Ayoze Perez has had a good season for Newcastle although he would hope he had more goals than the 4 goals he’s scored in 29 total appearances with 21 starts.
Perez has played in the number 10 role quite a bit this season, and he has a good game last Saturday in the crucial 3-0 win over fellow relegation strugglers Southampton.
Tha Saints became the ninth Premier League to sack their manager this season when they announced that Mauricio Pellegrino was no longer with them.
So that’s almost half the PL managers sacked this season with half the teams fighting relegation.
We found out after the game that Ayoze Perez played on Saturday even though he lost his grandmother last Wednesday.
Ayoze Perez – works his socks off when he plays for Newcastle
Newcastle’s second goal was a terrific team goal that Ayoze brilliantly set up.
Perez got the ball just outside the penalty area following a corner for the Saints, and he ran past the halfway line and then laid the ball off to his right to Gayle.
Dwight could have shot himself, but he saw Kenedy running through on the left-hand side.
He slotted the ball to him, and the Brazilian tapped the ball into the back of the net.
A brilliant team goal from Perez, Gayle, and Kenedy working so well together.
You could tell they must do that drill a lot in training and it paid off big time on Saturday.
What’s been a feature of Perez’ play this seaosn is that he works his socks off for the team.
This is what Ayoze has told the Chronicle today:
“The second goal came at a good time for us and the counter-attack was brilliant in terms of great movement.”
“Everything went well.” “It was a great finish which gave us a lot of confidence.”
“To go in at 2-0 up in the first half is something important.” “It’s important in this league and we kept it up in the second half.”
“It was a massive win for us and three important points.” “I’m really happy and the dressing room knew the importance of the result.”
“We did really well and we are one step closer.”
“I’m happy to help others.” “That’s the role of a forward, sometimes you will score, others you will contribute in other ways.”
“That is what the manager wants from me.” “He wants me to be a link between the lines to try to help the wingers and to help Dwight.”
“That’s what I am trying to do.” “It was a great win for me and everybody else was happy.”
“He’s (Rafa) been here a while now and we are always working.” “He makes sure that everybody understands that’s the way it is.”
“The game against Southampton was the proof.” “We did everything right in that game and we got that solid performance.”
What Ayoze is saying is that Rafa knows exactly what he is doing and the players only have to follow the script (game-plan), and we will start winning more games.
We have 32 points from our 30 games played, and we need three more wins to be safe and over 40 points
[table “68” not found /]We must beat Huddersfield at home on 31st March and then we should only need two wins in our final seven games.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
103 comments so far
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 13, 2018 at 7:14 PM
Comment #41SITC
Well said, I totally, I get why a lot of bloggers feel aggrieved with some of the Sunderland fan’s moronic responses to our relegation but as was said the other night it was a small minority of them.
On the whole they are a decent bunch of blokes and don’t deserve some of the hate dished out on here.
I’d like to see them at least staying in the championship and at some time in the future seeing derby matches in the EPL, with us winning of course.
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 13, 2018 at 7:15 PM
Comment #42SITC
Should have said I totally agree.
Novocastrian66
Mar 13, 2018 at 7:16 PM
Comment #43SITC; Can’t agree with you there mate. I would be happy to see them crash and burn.
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 13, 2018 at 7:19 PM
Comment #44Mind you, at the moment their future Derby matches could be involving the Heed and Spennymoor.
sing in the corner
Mar 13, 2018 at 7:24 PM
Comment #45Aye lads, I can hardly believe I said that 🙂 ….but over the years my outlook has softened a bit.
At the very least I want to redress the balance after so many recent crappy derby day defeats on the bounce. Can’t do that from 2 leagues above.
Bad for the northeast if they wink out of existence..
Novocastrian66
Mar 13, 2018 at 7:29 PM
Comment #46Essex Geordie Bill; given your locale I reckon you don’t come in to contact with makems on a daily basis. I’m not one to gloat or goad but I know they do and some.
Let them have their six in a row.
Let them tell their grandchildren they were there when they beat the great Newcastle United for the sixth time.
Let them shuffle off and watch their tinpot team play in the Northern League.
I do not have any sympathy for them.
They wouldn’t have any for us if we were in their position
Bambams
Mar 13, 2018 at 7:38 PM
Comment #47Loads of my mates are Sunderland fans and the banter is great…sometimes one or two take a defeat a little over the top, just the odd occasion.
