Following his debut on Saturday, an interesting fact has emerged on NUFC new boy Salomon Rondon – he has only actually failed to get into double figures ONCE in the last 8 seasons.
Are we saying he’s suddenly prolific? No. But looking at his goal record both in England, in Russia and during a spell in La Liga with Malaga, it seems he doesn’t struggle to find the net quite as much as people think:
- 2017/18 – 10 goals (WBA)
- 2016/17 – 8 goals (WBA)
- 2015/16 – 10 goals (WBA)
- 2014/15 – 20 goals (Zenit)
- 2013/14 – 20 goals (Zenit)
- 2012/13 – 13 goals (Rubin Kazan)
- 2011/12 – 11 goals (Malaga)
- 2010/11 – 16 goals (Malaga)
His worst season in the last 8 years is better than our striker’s best last season (Gayle 6), highlighting that he IS mostly definitely improvement on the current crop.
Salomón Rondón – Welcome to Newcastle pic.twitter.com/mVnCirEd3u
— jx1n (@jxnufc) August 7, 2018
Don’t get me wrong, he’s yet to show he’s prolific and did miss a few too many chances at West Brom, but I think this does show that he will be an upgrade on our current options – whether you rate him or not.
Is it prolific? No. But he was playing under some very poor managers at West Brom, with quite a few Baggies fans I’ve spoken to saying it was a thankless task for him most of the time. 27 goals in two seasons in La Liga is decent, he’s been prolific in Russia and I feel he’s got much more to give in the Premier League – especially when given service, played in a team that suits him and under a world class manager like Rafa Benitez (not Pulis or Pardew!).
I don’t see him being a world beater, but I back him to get into double figures, fit into Rafa’s system very well, be a handful and a real hard worker who fans will grow to love.
Rafa’s clearly happy to have got his man and he’ll certainly do for me!
