We thought Ryan Taylor was exposed in the first half on Saturday against Chelsea.
Ryan Taylor – played well this season
While Ryan Taylor has played very well this season in an unaccustomed position of left back, he has been exposed a few times this season when the player he is up against is a fast and skillful right winger.
On Saturday it was Daniel Sturridge who caused the Newcastle defense havoc in the first half, as it was obvious Chelsea were sending all their attacks down their right wing, and Ryan found the 21 year-old difficult to handle.
It was pointed out yesterday that Ryan was even more exposed on Saturday, because he didn’t have Jonas Gutierrez on the left wing with him, and Jonas isn’t only a tireless worker but he comes back to defend a lot.
That’s something Peter Lovenkrands wasn’t doing much of in that first half, and the good news is that Gutierrez has served his one match ban for being sent off at Old Trafford, and should return to the starting line-up on Saturday..
Ryan has been an ever present in the side at left-back in all league games this season, and while he’s done excellently well overall, we wonder how long he can stay first choice with Davide Santon surely starting to come through.
Davide is a full Italian International and was brought in for £5M from Inter-Milan, and we thought he’d immediately be drafted into the side once he had settled down.
But that hasn’t happened, and we’re now in December, and with Newcastle doing so well in those first 11 games, it’s understandable that Pardew wanted to keep the same defense together.
But in the last three games the defense has been exposed a bit especially at Manchester City and against Chelsea on Saturday.
But that hasn’t stopped Ryan being pleased overall with his season so far:
“It’s been a fantastic season for me so far and hopefully, that can continue.”
“I was happy, and then I had a little blip against Manchester City. It’s been a fantastic season for me so far and hopefully, that can continue.”
“But I am just going to take one game as it comes and not look too far ahead of myself because I know there are players wanting to get into the position I am in and get into the team.”
“I can’t get too carried away, I can only go to the next game and at the moment, I am very happy.”
That little blip against Manchester City were the two mistakes he made just before half time, which in retrospect put the game out of reach for Newcastle.
Ryan handled the ball to give away a penalty on 41 minutes, and then was dispossessed by Micah Richards who rifled home to make it 2-0 just before half time.
Daniel Sturridge missed quite a few chances in that first half on Saturday, and it seems that if the opposing team has a fast and skillful winger they will play him down the right wing and try to expose Taylor.
But of course with Steven Taylor now out for the season and presumably Fabrico Coloccini missing at least the game at Norwich on Saturday afternoon, Alan Pardew will at least want to keep the two full backs in there for some stability and understanding at the back.
It’s all been rather quiet this week, with not much news coming out of the Newcastle training base at Benton , and we wonder who Alan is thinking of putting in at center-back on Saturday to partner James Perch?
If Alan moves Danny Simpson over, there will not be too much heading ability or height at the back in the center, which is why we think 6’2″ Hungarian Tamas Kadar should get his chance.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
33 comments so far
Indian Magpie
Dec 7, 2011 at 8:59 AM
Comment #1Can sum1 please tell me why Raylor is not good enuf to be at right back but good enuf to play at left back.
Indian Magpie
Dec 7, 2011 at 9:02 AM
Comment #2if i took that many FKs ill score 2, the goal against everton was a special one but if your luck is in its in. barton scored a great goal last year against villa, tiote.
Indian Magpie
Dec 7, 2011 at 9:03 AM
Comment #3he could not get into the team when we were in championship, so get santon in
Indian Magpie
Dec 7, 2011 at 9:04 AM
Comment #4off topic,
Nile ranger has been bit of a charm for barnsley
jayphoto
Dec 7, 2011 at 9:05 AM
Comment #5think he’s been lucky in the fact we really don’t have a specialist left back! Think Pardew regards Santon as a right back and he’s being kept out the side by a solid danny simpson! Surprised shane ferguson can’t even make the bench most games, must not be progressing!
TS -77
Dec 7, 2011 at 9:09 AM
Comment #6I think Pardew is going for a back 4 of:
Simpson – Perch – Kadar – Taylor
Thats because he doesnt seem to like to rotate more than necessary, otherwise I would like to see the following:
Taylor – Simpson – Kadar – Santon
Indian Magpie
Dec 7, 2011 at 9:09 AM
Comment #7@jayphoto
ferguson is injured, he came back from Irish duties injured and went for a scan, i remember vividly from pardonmewho? quotes
Ollieh51
Dec 7, 2011 at 9:16 AM
Comment #8@ IndianMagpie – Because Simpson who can play in the same position is better. Pretty obvious no?
