I'm getting concerned about Santon defensively.

Title says it all really.

Going forward he is brilliant and really gets up and down but defensively.... (his day job) he again was suspect today.

Teams will get wise to the fact that he will leave massive gaps at left back to exploit (as was clearly the case today) and it concerns me.

I'd like to see Haidara at left back and Santon tried at left wing.

I'm sure he would be perfect in that role but the problem will be fitting that change into a formation. I love Gouff but I love Santon more so how about this little baby.....imagine the options down the left......


Krul
Debuchy-Mbiwa- Colo- Haidara
Tiote- Cabaye- Santon
Sissoko- HBA
Cisse

I've dropped Jonas too.

 

I agree, he's too good to drop entirely but longer term his position should be higher up the field

 

divent mind if he bombs on ,but someone has to cover from midfield think teams are working this out.

 

I too think he may be better up field, say in place of Jonas.
ACS I do like that team and our bench would be excellent too.

 

Oops. fingers still numb from this afternoon.

 

Needs dropped for me. Don't think you can reward his form by dropping The Gouf or Jonas (eventually Benni). Still think he is a right back but his recent form is down to poor decision making. He just has to learn when is the right time to go forward. For an Italian he is strangely attacking! Haidara showed enough the other night to suggest he can do the job.

Santon is our biggest liability, he has been caught out into to double figures since November now.

Great response on the other side from Debuchy to Simpson playing well the other night. That is what competition should do.

 

I'm play this -

-----------Cisse-----------

----------Sissoko-------------
Santon---------------Gouffran

------Cabaye---Tiote---------

Haidra---Colo/Saylor-Mbiwa--Debuchy

------------Krul/Elliot-----------

 

He is not a very good defender. Lets make him a left winger instead like Harry did with Bale

 

twas bitter up in the gods mind.

 

a very good point indeed.

 

He was nowhere to be seen for their second goal........... he's great going forward, but his main job is to defend, surely? Rather see him in Jonas's place. It pains me to say, although he's been a great servant, he's had his day here.

 

He has good defensive capabilities, but it's just being in that position that he's week. His tackling is good, his ability on the ball is good, it's his reading of the game that lets him down.

I say move him forward. He can be a great attacking player and track back and help out the fullback

 

Dare I say it .. him and Debuchy could work wonders in a 3 Centre back - 2 Wing back system

 

I think we need another pacey, ball playing CB for that to work.

Once Colo leaves, we should try and sign someone like Sakho -

-----------Cisse-----------
-----------------Ben Arfa-----
-----Cabaye-Sissoko--Tiote---
Santon---------------------Debuchy
-----Sahko--Saylor--Mbiwa----
-------------Krul---------------

3-5-2/5-3-2

 

The good thing from all of this, whichever view you take, is that we now have options. We are debating whether Santon is good enough vs the competition for places - something we couldn't do before Christmas. The January signings all look like good business - some more than I had given credit for at the time.

I'm not entirely sure about some of the suggestions above re changing formation, but the ability to genuinely debate whether the likes of Santon, Jonas, etc can remain regulars is a bloody good headache to have.

 

I don't think he's going to be a better threat than The Gouf on the wing. I'd like to see him continue to learn how to play fullback. Haidara is doing well I presume, and would push him for a place. That should be good enough for us. I know you guys seem to blame him for a few goals conceded but I think he hasn't been that horrible really..

 

Indeed. It's been a long time since we've heard reports of players not being happy on the bench too... can't wait for that to happen... raises everyones game.

 

Reminds me of a certain Gareth Bale. He was a LB who couldn't defend either

 

The lad had another mare yesterday.Time to take him out of the firing line?

 

Yes. Hope to see more of what Hairdara can do, he looked decent against Metalist and hope Pards plays him again against Anzi.