Ayoze Perez singed on for us almost three years ago for £1.4M from Tenerife and hopefully his third season at Newcastle United will see the club promoted straight back to the Premier League.
That’s all Newcastle fans are thinking about right now – getting enough points in our final eight games to finish in the top two and hopefully win the Championship as we did seven years ago when the current Brighton manager Chris Hughton was at the helm.
Chris is still greatly admired by Geordie fans for the Miracle on the Tyne he pulled off seven years ago.
Ayoze Perez in action at Birmingham
Given Ayoze cost only €2M in June, 2014 he has been a big success having scored 22 goals and had 8 assists in a total of 108 appearances for Newcastle and the hope is that he can get better under Spanish manager Rafa Benitez.
Ayoze has been interviewed on nufcTV and this is some of what he has said:
“It has been a good break for us. I went back home to get some sunshine and to rest a little bit.” “I think the team needed it and it has been a long time since the last International break – we need a little break to rest.”
“We returned to training yesterday and it is good to be back and get ready for the Wigan game and try to win it and get all 3 points.”
“We haven’t done good at all against teams playing for relegation, so we have to make sure that we are focused enough, ready for fighting and the most important thing – get the 3 points.”
“It has been a very long season, a lot of games, now we have just eight more games to reach what we are looking forward – so eight more games – no pressure for us – we are doing well.”
“We just have to keep doing what we have been doing and try to win most of the games we have left.” “Unbelievable, this is my third season already, the time has gone really quick.”
“If I play on Saturday it will be my 100th league game for this big club, which is something that would be really big for me.”
“I have grown as a person and as a player as well, so everything is positive.”
“I just can say thanks to Newcastle United – they gave me everything.”
We need Ayoze to hit his best form and score some goals for us in these vital final 8 games of the season.
So far he has scored 9 goals in 33 appearances for us this season and we know the technically adept Ayoze can score the goals when he’s in top form.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
31 comments so far
Australian Pie
Mar 29, 2017 at 3:04 PM
Comment #1No doubt good young player. A shame he has not been able to progress much but he has not been under the best managers either. Thought he would kick on with Rafa but yet to see it. I would not be selling him to quickly though, he has played LW, ST and CAM since coming, he needs to find his place and fight for it then push on
martoon
Mar 29, 2017 at 3:27 PM
Comment #2I like Perez and he knows where the goal is but his game relies on flicks and tricks. When they work he looks like a world beater BUT when they don’t he looks pants!
WWSBRD
Mar 29, 2017 at 3:38 PM
Comment #3Good debut season then it’s been all down hill from there. Useless on the wing last season and pretty dire in the CAM role this, I wouldn’t be sad to see him leave in the summer
hibbit
Mar 29, 2017 at 3:47 PM
Comment #4thought he would have come on in leaps and bounds under Rafa
but not much improvement if any this season very disappointing overall
Jib
Mar 29, 2017 at 3:49 PM
Comment #5WWSBRD
Maye he’ll go to West Ham with Rafa .
lesh
Mar 29, 2017 at 3:50 PM
Comment #6From previous thread
All this speculation about Rafa and West Ham goes back to the report that Ashley wasn’t happy with some of Rafa’s signings and that he wanted Carr more involved in signing players of 26 or younger.
Add to that the fact that we didn’t strengthen the first team in the winter window and it’d be reasonable to assume that Rafa may be unhappy at Newcastle United and would require guarantees going forward.
And, it’s reported that Charnley’s been seeking sponsors to replace Wonga. Surely a sponsor oc any stature wouldn’t be happy at seeing Rafa leaving – umwanted negative association before the sesson starts would be as welcome as a turd in a swimming pool!
Now, assuming that we do go up to the Prem this summer and we have new sponsors in place, Ashley would have to be barking mad to not offer Rafa his full support and a guarantee of his non-interference in Rafa’s sphere of responsibilities.
Ah well, we might think that Rafa’d be staying to build on what he’s achieved and yes that’d be great.
But, Ashley’s pulled some master strokes of stupidity in his time he’s owned the Club and whilst we thought he’d learned lessons from them but how many more are there to come?
lesh
Mar 29, 2017 at 3:53 PM
Comment #7And where’s West Ham gonna get the money to pay out lots of money for players and Rafa?
Well, from us the taxpayers who’ve coughed up to pay for the former Olympic stadium and are paying to subsidise West Ham renting what is in effect a new stadium built for them by the British taxpayers’ help!
lesh
Mar 29, 2017 at 3:54 PM
Comment #8*
built for them * with the British taxpayers’ help
WWSBRD
Mar 29, 2017 at 3:57 PM
Comment #9lesh
West Ham have plenty money don’t worry about that haha
As for Ashleys mistakes they just keep coming, I’ve yet to see him learn a lesson
beermonkey
Mar 29, 2017 at 4:01 PM
Comment #10lesh
they have developed the old ground i am sure there are lots of millions from that
i cant imagine karen brady has spent it all on shoes and handbags
Australian Pie
Mar 29, 2017 at 4:09 PM
Comment #11Would have liked to see Perez used in replacement of Gayle more when he was injured. From memory he has only led the line once this year against QPR which we won 6-0 and I think he scored 1-2 goals
Mag52
Mar 29, 2017 at 5:28 PM
Comment #12Australian Pie.
