Davide Santon had another decent game at left back on Sunday, and it seems he is improving and starting to get to grips with the Premier League, this being his second season in the world’s best football league.
Davide Santon – keeps improving at Newcastle
And iot seems Davide, who played for Inter-Milan is keen to have Newcastle qualify for the Champions league this season, but that will be extremely difficult with the squad Newcastle have, and it’s still a bit thin.
The 21 year-old has now played 30 times for Newcastle since joining the club just over a year ago, and the lads have won, lost and drawn in their first three league games, which is modest start and 3 points less than the points we had after our first three games last season.
The Italian defender was disappointed we couldn’t get all 3 points at home on Sunday, and he had this to say in the local press today:
“We have the mentality now where we expect to win games and are disappointed every time we don’t win now.” “When you don’t win it is very difficult – especially at home, where the fans are so important. We’re not happy but it’s okay because next week we will go for a win.”
“Now the transfer window is finished we are relaxed too. We have a really good team and can try to win every game because we have that quality.” “I don’t know where we can go but I think we have a possibility of qualifying for the Champions League this year. If we have the right mentality in every game, why not? We have the quality to do that.”
“I think we can cope with the Europa League.” “It is tough for us and we do not have an easy group but it’s important for us in every game to get a win.” “For us Ben Arfa is so important.” “He has really, really good quality with the ball and he is fantastic. There is nothing he can’t do with the ball so of course he is important.”
“Nothing he does surprises us. He has that quality. I’m not surprised if another team wants to sign him because he has fantastic quality.” “I did not go away with Italy under-21s – I will stay in England and relax here. I will relax and think about next week against Everton.”
“I don’t know why I am not involved with Italy. I would like to be involved but it is up to the coach. I don’t know the reasons.”
It’s a little surprising that Davide Santon is not involved with the Italian U21 side who play Liechenstein and Ireland this week, because he’s been captaining the side since he arrived at Newcastle – is he too old now?
But if this lad continues to improve the way he has since he arrived on Tyneside, he should get back into the full Italian side, and add to the 7 caps he already has for his country.
Ben Arfa has been the good news (again) so far this season, and the 25 year-old looks hungry, and although he still doesn’t track back as much as Alan Pardew would like, he’s a much harder worker on the pitch than ever before in his career.
And he proved he can also hit the ball and send it like a guided missile with his right foot, and not just with his left foot, and it shows all youngsters how fast that ball can travel, when you have great skill and almost perfect technique.
Here’s that goal again – so we can feel a bit better about Sunday, although we needed all 3 points.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7LetsXPv8U
That goal reminds me of the goal I scored at Walker Park when I was just 10 years old and still at Wharrier Street Primary School, the only difference being that I think my shot went just that little bit faster – well that’s how I remember it anyway. 😀
But seriously, just seeing that goal again lifts the spirits, and some Newcastel fans need that lift at the moment – roll on Everton.
Just think how we’ll feel if the lads can get the win at Goodison Park in two weeks time.
Howay The Lads!!
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11 comments so far
Rotonda heights
Sep 4, 2012 at 9:34 AM
Comment #1Spuggy – from a previous post
Selective memory there as always. You seriously need to work on that.
I was Pards biggest fan when Raylor got injured, Benny came in, we switched to 433 and won 6 in a row.
At least try and be a bit balanced.
At the moment we have gone back to 442 seemingly to keep Ba happy and it doesn’t seem to be working. I think you’ll find a lot of people are saying and wondering the same thing.
I’m not asking for pards to be sacked or Ba etc to be sold, that’s madness but surely you can see the current system doesn’t suit us or Cabaye our provider in chief . You can see that, can’t you?
spitfire_
Sep 4, 2012 at 9:38 AM
Comment #2The new banner is better… the last was heresy… Obertan on it but no “The Mackem Slayer”.
Dannyo
Sep 4, 2012 at 9:39 AM
Comment #3I love Santon. Despite his defensive errors, he’s a wonderful watching bombing forward.
He looks so dedicated, i hope he can be rewarded with a few assists and goals this season.
He’s immense on the ball.
outsidethebox
Sep 4, 2012 at 9:40 AM
Comment #4from previous post
robhaubus @8 interested to know how good played..
cockneymagpie90 @21 most of fans want that team as well hope ap reads blogs ..iif he does ..ap…try to vary corners and free kicks bigi after 2 mins of coming on had responsibility of taking some ..with benny around try change
mkhalaf
Sep 4, 2012 at 9:40 AM
Comment #5Rotonda heights…..I agree with everything u said..but if i had to choose I would pick ba over Cisse right now since ba is playing much better,,Cisse is pretty bad at the moment and maybe that can motivate him being benched that is)
Transfer Sage
Sep 4, 2012 at 9:40 AM
Comment #6Rotonda
Good points.
For me 442 only works of you have two fast wingers who look to cross he ball in.
Our wingers are Ben arfa who roams and looks to create and Jonas who defends and holds in the middle a lot of the time.
Other formations would suit this group of players better.
Results showed it last year. When we played 433 we dominated games and won at ease.
Spellcheck
Sep 4, 2012 at 9:41 AM
Comment #7Indeed 4 3 3 or 4 5 1 is the way forward. One striker up front either way,2wingers preferably with marveaux on the left as will most certainly be more direct than our workhorse jonas!!!!!
Peter Beardsley
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:03 AM
Comment #8Does anyone else think we should switch Jonas and Santon?
Simo—-Saylor—Collo—JONAS
Messi—Cabs—-Tiote—-SANTON
———Ba——–Cisse
jawballsaswallwell
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Comment #9I think the players genuinely believe that they can finish in the Champions League places.They seem more confident about it than the fans. But really why not? Utd, City and Chelsea look a class above us, but do Arsenal, who have lost so many influential players in recent years. I don’t view us as inferior to Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool or Everton.
So much will depend on injuries, Acon and how Pardew manages the players in the various competitions. Many of us have been submitting our preferred 11’s recently and I haven’t seen one that would look out of place in the Champions League.
New kingdom United
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Comment #10Santon makes so many runs on down the wing and never seems to know who to pass to….. still seems we don’t really have a style to our play… like Santon makes a run and knows he must pass to Ba on the left and Cisse already makes his run because he knows when Santon is on the Ball its going to Ba and Cisse to then hold the ball or score. Another example ….when we moving the ball from the back there is no quick movement like from the defense 1 pass to Cabaye 1 pass to HBA 1 pass to Ba or Cisse how hard can it be to make space to accept a pass when u running off the ball……we look clueless unless we a goal down.
Lynchtoon
Sep 4, 2012 at 1:10 PM
Comment #11I love how you try to make everyone feel better about the club Ed, your always trying to remind us to get behind the team even when we get frustrated by transfers or lack there of. It makes me laugh but yes what a strike it was!!!
If we can get a win at Everton the good feelings will be back, its going to be a hard slog this season let’s hope for some improvement in the coming games.