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Opinion

Reading between lines as Rafa Benitez talks about Ayoze Perez contribution

6 years ago
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Rafa Benitez has been talking about Ayoze Perez.

Fair to say that Newcastle fans have been underwhelmed by the 24 year old’s contribution so far this season.

In 77 Premier League appearances so far in his Newcastle career, Perez has only provided three assists, suggesting he isn’t an ideal candidate for that second striker/number 10 role, yet he has started all seven league games this season.

With no goals and rarely looking a threat to the opposition, supporters are wondering at his selection.

Ahead of the Liverpool match we ran a poll asking who fans would like to see in the front two positions.

Thousands of supporters voted and the big vote was for two of Mitrovic, Gayle and Joselu to start, with only 10% voting for Ayoze Perez – even Shelvey and Ritchie had more support.

(47% Mitrovic, 46% Gayle, 38% Joselu, 26% Shelvey, 14% Ritchie, 10% Perez, 9% Merino)

Mitro didn’t even make the squad, Gayle was left on the bench, and Perez started his seventh (PL) match in a row.

A great result in the end against the scousers but yet again fans weren’t impressed by the contribution of the front two, universally seen as being carried by the defence and players such as Ritchie, Shelvey and Merino in midfield.

The player ratings from fans after the Liverpool game had Ayoze Perez on the very lowest mark, with only Atsu keeping Joselu out of the bottom two ratings. The season ratings based on the overall player ratings came out even worse for Perez.

Rafa Benitez has now talked about his front pair and especially Ayoze Perez.

Rafa Benitez:

“When I first came here, Ayoze Perez was playing a lot of games in the wide areas because he was what they had.

“Now he’s more in the middle and I think the understanding with Joselu is quite good – the way that we want to play – his movements are quite good.

“I can see little things he must improve but in terms of his understanding when we have got the ball, and when we don’t have the ball, he is what we need.

“The question was (is) ‘Why don’t you play with two strikers?’

“Sometimes this (No.10) job, playing between the lines in an area where it is difficult to mark and also where the holding midfielder of the other team plays, it is important.

“Nobody can guarantee you that if play two strikers you will score more goals – maybe you will lose control in the middle of the pitch.

“Perez can play as a striker, he can play as a second striker, and he is an important player for us in this situation.

“Are we looking for competition for him?

“Yes. We are looking for competition for every player in every position but if you don’t find anyone…you have to use the players you have and I’m quite happy with him.”

Reading between the lines of what Rafa says, isn’t hard to do, in my opinion.

He tried to bring in a new number 10 in January and Mike Ashley blocked any team strengthening, then the manager tried again in the summer but was once again thwarted, as Ashley limited him to a net spend of only £11.5m. Now Rafa is going to try again in January.

In the meantime he is doing the best he can with what he has got, plus the Rafa Benitez way (unlike Alan Pardew) is always to speak positively in public about his players, no matter what concerns he may have privately.

The United boss has said repeatedly that he won’t play two up front and feels having a fifth midfielder means he can control the game better. Obviously he has no intention of changing tactics.

So then who does he play in the number 10 role?

Rafa swapped continuously between Perez and Diame last season in the second tier so clearly didn’t think Ayoze Perez was a key player even at that lower level, so difficult to see how he would suddenly think he was now good enough to play every week in the top tier.

However, Diame looked shocking in pre-season so the manager has had little choice in playing Ayoze Perez, who does a lot of running around but is slow and ineffective.

The idea of putting a square peg (Ritchie, Merino, Shelvey etc) in a round hole clearly doesn’t appeal to Rafa either, or at least not so far it hasn’t.

A bit like the main role up front, Rafa Benitez obviously doesn’t see a perfect choice and at the minute has been sticking with Joselu, a great workrate but clearly not a natural goalscorer.

Once the transfer window was closed, Rafa said it was the time to stop talking about transfers and make the best of what he has got, try to improve players already in the squad.

Let’s hope he can work some magic on his his front two until reinforcements can be brought in.
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