Our defence couldn’t be questioned during Saturday’s draw at Selhurst, but we were sorely lacking in attack once again – with a certain Ayoze Perez putting in a painfully frustrating display.
Rafa Benitez has been loyal to Perez, with the Spaniard appearing to be one of his first names on the team sheet most weeks, however his recent displays perhaps show just why Rafa wanted another number 10 over the summer.
There’s a good chance he sticks with Perez for this Saturday’s crunch clash with Leicester, but I feel it’s time he was dropped.
At Palace his ball retention was woeful, with him also looking slow, weak and lacking in any sort of conviction.
He didn’t do much, but Yoshinori Muto looked more useful during his 10 minute cameo than Perez did for 80 minutes. Surely our most expensive summer signing deserves his chance and his first start in the league since making the £9.5m from Germany this summer?
There’s little to lose while Perez is offering so little – especially when this stat underlines his creative contribution (or lack of it) since the opening day of the season:
Ayoze Perez has created 1 Premier League chance since #NUFC's opening day defeat to Spurs.
One.
— NUFC Index (@NUFC_Index) September 22, 2018
Perez yes, but Kenedy for me as well. Both can do so much more but neither are bringing anything to the team just now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
kenndy has been poor since his last few matches LAST SEASON. Perez seems to be unhappy this season with the physical part of the premier league staying down very easily 80% of the time and wanting to argue with officials.
george(Quote)
I shudder every time he gets the ball. You know he’s going to lose it.
Just doesn’t get his head up to pass at the right time, before he loses the ball or before he shoots. Lacks awareness of where the goal and keeper are. YET he can make things happen in the last third of the field. So frustrating.
Ed(Quote)