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The Santon Debate

September 13th, 2009 | By: Julian | 42 Comments »

One of the biggest complains you hear about the Azzurri is that not enough youngsters are called up to the team. This is due to numerous reasons; Balotelli is still eligible for the U21 team and Italy rarely calls up players that young, while other players like Acquafresca are unable to even hold down a starting spot at a club. But one area that does need shoring up is undoubtedly defense, and Inter have one of the most promising Italian youngsters in Davide Santon. But should he stay at Inter when playing time is limited?

On one side, you have the main man Mourinho, who’s recently been playing Chivu and Zanetti in Santon’s position (except for this weekend). Yet Santon needs-nay, deserves- regular playing time and will likely only get a call up to South Africa with playing time. Given Chivu’s penchant for injuries and Zanetti’s likelihood for playing in the midfield, it seems likely that Santon will eventually play regularly at leftback at Inter, but only if the two aforementioned conditions are met. What if Chivu stays healthy this season? Or what if Zanetti is his preferred substitute?

Leaving for a different team that needs a leftback would guarantee him playing time. Santon himself says he’s committed to Inter and will play anywhere. But will that change come, say, January if he doesn’t have regular playing time?

So Santon is in a crunch. Stay at the club he loves with limited playing time for now, or transfer in January and have a better shot at making the World Cup. Which route do you think he should take?

Tags: Davide Santon, Group E, Inter, Mourinho, World Cup 2010

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 42 comments.

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By asr | September 15th, 2009 at 7:21 am

@ Pino
amelia is a romanista
and ur stupid palermo doesnt respect own tifosis because they sell all their
stars to bigger teams and I dont understand why u thought thats good
palermo is a business corporation,not a real football club

Posted from Armenia

By MAD | September 15th, 2009 at 11:17 am

Actually all it means is that Jose is using him earlier than he did last season since Davide started playing regularly last year in January.

It’s a safe bet that he gets more game time since he is presumably an option to start earlier in the season.

There is no reason for Jose to only start him every three games.

And 19 out of 39 isn’t my math because:
A. I know that there are only 38 games in a league season
B. I know how to divide by 3
C. I know that there is no iron clad reason for Jose to only play him in 1/3 of the games. Jose can play him whenever he chooses.
D. Inter’s season is typically around 60 games when you factor in Coppa games and the UCL. So Davide has a chance to play in more games than he might at a smaller, nonUCL club.

He has no reason to move. He gets more opportunities and better competition where he is. He’s at a top club, he’s already playing games and he’s already being clamored for. For him to move to a smaller team like Palermo is redundant and frankly, a stupid idea.

Which is what I said before…

By alessio | September 15th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

and ur stupid palermo doesnt respect own tifosis because they sell all their
stars to bigger teams and I dont understand why u thought thats good
palermo is a business corporation,not a real football club

Aquilani, Mancini, Chivu, Samuel, Dacourt……stupid Romanista pot, meet kettle.

Posted from United States

By Pino | September 16th, 2009 at 4:39 pm

ASR WHAT DID I FUCKING SAY? BRING IN SANTON FOR A SEASON OR TWO THEN SELL HIM OFF TO BAYERN, LIVERPOOL, MAN-U, INTER, MILAN, JUVE, BARCA, REAL MADRID…Thats exactly what he wants isnt it Asr? CHEE VASEH, AGHCHAKIS!!!!

Posted from United States

By kqql | September 16th, 2009 at 10:42 pm

For 10/11 Season EPL is changing, and I believe Inter only have 6 home-grown players on their current squad.

http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=32570

The 20 clubs of the EPL agreed on Monday to name 25-man squads with at least eight ‘home-grown’ players. Under the rules, clubs who do not pass an annual financial test to prove they can repay their debts could be banned from dipping into the transfer market and would have to agree a new budget.

http://www.worldfootballinsider.com/Story.aspx?id=32570

P.S ..
,

By John Silver | September 17th, 2009 at 9:41 am

I’d like to pick up on this comment by alessio in the previous post:

“Front line should be this- Cassano, Pazzini, Iaquinta, Rossi, Quags.”

I agree with it in four names out of five. My concern is that the players are too similar in role. Only Pazzini is a true prima punta, the others are all competing for an identical role. I’d swap Quags, who has never really impressed, with Gilardino, who is the only PP backup with some experience in case Pazzini goes down. This would leave two prime punte, two seconde punte and one fantasista. Unless you wish to see Iaquinta as a prima punta, but I can’t bring myself to that, whatever his goal ratio may be.

