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

Now that we have signed Santon at LB (alougth he can play RB and CB as well) would you throw him straight into the team or keep Simpson and Raylor? Personally I’d put Santon straight in at LB as naturally he is better at LB than Raylor or Simpson. Which then leaves the question who should play at RB? Raylor or Simpson? Personally I would say Raylor for a number of reasons:

1) He has started the season better than Simpson has.
2) He is probably one of (if not) the best crossers of the ball in our team and with him on the right flank when he get's forward he could put in inch perfect balls on Best’s, Shola’s or Ba’s head.
3) He offers a great threat from free kicks as we have already seen twice this season!
4) He scored against the mackems .
5) Simpson’s excessive backing off (he backs of the player and lets him into a shooting or crossing area before attempting to tackle or block) pisses me off more than anything else. I absolutely hate it.
6) Simpson is good at getting forward but often he doesn’t get back when teams counter and this leaves holes in the defence.
7) I think Simpson has become complacent knowing that he hasn’t got any competition for his place so I think being dropped will be the kick up the backside he needs and it could help him progress/improve as a player as he will have to work harder in training to get his place back.
8) Ryan Taylor - over the wall!

 

Raylor RB, Santon LB

 

Raylor and Santon

 

[video=youtube;2ldyqhIk55s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ldyqhIk55s[/video]
[video=youtube;vnbHBK-atw8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnbHBK-atw8[/video]

Would anyone really take someone capable of producing that sort of magic out of our team? It has to be Raylor RB and Santon LB in my opinion.

 

Agree

 

I disagree with this (bolded). The last game we played he made a conscious effort to get forward once or twice and good for him for doing that - made a few nice runs. But it's extremely rare that he does anything of use in terms of attacking. He'll usually move forward a little bit and then either hoof it up to nobody or square it to whoever is nearest so they can think of something to do. Then whenever he properly tries to go forward to support a right winger it usually amounts to nothing or feels about as threatening as a baby seal. Don't mean to knock Simpson too much but I disagree that he is good at getting forward. I'd personally like to see AG's idea of Santon - - Ferguson tried out some time, unlikely to happen though.

 

Simpson's head is else where at the moment. His daughter was very prematurely born and been in the RVI for weeks now, think he's only just getting her home recently. He could do with the break. I also think Simpson's positional play is still terrible and he's awful against pace. Taarabt up next, Ryan Taylor seems the better option plus his confidence is sky high and will only be improved if he gets the nod ahead of his RB rivals.

Also, I can't see Ashley being happy if he's not gonna see any type of return on his £5m straight away!

 

Raylor at RB, Santon at LB and I'd be happy

 

if they're doing the business whatever the position they play why change a winning team
(unless it's a cup game and you could do some experimenting with other players),
every player should know the shirt (position) has to be won in order to make it theirs
not just given it because they are a new signing

 

Simpson is a better RB than Raylor. I know Raylor has been playing well of late, but Simpson is the better defender. He stands off to allow the player down the flank where the ball is going nowhere, then get tight. Whereas if he stays tight straight away, the player will take him on, get past, and into a more dangerous position and pressure the 18 yard box. Simspon is agile but not strong enough; hence the stand off approach. If he bulked up right, he could get tighter to his man apply pressure.
Raylor gets confused on the pitch, he's hardly the brightest bulb, eh!

 

You forgot Perch

 

Ferguson is more of a LW not a LB he is wasted at LB. Besides he is not strong enough to play in defence. So out of our 3 full backs I'd go Raylor(RB) and Santon (LB). In fairness to Simpson though last season he did get forward to support attack a bit especially when Barton cut inside. Although I agree he's not exactly the best attacking full back. In my opinion Raylor offers more attacking wise (his perfect crossing and his free kicks).

 

This

Your not serious are you .

In case you are it's because he's not even worth considering due to the fact he is an awful player .

 

Simmo is quicker than Raylor and can overlap better, but Raylors crossing, passing and overall play is better than Simmo's. Simmo i reckon is potentially a RB than Raylor, but players should be picked on form, and Raylor has been great so far, Simmo has been on and off.

 

I'll expand and give my full preferred line up (assuming no injuries)

Krul
Raylor Saylor Colla Santon
Gutierrez Cabaye Tiote Obertan
Ben Arfa
Best

I think most of the team picks itself to be fair, Ba is the sternest competition for Best, and Marveaux close to moving above Jonas in the pecking order.

 

Raylor RB and Santon LB for me too. I don't have a great deal of confidence in Raylor as a right back but then I don't with Simmo either (consider him our weak link). I put Simmo marginally ahead defensively but at least Raylor gives us something from set pieces. So overall Raylor just gets the nod from me.

 

Raylor has been good in defense, Simmo frequently pushes too far up the pitch and leaves our right side exposed. Raylor doesn't get caught out that often, and defensively he's looked better IMO.

 

This

and this.

 

They're both crap at defending, Raylor is on form though

 

Totally agree. Will also add that Simpsons lack of defensive qualities actually makes his 'attacking' reputation overrated. He has a reputation of being attack minded, has pace and can get in behind defences. One question. When was the last time you actually saw him do this??!! Seriously. Off the top my head I can remember him whipping a ball into Carroll to head against the bar for Shola to follow up against the Mackems last season, and.......erm........that is all.

Raylor has done more this season already then Simpson in 2 years.

Over the wall!!!!