BRING ON SANTON

The old adage is you don't change a winning team.

I'm sorry, but I just don't buy that - especially in Newcastle United's current situation.

Wins shouldn't completely disguise a team's faults. And despite an unbeaten start to the season, which has included six wins and three ties (albeit against not the most difficult schedule), Newcastle has some weaknesses that have yet to be exposed.

Chief among those is a pedestrian set of fullbacks. It's not that Danny Simpson and Ryan Taylor are flat-out bad - if they were, United would have conceded more than four goals in the Premier League this season. But Taylor isn't a natural left back - there could be a separate debate on whether he's more of a right-sided midfielder than a right back - and, despite two great free kick goals, has had to survive some shaky moments thus far. Simpson, meanwhile, hasn't impressed in the early going. He's offered little going forward and his defending hasn't inspired confidence.

It's no coincidence that in Newcastle's last two games, wins over Blackburn and Wolves, most of the opposition's threatening moves originated from out wide. Same with the scoreless draw at QPR, when Shaun Wright-Phillips was a constant menace down both flanks.

United has simply been able to overcome Simpson and Taylor's deficiencies so far, in part because of the quality of its opponents. It's not realistic to expect that to continue Sunday against Spurs, the best team Newcastle has faced to date and one that possesses dangerous wide men.

It'd be one thing if Alan Pardew didn't have any alternatives, which was the case at the beginning of the season. But Davide Santon appears to finally be fit after playing two full games for Italy's under-21 squad over the international break. Santon could come in at left back, allowing Pardew to use either Simpson or Taylor at right back (and theoretically at least, the two would push each other).

There's risk involved in giving a 20-year-old his first taste of the Premier League against a Champions League contender. In this case, though, it's a risk that's necessary.

Comments

[jawad]

i disagree that simpson has not defended well. Going forward he is not good but defensively hes been solid. dont count the time when he had issues with the birth of his daughter, that was obvioussly on his mind. apart from that time he has been good.
cant put our form to luck, as the saying goes you make your own luck. It has been hard work and greater skill that has contributed to our results mainly.
Talk about an easy draw, no sir i think it was tricky. see over the course of the season how many teams win at moulineux and loftus road this season.

[Rob]

I agree with the article. It's time to be a bit bolder, but having said that, I think Pardew will stick with the same side. He's inclined to be conservative in his approach, and unfortunately I think we'll have to wait till something goes wrong before we see a change.

[Charlie Prince]

I have no idea how good Santon's English is, but communication among the defense could be an issue. That being said, I agree that he should come in. There have been multiple times this season (Sunderland and Wolves, in particular) where the opposition has peppered us with shots. Luckily, most of them were poor shots, but I wouldn't expect the same from Spurs. And as far as getting Santon his first taste of Premiership action, I'd prefer to get it out of the way now, so that he's more prepared for our upcoming fixtures.

[Bob]

Santon's English isn't great, by accounts. But Coloccini speaks perfect Italian I believe. He is a dual citizen of Argentina and Italy.

[Ocorious]

I want Santon in as quickly as possible. But I just wonder with Santon having been away on international duty and the normal back four able to continue their drills together throughout the break, that despite Ryan Taylor's not being the long term holder of that position (can't be) that he might still be the best option. No internal break and I'd be calling for Santon and Marv to replace Simpson and Obertan. As it stands I'd have the back four remain the team they are (so important for defense) and for Marv to get his chance over Obertan. That's the switch I'd like to see as by all accounts he's ready where I'd like to see us be bold. Or HBA for Best (4-2-3-1)...