What do you think?

Posted from France

By Sofia | September 17th, 2009 at 1:59 pm

SANTON TO JUVE we can ship zebina off to inters bench!

By Marco | September 17th, 2009 at 3:07 pm

Santon to Juve? We’ll just bench him and buy Zambrotta.

Santon should stay at Inter. He is getting more than enough playing time for his age.

If you want to talk about youth problems than Santon and Balotelli are not problems. These guys are 18/19 years old and are bambini. They need to be brought in slowly.

The problem is with guys like Giovinco who are 23 and are still sitting on the bench and being talked like they are 18 years old. That guy needs to go somewhere else, because he is being treated that age, and is making mistakes like a person that age due to his lack of confidence. Whoever his manager is should be fired.

Santon should stay at Inter, Mourhino is doing a very good job with both him and Balotelli. Their still children. Our national team needs to be turning to people in the age group of Cassano, Giovinco, Montelivo, Pazzini, Foggia anyway, not teenagers.

By marco | September 18th, 2009 at 2:29 am

I see my idiotic brother has polluted this blog as well!!! For those of you who dont know I am mickey’s bro. Anyways regarding santon I would say that this whole debacle comes down to how much playing time mourinho is willing to offer him. For me Mou seems like he is having a bit of a self-debate over who he should start at left back, chivu or santon? They are both good choices but santon is definitely the better choice if mourinho wants to inject some young, speedy legs down the left flank. I would really like to see my favorite player from my team Sergio Pellissier get the call up cuz last time I checked he scored a cracker against N. Irealnd. Hes very strong, he can shoot from distance, he can get past players, he is a great finisher, and he is good in the air. What more do you want from a striker? And bentivoglio and marcolini might not be bad choices in the less important matches. I definitely agree that zambrotta is not going to be the answer for us if we need some offensive minded full backs. He is definitely still sound defensively but we need a player like motta or perhaps santon to fill that gap with their forward runs. One more thing, Roma and Lazio were huge let downs today, I have respect for both teams and they really let italy down today both of them. Roma looked their usual poor selves in defense while lazio threw away the match with some quite horrifying defensive mistakes. Genoa remains the one shining light in the Europa League for italy after round one.

By marco | September 18th, 2009 at 2:42 am

If you guys wouldnt mind I would also like to give my thoughts on the performances of our teams in the champions league

Milan: Back to their usual selves for me, once again they relied on their old champions league greats in seedorf and inzaghi but they cannot keep relying on those players because they will not be around forever and they know this. Overall an ok performance, they didnt play spectacularly but got the job done in a difficult place to go away from home. Rating 6.5

Juve: A huge letdown for me as they showed all of the weak points that were visible against lazio. True they should have won the game with marchisio’s chance but a draw was a fair result considering how bordeaux created some chances and frequently got in behind the juve defense. I expected them to win comfortably but they got a bit complacent in my mind and could have defended better that goal that they conceded off of the set piece. Overall a disappointing result and by far the second lowest rating of the italian teams. Rating: 5

Inter: This one was tricky for me because I thought that there were times when inter played on par with barca but barca did have the majority of possession and chances so they were clearly a level above inter in that regard. That being said Inter put on one of the best defensive displays in Europe that I have ever seen them put on before. This result will certainly give them a bit of confidence later in the competition and it is clear that the squad still needs to gel in the attack department. Overall I thought they showed that they now have one of the best defenses in Europe but still need time to click in attack. Rating: 6

Fiorentina: I’ve never liked fiorentina simply because I dont think they have what it takes to win when it comes to Europe. No offense to the viola fans or anything but when it comes to Europe I just dont think you can cut it with the bigger teams. You are undoubtedly one of the best teams in italy as far as domestic play is concerned but on Europe you look very susceptible. This performance against lyon pretty much sums up your european campaign, just plain frustrating to watch. The only ace up your sleeve is jovetic so perhaps if he plays we might see a better fiorentina team. Overall I was not impressed by this performance simply cuz we all know you can do better fiorentina, look at last year, you came away with a 2-2 draw. A draw is certainly better than a loss especially in this competition. Rating: 4

By alessio | September 18th, 2009 at 3:55 pm

Andrea, you wouldn’t consider Iaquinta a prima punta? I can’t see him otherwise, unless playing wide. Figure Quags, Rossi, and Cassano as the seconda puntas, and Iaquinta/Pazzini as the prima puntas. I think it’s a good mix of pace, skill on the ball, and all of those guys can shoot brilliantly, unlike Gila. We don’t really have a world-class poacher or aerial threat right now.

