Italian International Davide Santon had a good season that’s just ended, and the 22 year-old certainly improved and is a better player now, than when Newcastle signed him from Inter-Milan almost two years ago for a round £5M.
David Santon – has improved in two years at Newcastle
And Davide also seems to have made a good recovery from the hamstring injury which ended his season early, and his instructions this summer are to rest up, and allow the hamstring to fully heal before pre-season begins on 4th July.
Last season he played 38 times for the Magpies with one great goal against Wigan, and in total he has now appeared 65 times for Newcastle.
Davide has made the left back spot his own, but he will be challenged next season by 20 year-old Massadio Haidara, the French U21 International who was signed for £2M from Nancy in January, and the Frenchman has said he has come to Newcastle to play and not just watch.
This is what Massadio said yesterday in the local papers:
“I’m happy with the contributions I have made because I came here to play, not watch.” “In France I had already played in the first team with Nancy.” “When I came here I knew I wouldn’t be in the starting line-up quite as much.
“I’m definitely happy to have some game time under my belt. I just want to help the team.” “I hope that next season I’ll still be able to make the same contributions too.” “I feel better and better as time goes on,”“As time goes on I feel more settled in.”
“The first two or three weeks were difficult as it was the first time that I left the club who trained me up from being very young.” “I had my little habits there, but I had to change everything. I had to start everything again from scratch.”
“Day by day, I am feeling happy both on and off the field.” “I understand the language better and I am speaking a lot better.” “I feel happy and settled, and hopefully it continues in the new season.”
Massadio is having a holiday in America so he can brush up on his (or should that be learn) English, and it’s strange that he also picked up a hamstring injury at the end of the season, which ruled him out for the last two games.
But he will go all out to challenge for that first team left-back slot next season – and he’s certainly looked a very good player already, and he will only improve with more time on Tyneside.
Massadio Haidara – already looks an accomplished player
It’s always good to have competition at Newcastle and we’ll see 20 year-old Massadio and 22 year-old Davide fighting it out for that left back spot.
And come to think of it 24 year-old Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa looked excellent in the last few games of the season playing at left back – so he’ll be challenging there also.
And since both Davide and Mapou can play equally well on the right hand side – that will be a challenge to Mathieu Debuchy to play well – if he wants to keep the right-back spot his own next season.
Comments welcome.
Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and +1 us on Google+:
You can also reach Ed at admin@nufcblog.com
============================================
144 comments so far
jazzyp
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Comment #41northern echo reporting a deal is close for arsenal reject gervinho for around 10 mill-please please no.im sure theres better targets out there!!
pea.
bony.
ac ect
dbpjake
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Comment #42Ruddy
I agree that we don’t have a good system in place at the minute, but I still think these youngsters that we send on loan still have a lot of pressure on them and that’s something that crewe’s young players don’t. Who really knows why our players can’t even make it as decent back up. Youth staff? Pardew not having faith in them? Poor scouting?
expatmag
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:01 PM
Comment #43Mister Tuff
Sorry. Is J still living in BF?
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:02 PM
Comment #44Mister Tuff and Expat have broken the fourth wall Allen style here…
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Comment #45Dbpjake
Or the super secret other option why they’re not making it….
They just aren’t good enough.
Mister Tuff
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Comment #46Jail -afternoon – just a sixth sense I suppose -I’m reluctant to say that in case I get labelled as a “mystic meg”.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:04 PM
Comment #47Tsunki
Thank you for putting exactly what I was saying in a more eloquent way 😀
expatmag
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:05 PM
Comment #48Ruddy
well, I havent seen him for over 35 years mate. A bit surprised to see him on here to be honest. Thought he supported a team from LANDAN……..lol
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:07 PM
Comment #49Expat
Don’t get me wrong lad you two work away, I’m merely commenting on how strange it is to see 2 people who actually know each other in “reality” on the blog.
Feel free to continue 😀 (not that you need my permission of course…)
Mister Tuff
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:08 PM
Comment #50expatmag @43 – that’s me.
Ruddy – enlighten me please – “fourth wall Allen style” -never heard that expression before.
expatmag
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:08 PM
Comment #51Mister Tuff/JFA
I think living in Melbourne and formerly behind the Jolly Miller was a good indication/
dbpjake
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:08 PM
Comment #52I’d take Gervinho in all honesty
tequilamag
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:09 PM
Comment #53I think we maybe being a little harsh on the young players. Inman Newton Dummet and Fergie all enjoyed fairly good reviews whilst on loan this season . Newton and Dummet both had long lay offs with injuries which meant they could not have been loaned out at an earlier stage in their careers. We have a tendency to over hype how good our young players are. Sadly most just are not good enough. That does not mean that there are major problems with the coaching set up. I would expect to see a lot of loans again this season, reserve team football is no substitute for proper competitive football. Having said that sending players to Gateshead seems pretty pointless.
sparky55
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:09 PM
Comment #54ruddy…where would you play Marv then if not at all
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:10 PM
Comment #55Mister Tuff
Breaking the fourth wall is an acting expression, you know when you’re watching a movie or TV show and the characters turn to the camera and talk to the audience, that’s called breaking the fourth wall, Woody Allen was a big proponent of this in film.
In relation to the blog I would perceive the blog’s fourth wall to be having real life conversations with people you know because it’s so strange…
I have a weird way of looking at things, do forgive me I just found it interesting 😀
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:11 PM
Comment #56Sparky
If I was going to play Marv at all it would be in the No 10 role, he is worse than useless on the wings.
