Who's the weak link in our squad?

My view is I see Santon right back and then a natural left back. As I've said previously I'm not mad keen to see Santon left back having watched him a lot in Italy. I only saw him have three bad games in all the games I watched him. All were at left back. Sampdoria and Palermo twice I think (don't hold me to that!).

I know Jonas was more attacking last year, but I just think its all about balance and what serves the team best. Jonas has had his best games so far in a black and white shirt this year. His end product has been better and he has been consistent. The defensive side probably balances out what we have on the other side. Obertan is more a right forward and is having to learn how to play as a wide man. His work rate is excellent in getting back but his defending is pretty awful. Hard to be harsh on him because he played in a front three making his name at Bordeaux so its all a bit new. As I say Raylor is slowly getting more attacking, and Jonas too. I think it was just the initial few weeks of Raylor at left back that forced him into giving so much cover.

I like Cabaye on dead balls but I'd go Raylor every time. I don't think people realise how unusual it is for a guy to be scoring 3 goals, two of them dead balls at this stage in the season. I've always fancied us as quite an attacking threat on corners because of Colo and Saylor but we don't seem to have caused the same problems this year. Not cribbing Cabayes corners but I do think a bit of cohesion is missing. Mind after watching Guthrie, Barton, Geremi (need I go on) waste all of our dead balls in recent years, I'm just pleased to have one option nevermind three!

 

Am I the only person to think that Simmo has been one of our best performers week in week out ? It's true that he backs off a lot but he also closes down opponents so that they don't have any shooting chance and he rarely gives away freekicks when he makes a challenge... And unlike the rest of our fullbacks I don't remember him gifting any goals ...

 

I wouldnt say he's never gifted a goal - Jarvis last season springs to mind - but he's not anywhere near as bad as people would like to think. Some of us just love to have something/someone to complain about. He's been consistently solid for a long time, everyone makes mistakes now and then.

 

Best player on the park for the last three games for me. He has given the oppo dick all.

 

Simpson has had a few great games this season, he probably just senses the inevitable loss of his place to Santon which is why he wants out.

 

I think it's more to do with the money, most of the recent contract renewals will be on ~£50k p/w and his offer is significantly lower.

 

Ah, that makes sense.

 

How about Simpsons seemingly total lack of distribution? Does he ever make a telling pass? Does he ever whip in a cross...that actually reaches the player he should be aiming for? That Everton own goal was a total fluke. Come to think of it, so was his 'goal' vs Forest.

I used to rate Simmo as much as the next man. I even hailed his name for England. But what I have seen from him, pretty much since Hughton left is disappointing to say the least.

 

Raylor only gets so much stick because unfortunately his few mistakes have cost goals, where as other players in the team have got away with it.

Saylor has gotten away with a few, Cabaye and Tiote have lost possession and put us under pressure, Simmo ****s up with his positioning and backs off a lot.

We definitely need two new fullbacks though. Our CB's are just leagues ahead of our fullbacks.

Raylor IMO is more of midfield man. He has all the qualities of a good midfield squad player. He's got a better dead ball delivery than anyone else in the team, and crosses better than anyone else in the team also.

We should consider Raylor for the RM or LM position. He could be cover for Jonas, or even first choice RM.

 

Somebody actually voted Krul????

 

Krul, Cabaye and Tiote votes will just be mackems.

 

Just to point out, we had the best defence in the prem until Saturday, but according to most people half our defence isn't anywhere near good enough?!

 

We're still tied best. And as well as we've done so far, surely you agree Raylor and Simpson arent in Colo and Saylor's league?

 

Yeah I do agree, playing devils advocate more than anything. But still don't see the need for any knee jerk reactions to replacing them

 

it's not about our defenders being good enough or how good our defence is as a unit it's individuals the title said who's the weak link even in a strong defence there is always a weak link(Chelsea = David Luiz for example) just as there is in midfield obertan probaly being ours out of jonas,tiote,cabaye.

 

well it looks like we're going to get a LB in Jan and if it was someone like the 2 mentioned i'd replace raylor with them straight away as they are a better quality player at present we don't have a better quality LB (pardew seems to favour santon as a RB)

 

Santon?

 

pardew seems to favour him as a RB he's played in the ressies as RB

 

Did you edit your original post there ha ha?

I dunno, he's played both RB and LB in reserves so I think he's def both

 

Yeah i thought you'd mention him i dunno so much i recall pardew saying something along the lines of him being RB in future but he can play LB throw in the mix all the quotes from pardew about taking longer to fit in to prem life etc.etc. then it's a bit of a strange one where he's concerned.
The one thing i like is the fact our defence is playing good and are solid so we don't have to rush him into the team and create another Jon Dahl Tomasson (played out of position and ****ed his confidence) or Hugo Viana (thrown in too early and couldn't handle it).
Pardew seems to have a different approach knowing when to throw them in and when to wait but like i said the fact the team is playing excellent there's no need to rush him in