I’d swap Quags, who has never really impressed, with Gilardino, who is the only PP backup with some experience in case Pazzini goes down.

To be fair, Quags has never really gotten a real run-out in the Azzurri setup, and I think he deserves one despite being inconsistent. The reason he hasn’t is because he doesn’t play for a big club…though has Gilardino impressed you? The only who has let me down more than Gila is Toni.

Posted from United States

By marco | September 18th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

I agree with you on that alessio. Toni’s performance in the euros last summer summed up italy’s overall display in that competition, a huge let down. Gilardino is worse than toni, at least toni used to one of the best strikers in the world, gila was always letting us down and never quite cut it.

By mikederob | September 20th, 2009 at 12:49 am

more articles please

Posted from Australia

By Marco | September 20th, 2009 at 7:45 am

Seriously It’s dead around here.

By italian_stallion | September 20th, 2009 at 3:33 pm

pazzini/cassano pair is quality personified, plus Iaquinta cant stop scoring and Marchisio is our new dino baggio, he is very technical..Lippi must open his brains and eyes and we will win the world cup

Posted from Spain

By italian_stallion | September 20th, 2009 at 3:35 pm

Gila just scores against Roma!!!!!!!!!!what a goal!!!!!take it Gila haters!!

Posted from Spain

By mike de robbio | September 20th, 2009 at 5:39 pm

are there any other good italian football blogs? this one just stops dead.

Posted from Australia

By Marcello Lippi's younger brother | September 20th, 2009 at 6:17 pm

If Sampdoria continue at this pace, leading the Serie A table, will Marcello be able to continue resisting the clamor for the inclusion of Cassano/Pazzini?

By mike de robbio | September 20th, 2009 at 7:24 pm

they could win the league and cassano and pazzini would top the goals and assists and lippis still wouldn’t pick them…he’s a fanny

Posted from Australia

By alessio | September 20th, 2009 at 8:20 pm

Mike- http://www.footballitaliano.co.uk/

That one is pretty quality, John Silver is one of the writers over there.

Posted from United States

By guys | September 21st, 2009 at 5:56 am

To Marcello Lippi’s younger brother: the latest reports on Cassano vs. Lippi; “Cassano has been repeatedly ignored by Italy Coach Marcello Lippi who has issues with his temperament and the fact he doesn’t play for one of Italy’s top three.” posted in football-italia.net, give us your feedback on this since you are the fucker’s younger brother.
After four weeks, I have noticed no shining Italian striker, Italy’s got a creator “Cassano that is” but no quality top scorer hmmm I think it is a problem that Italy will face in world cup 2010, unless the stuborn stupid ego Lippi realizes the potential in Cassano as a creator – play maker and call Pazzini to combine with G. Rossi, I believe them three could make something special and really enjoy watching new talented fresh energetic Azzurri. But that will never never never happen due to the fact that the three players do not play for the mighty Juventus / Milan / AC Milan / Roma in addition the stupid ego stuborn tactician has a problem understanding the new name of the game now a days which is Tactics + Physical + Skills. Ciao Italia you are in dark days with the fucker Lippi.

By Italian_stallion | September 21st, 2009 at 6:02 am

http://www.football-italia.net/sep21f.html

calls for cassano´s inclusion ntensify!!
Fungillo Bastardo Lippi, open ur eyes and damaged brain cells, Casano is a must if we r to challenge in world cup..he can do anything from anywhere in the pitch and is the only PLAYER in the world bsides Robinho who can dribble past hordes in penalty area and set up his team mates..

By Italian_stallion | September 21st, 2009 at 6:02 am

http://www.football-italia.net/sep21f.html

calls for cassano´s inclusion intensify!!
Fungillo Bastardo Lippi, open ur eyes and damaged brain cells, Casano is a must if we r to challenge in world cup..he can do anything from anywhere in the pitch and is the only PLAYER in the world bsides Robinho who can dribble past hordes in penalty area and set up his team mates..

By guys | September 21st, 2009 at 7:32 am

Bravo Italian_stallion

By Mike | September 28th, 2009 at 2:21 pm

What do you guys thing of roma fans on the offside? r they realli the most fans as well as the loudest and most hated?

Posted from United Kingdom