Davide Santon

But it is actually broken because Raylor is vulnerable and demands too much assistance from Jonas making Jonas less effective when we attack.

 

Simmo has not been solid at all. He's getting back to his original form, but he's been far from solid. He's still getting caught out pushing far too up the pitch, which sometimes gets him good positions to cross, but more often ****s us over in defense. At least Raylor is back in his position if we're under threat from a winger, Simmo is no where to be found and Saylor or Colo are drawn out to cover him.

And Raylor is not in the squad simply because he can take a free kick, he's done a good job, apart from the QPR game, and he did get skinned a few times by the Arsenal wingers, but not many fullbacks are comfortable vs Arsenal wingers mate. Raylor did and overall good job.

I agree Santon has much more potential, but it's stupid to start him straight away in my opinion. We don't know what he's going to be like in this league, and he hasn't been under the pressure that PL players will give him. If we had Perch at fullback, then I'd say we might as well just risk Santon, but Raylor is doing a fine job. He's not a great fullback but he's doing fine for the moment.

Santon should be eased in, not put in straight away, especially against Wolves where there'll flying tackles and harsh pressure put on the lad. Experience means quite a lot in this league, not just quality.

Long term I'd rather have Simmo than Raylor, but overall so far neither fullback has been superior to the other. You can't say either have been far better than the other or even significantly better really.

 

No he doesn't. And I'm sick of hearing this. It's not like Jonas is coming back all game desperately trying to help the **** and vulnerable Raylor. He tracks back at times because he's a hard worker, but Raylor can handle pressure by himself if he needs to. Not all game no, but often enough.

Jonas has the stamina to track back, and get forward. He's not tracking back much more than he did with Enrique at LB. Jonas tracks back because he can, not simply because Raylor is ****e and cant do it without assistance.

 

And btw, Simmo's marking in the box is ****e. Too many times during the last few home games, has an opposition player easily lost him and had a free header or shot on goal from 6 yards out.

Simmo has no strength or presence when it comes to marking, and we're lucky it hasn't cost us so far. FFS Olson managed to out muscle him, god forbid he mark anyone with strength.

 

Raylor has been fairly solid at LB, apart from the QPR game .where he was torn to shreds, but no one in the team covered themselves with glory at that game. Yesterday I thought was one of his better games, ok he lost hte ball leading to the goal but put apart form that put in decent headers , the tackle in the 6 yd box etc..all key defensive moments, Simpson is progressing nicely too (I'am not one of the Raylor/Simmo out out out brigade) and is both learning and changing his game to accomodate a different type of player in front of him from Barton.

Also the results speak for themselves.. the defence, which include Raylor and Simmo are doing just fine thank you very much, and the attacking play seems to be getting better week on week. (Ok we have had a 'relativley' easy fixture list since the start of the season, spurs will be the first 'traditional big test' after the damp squib Arsenal)

Santon ..young/confidence player , back from long term injury and a fresh 'niggle'/operation ..and straight into the 1st team? Not a chance.
I really like the way Pardew eases players back, Ok the results havent forced anyone back too soon, but that said, I think it will be a slow steady introduction for Santone, unless an emergency arises / consistent poor performances.

 

Raylor hasnt been any better than Simpson though, and he's going to lose his place to Santon sometime anyway, I think some people would just leave him there all season because "he's doing alright".

 

If I'm honest Raylor at left back isn't as bad as when Fat Sham decided N'Zogbia's best position was at left back... that was hideous.

 

You know what? Given we have the best defence in the PL currently, I'd say "alright" is good enough for now.
Give Santon 20 minutes against Wolves and/or Wigan, although if something happens before then, baptism of fire time!

 

I wouldn't leave him there all season. I hope Santon makes the team pretty soon, but i don't like that some people suggest that it's so bad than Raylor needs to be taken off for Santon as soon as next week.

Just because Santon has more potential doesn't mean he should get a place over Raylor straight away. He needs to be eased in, or else he could be over run and it could cost us.

Neither fullback has outshone the other, i agree.

I personally hope Santon is a success, but that we also buy a better RB in the summer, because if Simmo doesn't improve i don't want another season of left wingers having free runs into our defense.

I also want a RB that provide a challenge to a player in the air, so he can at least pressurize the player, if not winning a header or a challenge in the box.

Simmo just gets shrugged off and allows players free chances on goal.

 

Agree

 

Disagree mate - Jonas has been really important defensively this year, he's obviously been told to cover Taylor and you can see it in the way he plays, he's been a lot more withdrawn in games, and rarely bombs forward this season like he did last for fear of leaving Taylor exposed. He and taylor double teamed Hoilett a lot (pardon the entendre).

Simpson, on the other hand, has had a few dodgy moments in games, but is offered no protection from Obertan who has no defensive inclination. I think Simpson has started to show his form over the last 2-3 games, and is really coming on as a right back, getting forward quite often, and even has a good cross on him. Blackburn's left hand side were very quiet yesterday, that's no coincidence, and it's not becasue fo OBertan, who is v offensively minded.

 

no need to rush him back raylor has been faily solid and santon is hardly an established fullback at any top level still give the lad time abd he should be a good buy

 

I'm sorry but people have been making excuses for Jonas' offensive play. He has tracked back but it's not like he is holding hands with Raylor all game! There have been plenty of times when Jonas has been in his usual position on the wing and put in terrible crosses or just ****ed up our play with a poor pass or shot. He definitely needs to improve because Obertan upped his game yesterday, Marv has been in good form in the league cup and Benny is back.

With regards to Raylor, he was very solid yesterday. Can't remember Hoilett going past him in the game. Made one sloppy pass for the goal but those two defensive headers saved us in the first half! He had a mare against QPR but as others have pointed out, so did the rest of our team! We were negative and that just invited them on us time after time. And Arsenal was his first game at LB and it was against Gervinho!! Give him a break!

 

Don't fix what ain't broke, but he needs the oppertunity to show how good he actually is.

 

I think you'll find that was Enrique

 

Raylor has not been terrible bar the QPR game, but Santon is the better player, I would keep Raylor in for the next 2 games with Santon coming off the bench for either full back and then think about starting the lad!

 

Raylor and Simmo are the weak links in our team.

 

I agree with this entirely. When it boils down to it, Jonas is a winger, therefore his main purpose is to provide a threat down whichever flank he's on. Yes, he works his backside off, but this doesn't detract from the fact that his end product is one of the worst I have ever seen in a winger.