We see that Jose Enrique is finding it difficult to get a first team starting place in the Premier League at Liverpool at the moment, with new manager Brendan Rodgers preferring England U21 International Martin Kelly and England starter Glen Johnson in the two full back positions, with Johnson usually starting at left back these days.
Davide Santon – this lad looks a class player
Contrast that to the lad who was brought in to replace Enrique at Newcastle – Davide Santon – who seems to be looking better with almost every game now in a Newcastle shirt, and he’s only 21 and still can improve big time.
We got around £6.5M for Enrique when Kenny Dalglish took him away a year last August.
And Newcastle brought in the then 20 year-old Italian international Davide Santon for just £5M, who knew all about Newcastle’s history and was keen to join the Tyneside club from Italian powerhouse Inter-Milan.
Not surprisingly, the fans immediately took to the youngster, whose parents came over and stayed almost four weeks on Tyneside, until their son got settled in.
Well, he seems to be even more settled now at Newcastle, since he now has a Geordie girlfriend (what could be better?), which no doubt has helped the young Italian alot.
Davide could go on and become a regular Italian International – he already has 7 caps – if he keeps improving like he’s done since he’s arrived at Newcastle United.
This is what manager Alan Pardew said about the 21 year-old today, when reminded that the then Inter-Milan manager Jose Mourinho had said he was the future of the club when he first broke into the first team:
“I think he is better than that. I think he was a boy then and he was a boy last year too. He is a man now and is starting to play like a man.” “His raids down the left-hand side are becoming better – he is as potent as Jonas from the left-back position.
“I think that is his best position because he can go both ways. He is comfortable down the outside, like with that chance for Papiss Cisse on Sunday where he delivered a great cross.” “He still has lots to learn, trust me, to be a top Italian full-back, but he is certainly making some inroads.”
“If you thought we were going to get an instant replacement for Enrique, we would have had to pay more than £10m.” “Instead, we got a young player who was going to grow with us and he is starting to grow and be very effective for us.”
“I am so pleased for him. He is a lovely lad, loves the area and does a great job.” “His language skills have improved.” “I think he has a North East girlfriend now cooking him some nice pies so he is a bit happier.” “He just looks in a good place and I am really pleased with him.”
Those pies will always get the job done.
The news in the Journal today suggests that Newcastle considered letting Davide go in the summer, and even thought of signing a new left back – which is why we probably heard links over the summer with Roma and other Italian clubs.
But it seems it was the manager who had faith in the 21 year-old, and Pardew convinced the powers that be at Newcastle to keep him on Tyneside – and that is looking like an excellent decision these days.
You cannot expect a youngster to settle quickly in a foreign country in just one season.
Davide has nailed down the left-back position at Newcastle, and he’s been playing excellently for the team, and he will get a chance tonight at Old Trafford, where he will most likely start in the Capital One Cup.
This lad can soon become a top player for Newcastle, and he’s already a big favorite on Tyneside, and in short – we’re very pleased he’s still on the books.
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19 comments so far
rainrix
Sep 26, 2012 at 9:37 AM
Comment #1Looking to let him go then block his move to roma? Sounds like journal bs to me.
Kyo
Sep 26, 2012 at 9:39 AM
Comment #2Yet another silly headline.
Graeme
Sep 26, 2012 at 9:40 AM
Comment #3He looks a class act already – and will only get better as he matures. Another great signing by the club – please can we have just a few more for Christmas??
Jose who?
89Norcal
Sep 26, 2012 at 9:41 AM
Comment #4People knock Santon alot but if we lost him we’d be pretty damn weak in that LB spot, even if Anita covered. I’d rather have Anita available to cover for Tiote when needed.
At 21 he’s still got great potential, and last season I remember some of his contributions while some conveniently ignored them. May not be the toughest of defenders but attacking wise I like him. Just needs some more experience.
