The first, as ever, any road out of the country. The second, and arguably most important to us Newcastle fans, is the news that Davide Santon came through the reserve match against Swansea last night unscathed.
Santon managed the full 90 minutes in Llanelli yesterday evening in a match which saw Peter Beardsley’s reserve team outfit beat their Welsh counterparts from Swansea 5-3. Defending was evidently not on the agenda for either side in that one. However I can report that despite conceding three goals our Italian U21 Captain had a very good game and very nearly scored, three times in fact. It’s also worth noting that he wasn’t at fault for any of the goals conceded and that pretty much nothing got past him all game. In fact his performance left Pedro positively purring as he reflected on another win for his reserve outfit.
“I thought Santon was excellent,” he told the official club website. “He very rarely gives the ball away, joins in well, he’s two footed.”
“When I look at him – and I don’t want to put people’s expectations too high – but when I look at Maldini, he plays the same way. He’s obviously nowhere near that level yet but he reminds me very much of him, the way he wants to play, the way he wants to bomb forward, and to be fair to him he’s quite happy to defend.”
Pedro continued: “He’s very clever. He’s a good footballer, there’s no doubt about it. To be a right-footed left-back, you’ve got to have confidence and he has.”
“But he’s two-footed, he’s very two-footed. I’d say possibly his right’s stronger, but overall I’d say he’s very two-footed and I think the manager’s made a good decision there to buy him.”
It’s not the first time that Santon has been compared to Paulo Maldini. Jose Mourinho once compared him to the illustrious Italian left-back whilst other notable names in football have been quick to heap praise on the youngster. Time will tell whether or not Davide can show his immense potential, but I can only think that moving to Newcastle and not having as much pressure on him will be a good thing for him.
The fact he came through 90 minutes last night and has a whole week of training behind means that he goes straight into the matchday squad for the weekend trip to Wolves. He probably won’t play from the start but I see no reason why he won’t make an appearance from the bench. Let’s face it, he can play in enough positions to warrant an inclusion on the bench. However let’s not get carried away as a space in the squad is an improvement. Here Alan Pardew confirms that Santon will travel with the team to the Midlands.
“That is probably the biggest news we have had this week, because he (Santon) has managed to get a week’s training and also play a game with that knee,” said Pardew in his pre-match press conference.
“That more or less signals to us that that problem is behind us, and therefore he will be in the squad for Saturday.”
Pardew then went on to tell us a bit more about Santon, only without the Maldini comparison.
“He’s very quick and he will want to get forward. That goes with what we have here, I have always said that I want to add some pace to the team.”
“He’s as quick as Jose Enrique, who was quick indeed, and we have Gabriel Obertan to throw into that as well on the right.”
The return to fitness of Santon will mean that the Newcastle squad almost has a clean bill of health. The only casualties of not will be Haris Vuckic, who is back in training, and Mike Williamson who is still a couple of weeks away from returning to training.
In terms of injuries, things are most certainly looking up at Newcastle right now.
AndrewT – Do we not provide enough analysis??? 😉
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy I guess it will only be a few more drinks before you try to find out if he wax’s anywhere else you perv 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Cheers rod, ive found one where it lets you tell photographer what you want and he goes out and takes it for you, ill send you all a pic when its up on my wall 😛
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Haha, u sure do! What’s wrong with a few more stats? Just a good analysis of the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.
It’s good fun, and I can back up what in saying when watching the match at the pub
AndrewT(Quote)
Fair play.
…a divnt want nena ye mucky stuff like Spencer
Rodzilla(Quote)
😆
ive seen a canny one of the tyne, need to get the funds first, there not cheep like!
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Spencer, if it’s the Tyne you’re after, I’d suggest you buy a digital image from here:
http://www.istockphoto.com/search/text/tyne%20bridge/source/basic#7568534
…you’ll be looking at a tenner max. Then take that image on CD to a printer that prints onto canvas. 10 minutes on Google and you’ll find somewhere to do the job.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Ye but rod, then I have to pay for the photo then the canvas, im a student, not a business man 😛
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
AndrewT – Just jesting mate. Just remember that for random facts you beat us 😉
Dave – Maybe 😉
toonsy(Quote)
haha, all depends how much coin yer willing to splash a suppose. Going down the manual route you’d be looking at about a tenner for the photo and 20 for the print. Multiply that by 2 or 3 for the ready-made.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Spence don’t be fuking tight letting on your a poor student, just dont go out on the **** for 1 night and thats it paid for 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
Shola’s looking odds on to win Big Brother like.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Toonsy, less fkn phone twiddling and get to the bar ye tight get. Nena this …”oh, I need to reply to the minions” ….”er, yeah, pint of Stella” *****.
Stick yer ifern in yer pocket yer big girl, and get Mark a fkn pint.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Dave, canvas to decorate my room which my dad should pay for anyway, or going out on the ****?
only one answer!
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Why should your dad have to pay for YOUR room? It’s your style that you’re going for
AndrewT(Quote)
Because im a a-level student who hasn’t got a job? Surely I should be more focused on my education, not raising cash for a canvas?
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
haha, let’s all pick on Spencer!! 😈 😆
…nah mate, if I was buying one oot of mi own pocket ad dee it that way, but you’re obviously not so kinel, why **** about, get the most expensive one eh.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Talking to Tim Krul today. Really nice lad, told him I thought he should have been number 1 for most of last season, which is true. 🙂
DJG(Quote)
Rod- im not bothered about price, just want it to look decent!
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
Fair play Spence, dee ye resorch then.
DJG, I was talking to Telly Savalas today, I told him that he could get a decent shagpile wig from Carpet World, which is also true.
Rodzilla(Quote)
ive seen a digital print i like that, get the email a canvas company and ask them to print it 🙂
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
HARMONIC GENERATOR INTERMODULATOR
Rodzilla(Quote)
Loving Santon’s pink football boots on Fifa 12 😉
@JamieVincente(Quote)
Why have all you dicks got fifa 12, not fair! 😥
SpencerTheToon(Quote)
..just in time for the best bits in Scarface.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Troy,
Were just just dissin’ Santon?
Moreno(Quote)