Alan Shearer has admitted that he was running around his living room with his hand in the air after Salomon Rondon’s thumping header during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth.
I always had faith that the big Venezuelan would come good and suit Rafa’s system to a tee, and didn’t he just on Saturday – with Shearer clearly VERY impressed with what he saw from him, claiming it was a ‘complete’ performance from the striker.
He scored two, held up the ball brilliantly, won so many clever flick ons and ran himself into the ground.
Here’s what Shearer’s had to say about him when reacting to dominant display:
“He was brilliant – the complete centre-forward’s performance. The three Bournemouth centre-backs couldn’t handle him, he bullied them,”
“There was a definite plan to get the ball into the box early from Newcastle. I loved the second goal! I was running round myself in the lounge with my hand in the air!
“There’s a ball in the box and the power behind it is incredible. ‘Get on the end of it’ that ball is crying and he did just that.
“I was very, very impressed with him and that’s why Rafa went out of his way to go and get him.”
“Rondon is going to be key. When you’ve got a focal point and someone who can hold it up like that and run in behind, you’ve got a chance.
“You’re not just putting balls into the box for the sake of it when you’ve got a player like that, you’re doing it because you believe someone is going to get on the end of it.”
Rondon may have taken some time to get fit and get off the mark in the league, but he is now proving just why he was Rafa’s number one target over the summer.
He hasn’t been prolific at West Brom, but his all round game is strong, his work rate and power is first class and he is a real handful for any Premier League centre-back.
If he can start hitting the back of the net a little more regularly, he is going to be one valuable player for us over the next few months.
I’ll be loving Rondon go and get a goal son c’mon!!!
Derek(Quote)