~Anita One Bites the Dust~
Sep 26, 2012 at 9:49 AM
Comment #5” he is as potent as Jonas from the left-back position”
As much as I love Jonas and think he is an integral member to the team, I couldn’t help but laugh, cry a little bit, then laugh again at this comment. That isn’t really saying much in all honesty. Jonas is not that “potent”. He has no end product. Jonas is a machine in terms of running and covering for us, but attack wise I have seen little to justify calling him potent. (Apart from that rocket against wolves)
tequilamag
Sep 26, 2012 at 9:51 AM
Comment #6There was nothing in the story to suggest we were looking to sell Santon in the summer.
alfa81
Sep 26, 2012 at 9:51 AM
Comment #7The article in the Journal says nothing about letting him go. It says we considered signing a new left back and moving Santon to right back.
rainrix
Sep 26, 2012 at 9:53 AM
Comment #8Ah in that case ED Y U POST MISLEADING HEADLINE!!!
Dannyo
Sep 26, 2012 at 9:53 AM
Comment #9Bit over the top that headline i thought Ed. What i read is that there was much discussion around him, but not on us selling, rather someone looking to buy.
Santons a great lad, and i’ve really taken to him. AP describes him perfectly.
His influence on play will just grow and grow.
Wey Aye Cabaye
Sep 26, 2012 at 10:07 AM
Comment #10Possibly my favourite player for the toon. So, so under-rated. Best attacking full back we’ve had at the club for years, and seems very mature. Would love to see him score a goal or a two or get a few assists because on his day he can terrorise the best of the premier leagues flanks and seems to be a very much unused weapon in Newcastle’s artillery.
ballerfan2
Sep 26, 2012 at 10:09 AM
Comment #11Kevin Nolan on Jonas, picking his fantasy 11 – “You could give him the ball anywhere and he could get you out of trouble. If you were under pressure, he’d take a man on and buy you a free-kick. He could play a number of positions and fully deserves his place in my side.”
These are the things that we as supporters don’t fully appreciate and why Guttierez is seen by the manager and players as such an important “cog” in the team. He doesn’t catch the eye like Ben Arfa but gets through so much generally unheralded graft for the good of the team. One of those players you you would miss if he wasn’tt there.
~Anita One Bites the Dust~
Sep 26, 2012 at 10:10 AM
Comment #12Perhaps buy back enrique for 3million in January?
I miss his linkmanship with Jonas down the left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Krul~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Santon~~~~Saylor~~~~Colo~~~~~~Enrique~
~Arfa~~~~~~Cabaye~~~Tiote~~~~~Jonas~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~Ba and Cisse~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Subs:
Harper/Elliot
Willo
Anita (not convinced on the lad yet, but gonna judge him at the end of the season)
Bigri
Sameobi
Ferguson
Abeid
Kyo
Sep 26, 2012 at 10:10 AM
Comment #13Ed must be getting good ad revenue. Too bad I use adblock lol.
surreytoon
Sep 26, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Comment #14@Anita one bites the dust
You beat me to it! Cheeky 4m bid for Enrique in the deep midwinter when he is struggling to get into Brenden “Duck” Rogers team and he may force the move. Those 2 at fullback would be very nice.
On Jonas, he has lost a bit of pace and willingness to run with the ball which he used to do, but he remains tricky and hard working and continues to win us a fair number of free kicks, just wish he would make it further up the pitch
numba9
Sep 26, 2012 at 10:22 AM
Comment #15A super player a bargain 5 mil and I would not be lookin at offloading him no way . A new cb and we are strong
Munster Mag
Sep 26, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Comment #16I’d love to see Enrique back and Santon moved to rb. He needs to improve defensively quite a lot, and if people cant see that then they dont understand full back play, or they are not watching him enough defensively. Attack wise he is good, and has great energy – a real athlete. I’m not sure why Pardew thinks that playing on the left allows him to go both ways? Surely at RB the same would apply, and he would also be more comfortable crossing with his right foot?
check the toastie
Sep 26, 2012 at 11:44 AM
Comment #17Santon is a Rolls Royce of a player, enjoy him while he’s here.
one Tony Green
Sep 26, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Comment #18Not a great headline Ed and a bit of a none article still you must need the hits on your site.
ck1978
Sep 26, 2012 at 1:32 PM
Comment #19Despite Demba Ba’s goals this season I think our two star players this season so far have been Hatem Ben Arfa and Davide Santon. Any thought of selling Santon is totally wide of the mark. As one of the previous comments stated “these are Rolls Royce players” so enjoy them whilst their here.