Who's To Blame - Santon Or Pardew?

09 October 2013 12:34
Davide Santon says the best is yet to come from him ... and let's pray that is right ... because the kid is the Achilles heel at Newcastle since he signed!

The defender is in third season at the club he joined from Inter Milan, and he is still seen as the player who gives away goals because of his poor defensive positions.

More and more club managers are targeting him, as players are instructed to hit the open space he leaves when he charges up the field.

It is there every game, and even a 'blind man or a galloping horse' can see the acres he leave behind him.

But Santon isn't the only attacking defender in the Premiership, and look no further than Jose Enrique, who we had at St James' Park.

The difference seems to be, when Enrique goes on the rampage, a Liverpool midfielder covers his back.

And we don't get that from our midfield. Simply because they are not in tune with the play, or the penny hasn't dropped with Alan Pardew.

We can all see the weekness, but who the hell is going to put it right?

Academy product Paul Dummett, 22, has broken into Pardew’s first-team squad this season, and 20-year-old Massadio Haidara – who impressed last term after his January move from Nancy – is close to fitness.

Pardew and his coaches are AT LAST working on the defensive side of attack-minded Santon’s game, and the Italy international is keen to improve.

But at times it takes a hammer and a chisel to get Pardew to understand the simple things in the game.

We have not scored from a corner for over TWO YEARS, and only last month did the manager say "we are starting to work on them!"

That defies belief from a Premiership manager.

Davide Santon: “It’s my third year in Newcastle, and I’m happy here.

“I’m just 22, and I have to always improve. I have to make myself do better every game.

“I have experience, and I know what I have to do in the game. I always do my best, and that is what I will do in the future.

“I won’t forget about last season.

“We really have to think about this season, now we have three wins.

“Our away record is important. We have 10 points. We’re in a good position, but we can’t stop. We have to keep going and give 100 per cent.”

Source: Newcastle United Mad

Source: FOOTYMAD