Newcastle have had a good week on the pitch with wins over Stoke and Luton; even if off the pitch headlines continue to occupy our thoughts. With the takeover dragging on it is becoming clear this is going to be a sticky January for us, with talk of Rafa now even having to sell before he can buy.
We all know we need a striker, so until one arrives, it may be worth persisting with Perez in the striking role up front. He scored the vital winner at Stoke and followed up with a brace against Luton, even if his overall play was quite poor. Here is why he could be the best stopgap we have…
He’s not a number 10..
On paper, Perez should be better suited to playing as a number 10 rather than a lone striker. He isn’t slow, has *some* skill and with good work rate should be a nice link between attack and defence. However, after lots of game time in that role he simply isn’t up to it. Far too often the game passes him by and when he receives the ball from the midfield he too often gives it away or is bullied from opposing players.
Despite his small frame, he is far more effective playing up front. He does make intelligent runs and is in the right areas to get chances. He also needs the play behind him; he struggles to run with the ball. He is an instinct player, like his goal last week, he prefers running on the shoulder of the last defender and his best finishing comes when he doesn’t have time to think about it. If you watch his goals for NUFC, the majority of them are instinct finishes.
Premier League experience
He’s still young at 24 but the Spaniard has the most Premier League experience of all of attacking options. He has not developed as well as we all hoped on Tyneside after showing such initial promise, but he has experience of both successful and unsuccessful seasons of avoiding the drop. He does have an excellent attitude and enables us to put pressure on opposing defences with a great work rate.
He isn’t the deadly attacker we need but that experience could be vital in the crucial fixtures coming up where we need points, like we did at Stoke. The real issue is that at 24 he shouldn’t be the most experienced Premier League we have. This is Joselu’s first season playing regularly in England, Gayle never got a run at Palace from the start and Mitrovic is way out of favour.
Scorer of important goals and on form
Perez has 7 and then 6 goals in his other two full top flight campaigns. Not enough granted but when he scores they tend to be big goals that result in points. I remember winners against Liverpool, West Brom home and away and the one at the Britannia last week was huge. His other goal at Southampton this season also helped us get a point. Another one against Swansea would do nicely indeed.
He got himself in the right areas to score two against Luton and seems to come alive in the box:
Team looks more solid with him in the side?
When he plays up front, whether it is a 4-5-1 or 4-4-2, as a team we look more solid. Gayle and Joselu have played together and we look disjointed and overrun in midfield. There doesn’t appear any relationship at all between the two of them. Perez formed a good partnership with Mitrovic when paired together with some nice link up play between the pair.
But more likely if he is to play up front it will be a 4-5-1 which we used to good effect at the start of the season when we were harder to beat. We returned to this for the win at Stoke and hopefully Rafa persists with it. Perez isn’t an excellent striker but when he plays up there the team looks better.
It is frustrating we have so little, if any, proven attacking options. Until we get new options in, what formation would you play and who makes you team up front?
I know what you mean bud, however this new age climate has been around for a few years now and he shoukd have moved with the times. If he has any intelligence, then he should know what he risks by pushing the banter too far. Just don’t put yourself in that situation. Simples.
shamrock(Quote)
Just checked no way is jabba copter at Benton
Icedog(Quote)
Very true, Sham. The academy has been a pile of **** for too long. The under funding is clear and the cheap coaches who are just glad to have the job are typical of Ashley’s NUFC.
Stuart79(Quote)
His copter was in Leeds not Benton, you are right ice.
kimtoon(Quote)
It’s deja vu all over again. Do Stoke have another 4th choice forward they can sell us in the last week of the window? Ryder is reduced to writing about players who will NOT be leaving. There aren’t even any rumours anymore.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Paralysed by our own incompetency .
new motto for Newcastle united.
kimtoon(Quote)
Yes it needs investment for sure. Hire monkeys…..
shamrock(Quote)
According to sources in France;
Rennes have turned down a €12m bid from Bournemouth for Rennes attacker Firmin Mubele; Newcastle have had a €6m offer rebuffed.
????
Stuart79(Quote)
**** me, embarrassing if true
kimtoon(Quote)
I am not really getting Rafa’s stance on MBemba. Every time I have seen him play he has looked one of our better players. The story is that he is not vocal enough and hasn’t learnt English quickly enough. But some players lead by example and from what I have seen at left back and in the centre he has done a good job.
Play him Rafa. He will be like a new signing. God knows, you will not get any ACTUAL new signings 🙂
At this point would we settle for loans of Kenedy and Ings?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Here’s my plan. Get Ings in on loan so Rafa can sell Mitro because what’s the point of keeping him if he doesn’t play him? Then use the money to get another player, a number 10? Then get Kenedy in on loan and loan Aarons to the Mackems. We can see if he is any good and if he can stay fit.
That’s it. I am reduced to clutching at straws because of the Fat Lad.
Or, allow the current stasis to continue, get relegated, lose Rafa, do a Leeds and let Stavely and Co buy Stoke.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The Times saying Amanda confident of getting the club,I wish the fans thought so
Icedog(Quote)
I do find it little funny how people get annoyed these days at Jabba and his ways. It can’t surely come as a shock anymore? I stopped getting shocked by the moron 8 years ago.
Stuart79(Quote)
What I don’t get,Rafa says he doesn’t know his budget yet we bid 6 mil for a player???
