Bardsley.

I expect NUFC to make very limited moves in the Summer and start the new season in the same way we ended the last one, with a 3-6-1 formation and Debuchy/Santon as wing backs.

 

I agree that Santon doesnt look good enough at LB so if he stays would like to see him wide midfield, right or left, as yes he is still young and can improve so could become a star there but cant see it at FB.
Still not convinced by Haidara either to be honest but has shown enough to be given more chances, just not as first choice i think. Dummett also hasnt impressed enough either but like Haidara is young and can still learn and improve. Both very different as players so maybe will just have to fight it out as long as both get a fair chance. A fit again Raylor and Santon dropping back from midfield as emergency cover if neither work out until a new signing can be made in January/next summer. Think this may be the plan leaving our meagre transfer pot to be spent in other areas more needy. Strikers, Playmaker for midfield, maybe centre back and right back if Debuchy goes as expected (really hoping not)

 

Depends who you sign though. The squad as it stands is not good enough to keep the ball well enough to free your full backs. At least when we had Cabaye early in the season, we did quite well in the possession stakes, and more importantly in dictating the pace of the game. Possession is one thing, but controlling the pace of the game is far more important in terms of releasing attacking full backs. Cabaye was very good at this. Pirlo is very good at this. Gerrard is very good at this. Barry and McCarthy at Everton can both do this. Most teams have this player. I think Man U have struggled with this since Carrick lost his way. I don't think you can just say "right I will play with attacking full backs", no manager says that. It might be you want a mentality of attacking full backs in your squad, but you better set up the rest of the team and resource it appropriately if you want to do that. Or you will look silly. I do agree though that even when we have the right players, Pardew will never be overly adventurous, its just not his style.

Somebody has to make the team tick and get them playing to a rhythm. With all due respect to Anita and Tiote, they are water carriers. Vitally important cogs in their own right, but neither of them is going to regularly dominate a game. They'll have games when they are just on it of course but generally they have much more basic roles. We look likely to look towards the likes of Cabella, Grenier or a cheaper version to replace Cabaye. That being the case, I'm afraid patience will be required. Before you can control the pace of a game you have to understand the pace of the game you are playing in. The PL will hit the likes of Grenier and Cabella like a train. Look at Ozil. He is a different level to them but he has found it a challenge.

The problem you have is that someone like Debuchy isn't going to wait for us to sort our **** out. At 28 he has different priorities just like Remy. This was always a concern for me. As we are never building anything for the long term, and generally acting as a shop window/stepping stone for these french lads, how are we ever going to get any consistency to our game? The likes of Grenier, Cabella, Sissoko are all 23-24. Great ages to pick up players. However we are only likely to see 2 years before they get their "big" moves. I suppose I just wish we'd build something over a longer period.

I don't want to think about it too much because I find the whole situation a bit depressing and I'm getting well away from the original subject as usual.

 

Its obvious he will stay as he is a shower of ****

 

I hope it isn't a performance based contract, I wouldn't want to see him walking around the city center carrying around a sleeping bag.

 

Not a great defender. Not good enough to be a winger. Unless he gets better it'll be the usual stuff from him. I'd want to replace him with better this summer if possible.

 

I think Santon could be really good, but not for us while Pardew is manager. It's not a criticism of Pardew as such, he's just a (very) limited manager, and I think a player like Santon needs a top class manager to help him realise his potential. Mourinho once spoke highly of him, and he needs a Mourinho type who knows his football inside out to mould him into a very good fullback.