Raylor ha a much better ‘wrong foot’ than Simo does and that I would think is the sole reason.
All the same, I’m hoping that Raylor is rested against Swansea at the very least as they have far too much pace to burn and he will be made to look VERY foolish.
Indian Magpie
Dec 7, 2011 at 9:20 AM
Comment #9@Ollieh51
as u say pretty obvious, well thats the main point, he cannot get into his main position but gets into a position where to say the least he is uncomfortable. get some one who can take care of himself.
davo
Dec 7, 2011 at 9:31 AM
Comment #10I think Raylor must get one more chance, especially with Guti coming back into the team.Those two guys have been there all season and so far we are in the middle of having afine season.Sure ,if he gets torn apart again we might have to look at Santon.
Ollieh51
Dec 7, 2011 at 9:32 AM
Comment #11@ Indian Magapie – It’s not always quite as simple as that though is it?!
You going to say the same to Ashley Young/Nani when they are both fit and one of them has to play on the ‘wrong’ side?!
It’s a sign of our growing strength that we can do that and as much as even I’d like to see him too, SanToon will get his chance soon enough.
Indian Magpie
Dec 7, 2011 at 9:47 AM
Comment #12If Raylor keeps continuing
we can only hope for mediocrity. giving him another go because jonas is back is only going to take toll on jonas’s game.
i feel raylor was partly to blame for jonas’s red card
IPToon
Dec 7, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Comment #13Normally a left winger will be asked to get forward and help the stikers out, but make sure when you get forward you also get back to help out.
We must be the only club in the league, maybe country who ask Jonas to defend and cover the fullback by marking the winger as your job and then if you get a chance, try and get forward as well. Totally the wrong way round just because we know Raylor cant play left back.
Not blaming Raylor though as he is being asked to play there.
martoon
Dec 7, 2011 at 10:21 AM
Comment #14Santon is probably one of our most expensive recent signings – if he can’t get in the team now, with all our defensive woes, then there is something seriously wrong with him. I think it has been suggested by others but I think Best could do quite a good job as a makeshift CB – strong and good in the air, I think this would be better than moving one of the FBs.
Slank
Dec 7, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Comment #15TS -77 @ 6
I think you are right in thinking that Pardew doesn’t like too many changes especially in defence where more than anywhere else the players operate as a unit.
I think he will play Perch has he has come on in the last few games and is used to the premiership unlike Santon which is why I think it could be too risky playing him in the middle even though he is tall. The same is almost true of Kadar, although he has performed in the premiership albeit some time ago.
I would keep Taylor in his normal position because he is going to have Jonas for company, whose defensive duties were missed on Saturday. I would move Simpson alongside Perch with Santon taking his place at rightback. Santon likes to get forward and this would benefit the team and presumably Obertan ahead of him. I would keep Kadar on the bench. I would play:
Santon – Simpson – Perch – Taylor
pinkorbrown
Dec 7, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Comment #16Raylor done a good job for us, filling in when we didnt have a left back. Now we have Santon, Raylor needs to be moved aside. Playing players out of position brings inconsistency and should only been done when absolute necessary. If Krul got sent off and an outfield player went in nets and saved a pen and won us the game, he wouldnt be in nets the next game!!!
Rotonda heights
Dec 7, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Comment #17NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rotonda heights
Dec 7, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Comment #18jonas should be concentrating on getting forward not baby sitting raylor all the time. be fair to taylor and move him elsewhere.
Rotonda heights
Dec 7, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Comment #19davo
raylor has been torn apart enough times when guti has been there. enouuuugh is enough and it needs addressing and for pardew to stop being ” too loyal ”
markmac
Dec 7, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Comment #20Has santon ever played CB? hes over 6” tall and must be desperate for a game so would surely give his all, that way there isnt too much change at the back and maybe his pace will come in handy V swansea
davo
Dec 7, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Comment #21I know what you’re saying mate.Part of me feels the same way but I’m also taking into account our results and defensive record as a team with that duo on the left. Also,Idon’t care how many assists /goals Guti is or isn,t getting as long as the team are getting the results.