Tsunki
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:11 PM
Comment #57Ruddy – if you think I have said something eloquently, your in deep trouble 😀
Anyway I am going to find out how I am getting redirected to friendsreunited when I type in nufcblog.com….
🙂
Mister Tuff
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:13 PM
Comment #58expatmag -you do have a rubbish memory, you’ll get me a bad name on here saying I supported a London club – that’s my brother. I’ve always supported the Toon.
Timbuktoon
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:14 PM
Comment #59I wouldn’t be surprised if Haidara did continue to push Santon once he is back from injury that it would merely unsettle him and he would force a move in January or something.
As for the state of our youth, it would be nice to see them playing in higher leagues, rather the Championship than the SPL in my opinion. It’s also ironic that one of our best youths to come through, we let go. I would have much rather have had Forster than Elliott as our no.2.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:14 PM
Comment #60Tsunki
Sometimes I think I am ham fisted in my approach, perhaps the word I am looking for is…subtlety 😀
Which you aptly demonstrated with your parting quip haha
dbpjake
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:15 PM
Comment #61Gateshead rely on our youth rejects
sparky55
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:15 PM
Comment #62in a 433 or a 4411 or a 451?
on the basis we don’t buy anyone in the summer (just in case we don’t) who would you play wide to give us the width and the crosses ouu say Cisse craves for.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Comment #63Timbuktoon
I think the problem wasn’t about keeping Forster as No 2, he went out on loan to Celtic for a year and got used to being a No 1, during that summer AP had a choice to make, either to make Krul the No 1 or to make Forster the No 1, neither would have settled at being No 2 to the other.
Given that Krul was more highly rated (correctly in my opinion) and that Celtic were interested in Forster, then selling him was the right decision.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Comment #64Afternoon Mr Tuff ,
Did he mention something or was it just his patter.
sparky55
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:17 PM
Comment #65ooops sorry…that was for you Ruddy
Tsunki
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:18 PM
Comment #66tequila – not so much harsh as realistic, nothing against these lads but they seem to be following a long-established pattern of getting into their 20’s before a loan to a league 1 or scottish outfit virtually chimes their death knell, as this is the preferred ‘shop window’ method of getting perennial subs off our books. There always is a high turnover of also-rans and kids who grow out of their talent, but we are virtually hitting the 100% mark with failing to make the grade these days. I think its worrying.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:18 PM
Comment #67Ruddy,
Did you look for that article ?
expatmag
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:18 PM
Comment #68Ruddy
Mister Tuff and I go back a long way. Our parents were great friends and colleagues and I havent spoken or seen him in over 35 years. In fact, MT was the first person I rang when my father died and he was at my house in 20 minutes to help me through the day with all the arrangements.
We lost touch so you can appreciate how tonight is a big surprise to both of us
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Comment #69Sparky
On the basis we sign no one!?!? There’s a scary thought.
Well on that basis then I would actually change the formation to a 4-3-3 with the players we have.
I’d have a midfield trio of Cabaye, Sissoko and Anita and a front three of Cisse in the middle, HBA on the right and Goofy on the left. No room for Marv
I’m assuming that you rate Marveaux’s crossing ability? I don’t think he’s naturally able to beat a defender down the line and whip in a cross.
In order to provide the width we need, we actually need to sign wingers, which contradicts the very nature of what you’re asking me.
Timbuktoon
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:20 PM
Comment #70Ruddy
Yeah, I realised that Forster wanted to be no.1, but look at Valencia for example, they’ve kept two quality keepers happy by rotating them. I know it is pretty unheard of, but we complain about a lack of quality, but when we had it, we let it go because we hadnt trusted their quality originally and bought in Krul from Den Haag.
expatmag
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:20 PM
Comment #71JFA
Read post 51 for your answer
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:21 PM
Comment #72JfA
I looked, trawled for a while but Googling isn’t my forte, so I couldn’t come up with the article you were on about, you haven’t stumbled upon it have you?
Expat
Like I said, do continue, I’m just commenting on how unusual it is to see 😀
Tsunki
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:22 PM
Comment #73sparky55 – not wanting to answer for Ruddy, but without buying players, we dont have anyone really. Thats the problem Pards suffered from this year. On the other hand, we can easily stuff 6 players in the middle no problem, except the FA wont let us. 🙂
sparky55
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Comment #74Ruddy…so is that why you think we’re playing route 1…cos no-one in the team can cross a ball?
expatmag
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Comment #75Mister Tuff
I seem to remember you were a mackem supporter and tried to convert me all those years ago………lol
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:23 PM
Comment #76Timbuktoon
Well we brought Krul in when he was like 17 so the majority of his development was done by us.
I do think Forster isn’t even fit to lace Krul’s boots so it’s a difference of perception on this score too. I think Forster has found his level, and while he played well in some CL games he is most certainly not that standard.
Krul is, in my view, one of the best GKs in the PL, Forster is an SPL GK and will always be that level in my view.
Tsunki
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:24 PM
Comment #77BAH! Ruddy already answered….
sparky55
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:24 PM
Comment #78Tsunki…please continue….
expatmag
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:25 PM
Comment #79Ruddy
No worries mate. It is getting late here so I will probably log off soon anyway.
Ruddy Marveaux-lous
Jun 8, 2013 at 3:26 PM
Comment #80Sparky
From January onwards I actually don’t even think we played hoofball, we did get the ball on the deck but that didn’t solve our problems. Getting the ball on the deck wasn’t enough, we needed players who would link the midfield and attack, which is where we are lacking.
If we had quality wingers who could take the ball past their full backs and whip a ball into the box then we will be better suited to linking the midfield and attack, get Cisse a bit more service and, in my view, score much more goals.