It’s significant that in his first season with us, when he most impressed, he was played up front as a lone striker.
Lindisfarne
Mar 29, 2017 at 6:47 PM
Comment #13Mag52
A passer by may casually conclude there were other options available.
Jib
Mar 29, 2017 at 7:10 PM
Comment #14When he scored
THAT
goal down at WBA (Colo got the other ) I thought we had a world-beater on our hands and we’d cracked it.
Jib
Mar 29, 2017 at 7:11 PM
Comment #15THAT
martoon
Mar 29, 2017 at 8:26 PM
Comment #16I really can’t believe how quiet the blog is on an evening 3 days before a game.
martoon
Mar 29, 2017 at 8:39 PM
Comment #17I’ll try and start a debate – here is a very early stab at Saturday’s team:
………………Darlow
Anita Lascelles Hanley Dummett
……….Shelvey Colback
…..Ritchie Perez Gouffran
………………Gayle
I don’t think he’ll start Hayden as he’s just back from injury, possibly a sub later on. Just a question Perez of Diame and Gouffran or Atsu. I’ve gone for Perez as did quite well in the last game and Rafa’s favourite Goufy.
jane
Mar 29, 2017 at 8:47 PM
Comment #18WBA 0 Newcastle 2
9th November 2014
1 T. Krul
2 F. Coloccini 62′
22 D. Janmaat
19 M. Haïdara
36 P. Dummett
7 M. Sissoko
14 J. Colback
20 R. Cabella
30 M. Abeid
28 Sammy Ameobi
17 Ayoze Pérez 45′
http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2014/11/09/england/premier-league/west-bromwich-albion-football-club/newcastle-united-football-club/1703711/
Lindisfarne
Mar 29, 2017 at 8:47 PM
Comment #19Martoon
I agree. Not much of a debate!!
Jib
Mar 29, 2017 at 8:51 PM
Comment #20Martoon
Hanley has an ankle injury
However
Nailed on
Darlow
Lascelles
Dummett
Shelvey
Ritchie
Strong shout
Anita
Diamé
Gouffran
Perez
Mitro actually looked fitter for Serbia last week than Gayle has of late in the Championship
Rafa may be tempted to play Hayden somewhere in the back four !
Jib
Mar 29, 2017 at 9:24 PM
Comment #21I forget Ginger Jack in the nailed ons !!!!!
manxpie
Mar 29, 2017 at 9:48 PM
Comment #22Totally missed the Aaron’s being charged news stupid boy, pretty serious charge as well
Shows that summer of not partying to get fit was a waste of time
martoon
Mar 29, 2017 at 10:05 PM
Comment #23Jib – I’m pretty sure in one of Ed’s articles earlier this week it said Hanley was going to be fit whereas Clark was definitely still injured. If not then surely Mbemba would be a better bet than a half fit Hayden?
Australian Pie
Mar 29, 2017 at 10:12 PM
Comment #24Wow looking at our team sheet there against WBA we have a much better team now. Another few really good signings in summer will have us better then any of our squads past 3-5 years
Mister Tuff
Mar 29, 2017 at 10:50 PM
Comment #25See Judge has signed a 2 year contract at Brentford. Always thought reports about him coming to SJP were duff.
welshgeordie9
Mar 29, 2017 at 10:59 PM
Comment #26Maybe that story wasn’t true but you know what they say.
Never judge a book by its cover.
Ha ha ha
welshgeordie9
Mar 29, 2017 at 11:01 PM
Comment #27I’m so wasted on here I should be on stage.
jimmysmith
Mar 29, 2017 at 11:04 PM
Comment #28For a crap team we sure knocked it around well for that beautifully taken Perez goal. Our problem back then was depth and balance, and because of it a lack of resilience and self belief, but there was still quite a lot of talent out there for us that day.
Tsunki
Mar 29, 2017 at 11:26 PM
Comment #29I can’t remember any stage on here where you didn’t appear to be wasted, Welsh.
jimmysmith
Mar 29, 2017 at 11:37 PM
Comment #30It’s good that other clubs are interested in Rafa. Shows he’s doing well for us, gives him increased leverage to get what he wants from our slippery owner.
The next Mike Williamson
Mar 30, 2017 at 5:17 AM
Comment #31Perez seems to be better suited to the Premiership where he isn’t up against teams parking the bus most weekends. Having said that he has still scored quite a few goals and set up a lot too. Much better record than Diame who is another one who needs space, and doesn’t seem comfortable in the no.10 role. I think Mbemba is better suited to the top flight also. Dummet will also be more useful when we are required to defend more.