Icedog(Quote)
Stuart, mate, he let a jumped up accountant and a failed Nuneaton Borough coach run his 300 million pound investment and hire a failed Derby Manager. He hired Dennis Wise. And Joe Kinnear after his heart problems. The man never ceases to amaze in his incompetence. But you are right that we should not be surprised that he continues to do stupid things.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Icedog: if you aren’t watching, turn on BEIN Sports for a Messi masterclass. Suarez is back on form as well. I have never seen anything like this guy Messi. He makes everything look so easy.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Been watching it mate and your not wrong,players don’t seem able to stop him in games
Icedog(Quote)
Say what you want about Gazza he’s a guy with a heart,little girl got her speech machine stolen,he’s sent her a grand to buy a new one,how many players with more money than would do that?
Icedog(Quote)
yep seen it earlier ice, lovely gesture.
kimtoon(Quote)
Olly: Paul Merson’s Giant Balloon Heed is not wrong in saying the Swansea game is a must win for both teams. However, do we really trust his predictions? Of course I want us to win, but I worry when Merse predicts it.
Then, there is a case to be made that if we win then the Fat Man will think we are home free and clear of relegation and will not put his short arms into his deep pockets.
It’s a conundrum because a loss would mean we might get rid of the fat **** quicker, but maybe not as it would make us less attractive to Stavely and Co. Even when nothing is happening it is never dull at NUFC!!! Beardsley!!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
He has a giant head with no discernable neck and it is shaped like a balloon. And he looks like a 5 year old has drawn features on it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And what will the “Man with a Tan” say? I am guessing a Swansea win to be contrarian and prove his hatred for NUFC again.
Now, Michael “Interesting” Owen will surely go for a draw. That would be the interesting thing to do!
And Charlie Nicholas? Who the fck cares!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Olly, every reporter has to has a prefix before their name now!!!!!
Craig Hope is now “Reputable” Craig Hope?
George Caulkin is “Respected Journalist” George Caulkin.
Lee Ryder?
“imbecile, fckin tw@t, no contacts, can’t write for toffee, how does he have a job, mooch, when will he let go of the Alan Oliver non-school of non-journalism writing, I copied this “story” from twitter” RYDER
Eric Sykes(Quote)
” Not as big of a ****** as Lee Ryder and can occasionally string a sentence together” journalist Chris Waugh has reported today that,
“Horse abuser and certainly not a NUFC Legend” Fatman Scouse Mick Quinn has exclusively reported that the NUFC takeover happened last Saturday, OR NOT. And,
“Do these tabs and 20 bottles of broon ale a day give me face the appearance of an old shoe” Jon Gibson says: I had pictures taken with legends back in the day, me, like.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And:
“I have no idea where my accent is from anymore” Chris Waddle said,
“has there ever been a good picture taken of me ever? It is like I am in a Picasso/ Phil Jones matrix” Peter Beardsley said,
“Bolton now?” Adam Armstrong said,
“I am not injured boss, really, I feel fine” Alexander Mitrovic said…
Eric Sykes(Quote)
According to the Mail a second investor is interested in the club. This ones from Dubai and has the means the meet Jabbas asking price. Coincidence that he’s back from his hols and this bullshit comes out. Staveley will also have the means but after dd and seeing how far behind from everyone we are she’s decided it’s not worth his £350m. Why would anyone else see it differently? EspeciLly from Dubai where major money isn’t exactly flowing.
Stuart79(Quote)
No journalist knows anything about the take over or any new investor or interested party – they are filling empty columns and we are always an easy target.
Sharpy17(Quote)
On a positive – Abraham’s & Sanchez are both doubtful for tomorrow
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sanchez has been so bad I’d have preferred him to play…
Stuart79(Quote)
That second bid is a joke, it’s a tin pot company ran by a kid who speaks via social media from his bedroom apparently lol
This is Ash/Bishop trying to force her hand, pathetic clowns who are not serious for one minute about selling unless he can get way over the odds, which he won’t.
Awful, awful man, a total cancer on the club.
By the way it has taken 15 attempts for me to post on here, the site is seriously bad at the moment , reopened tab so many times almost gave up trying.
kimtoon(Quote)
I reckon a deal will be reached with Stavely very soon. Trouble is, it may be too late for this window for any noteable transfers.
So far in this window there has been very little mivement across the board. Everton signed Tosun but otherwise Huddersfield have a low level loan, Brightin and Stoke have signed 1 player each who I have never hearsd of and cost very little and that’s about it in and around us. Everton were never going to be relegation rivals anyway – so as it stands we have not been left behind anybody in the transfer front.
shamrock(Quote)
i just cannot comment on my ipad it just keeps reloading the page i gave up he to wait until mrs comes off laptop to make a comment
icedog(Quote)
Sham totally agree accept a couple of clubs around us already had slightly better squads /forwards than us so we are playing catch up with the likes of Palace and West ham .
Also I am seriously worried over the Swansea game for a couple of reasons, namely their new manager has beaten Rafa/us 2 or 3 times now with previous team. Without some good news re takeover or transfers the atmosphere at SJP could be really tense, toxic even ; if we don’t get off to a flier or god forbid concede early doors.
The situation needs clarification one way or the other, is it happening or not, the legal team for Jabba did say if no deal by xmas it would be removed from market ? So they need to update the fanbase of what the situation is imo.
kimtoon(Quote)
shamrock(Quote)
Apparently one of Ashley lackies will be there tomorrow. I think it’s time we let him know it’s time Jabba did one! It will likely be Harold Bishop his spin chief. Let’s make him know he’s not welcome too.
Stuart79(Quote)
NEW THREAD
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2018/01/12/a-message-to-mike-ashley-sort-it-out-or-risk-relegation-again/
A message to Mike Ashley.
Swansea preview will be up tomorrow morning folks!
Olly Hawkins(Quote)