The_Toon
Dec 7, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Comment #22If we had Two Cannavaros than I wouldn’t mind going for two short defenders as center backs otherwise 6 foot players are a most specially in the english premier league!
bigdan1980
Dec 7, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Comment #23Ryan Taylor is a liability and has been since the start of the season especially against spurs,manu,Chelsea and city I think his 2 free kicks from 40 attempts have put rose tinted glasses on people
Sav
Dec 7, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Comment #24If Gutti is back then this isn’t the time to experiment at LB. Leave Taylor to continue doing a decent job for now. He and Simpson know the drill and will need to keep whoever is at CB in line. If not Kadar, then Leon Best may make a decent job of filling in at CB like Dion Dublin did. We will need some height and bulk at Norwich.
I’d also drop Obertan for this one (gives the ball away too much) and play both Cabaye and Guthrie in front of Tiote whose job would be just to protect the CBs and pick up any runners from midfield. Ben Arfa can play to the right. A draw will be a good result in the circumstances.
shamsoftabriz
Dec 7, 2011 at 1:06 PM
Comment #25One has to wonder if Santon’s knee problems–while temporarily healed–have caused his pace to decline. There’s got to be something wrong with him if the so-called “next Maldini” cannot find his way into the starting 11 after Colo and STaylor are out. At some point, we just need to put the man on the pitch and see what happens. If not now, when?
Dobbo85
Dec 7, 2011 at 1:19 PM
Comment #26Has anybody thought about maybe playing Gosling at RB?
I personally wouldnt have Perch or Kadar anywhere near a newcastle shirt. I would much rather see
Gosling – Simpson – Santon – R. Taylor
I think this would easily manage to deal with anything Norwich had the throw at us
Brutooon
Dec 7, 2011 at 1:30 PM
Comment #27The problem with playing Raylor is that:
1) Jonas spend time defending than attacking. Why use 2 players to defend the left back area when u can played one player for that job? (Santon)
2) YES he score from freekick but we got Cabaye who can struck good freekicks.
3) Another option Raylor at RB and Simpson as Centre Back
Aahan
Dec 7, 2011 at 6:27 PM
Comment #28God its just ONE match and that too against Norwich. Pardew should give U-18 CB’s a break. for e.g.-Louis Storey just to see how good or bad are they at the Premier League level cos if u don’t give them a break u’d never know if u had depth in ur squad or not. Otherwise Kadar has got to be the right option.
As for January I still insist on Pardew taking a wild punt for Raul Albiol or a serious one for Andres Rannochia(Inter). And obviously one sure shot at Tomkins(West Ham)- he is amazing
Aahan
Dec 7, 2011 at 6:28 PM
Comment #29And PLAY Santon for Norwich game!Sit R. Taylor OUT
NEWEXPATMAGPIE
Dec 7, 2011 at 6:41 PM
Comment #30Rotonda@19:
Raylor has done well for us at LB: excepting QPR away, and the last three games. We were unbeaten for the first 11 games excepting an unlucky loss in the Carling.
People tend to forget this fact when criticising just recently.
However, Santon is not going to stay happy benchwarming for ever and should be played on saturday against the Canaries!
If not he will be fast becoming another Xisco or Enrique who both had to wait too long to get their debut,s !
Raylor i think should be rested on Sat and Santon and Kadar should be in the starting line-up !
AndyMac
Dec 7, 2011 at 7:18 PM
Comment #31Indian Magpie says:
“Can sum1 please tell me why Raylor is not good enuf to be at right back but good enuf to play at left back”
No I cant 🙂 Interestingly he’s had three real tough games against teams who have targeted him as a weak link. Did they do that against Simmo ?
Aahan
Dec 7, 2011 at 8:48 PM
Comment #32NEWEXPATMAGPIE- Very true of you, But undoubtedly Santon is better than Raylor except free kicks
Seba29072
Dec 8, 2011 at 3:28 AM
Comment #33Fact is Santon is the best defensive player available on Saturday so he has to start if he is fit.
Even though the situation sucks I am really looking forward to seeing the team sheet on Saturday. Norwich are going to set their whole game plan towards exploiting our CB’s so its a real test for Pardew.
Does he go for defensive minded players who know the fundamentals well like Simpson?
Or does he go with a total makeshift player like Best or Smith who are going to have the strength and aerial capabilities to deal with their big forwards?
Personally I think it will be Simo-Perch-Kadar-Raylor and I won’t criticise Pardew for the choice.
If this was Fifa 12 they are the only 2 players we would have available with CB next to their possible positions so lets go with experience because its a very tough position to play.
If he doesn’t use them then they should both be replaced in the window because we can’t be employing players as backup and not using them.
I’d like to see Santon in the mix somewhere, if Kadar is really out of favour then he must surely feature.