But one or two of them have admitted they would be giving us some grief if positions were reversed. We are all late 40s now though so no dramas – just bants
Smiley face
Novocastrian66
Mar 13, 2018 at 8:01 PM
Comment #48I don’t hate Sunderland supporters, they just get on my nerves. They love nowt more than rubbing our noses in the dirt when we’re struggling. They’re obsessed with NUFC.
You only have to look at their Premier League record. They were happy with mediocrity as long as they beat us.
That is the sum of their ambition.
The only shame for me is; we were dragged down to their level until Rafa took on our righteous cause.
Long live the gap. The longer it goes on, the harder it will be for them to close it.
Nostradamus the Geordie
Mar 13, 2018 at 8:03 PM
Comment #49Sorry, SITC. If you have softened over the last few years maybe you should start wearing Red and white. I remember the years we went down with those ( And I don’t care if its a selective few talking ) mackems jumping on Newcastle United blogs and giving us crap. Back then I said to loads of them, if the shoe is on the other foot you guys will not come straight back up like we will. The back lash was of course what I predicted but I am having the last laugh now, I told them if they went down one division they may go down two. Sorry SITC but in my house hold and going back through my family’s history and support for the Toon over the years, no one wears red in any house hold, that the law and rules. Don’t care about the Derby, don’t care what happens with them, we have enough issues at our club to worry about what happening across the Bridge. The only thing I care about is our club grows back to the club it once was with an owner that tells the truth to his manager and supports him no end. That’s it in a nut shell, we will draw them in a cup somewhere for a derby and that will be fun enough if it happens.
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2018 at 8:07 PM
Comment #50How come Munster has got a minus 1 heart at 33, never seen that before.
G
Mar 13, 2018 at 8:10 PM
Comment #51The 6 in a row does rankle me with the mackems. I don’t really wish them any ill, as Tottenham fans are the ones I hate most. I would like to see all the North East teams doing well, albeit with us aboce them, beating them in our house as well as theirs, and reminding them thats its dark in those shadows.
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 13, 2018 at 8:10 PM
Comment #52Novocastrian
I lived in Washington for a couple of years and made a lot of good friends many of them Mackems, so I don’t have quite such a jaundiced view of them.
But my thinking is similar to SITC’s in that the local derbies were always special occasions and I’d rather we still had them, but obviously I never want to see them winning against us and the last few have been bitter pills to swallow.
My Derby history starts back in the late 50’s by the way.
Novocastrian66
Mar 13, 2018 at 8:23 PM
Comment #53EGB; Don’t let personal friendship cloud your judgement. 🙂
Collectively they hate our club and would love it if our respective positions were reversed.
magscar
Mar 13, 2018 at 8:37 PM
Comment #54Mackems went down to the third division ( League 1 in new money) in 1986/87 losing in a play off to Gillingham on away goals over 2 legs. Back then bottom 2 of division 2 went down and third bottom played off against team finished third or so in third division – can’t recall exact arangements. There were reputedly some Mags at Gillingham leg supporting them – Bobby might recall.
Don’t think they stayed down long. Man City Leeds and Villa also spent time down there we just missed out (thankfully) season KK came as manager
G
Mar 13, 2018 at 8:42 PM
Comment #55Correct Magscar, in ‘new money’ we’ve never been lower than the Championship
magscar
Mar 13, 2018 at 8:47 PM
Comment #56G
It was a near thing though when KK came went to the last game of the season when we won late on at Leicester but the club relegated instead lost their game anyway so win wasn’t needed. They were desperate times but we went up next season and fnished 3rd in First Division after that. Don’t think we will ever see a promoted side finish that high ever again – heady days
bettyswallocks
Mar 13, 2018 at 8:58 PM
Comment #57I don’t want to start another political furore but I see rumours are rife this evening that Corbyn was involved in the Salisbury attempted murder of the Russian guy and his daughter.
If this sticks then surely not even the most ardent Corbyn fanatics can continue to defend him.
ronaldo aarons
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:05 PM
Comment #58You don’t want to start a ‘political furore’ but you’re going to do so anyway. Well done, you showed great restraint. Give yourself a pat on the back. I mean it is very difficult to not bring politics onto a Newcastle United blog.
Novocastrian66
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:05 PM
Comment #59Betty; really?. Where did those rumours surface? Conservative Party headquarters?
Munster Mag
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:16 PM
Comment #60Jail I see people really care about your heart comment.
jazzyp
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:17 PM
Comment #61How long before the takeover rumours start to fly around again ??
I”ll go for as soon as we are safe in the PL.
Jib
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:20 PM
Comment #62bettyswallocks
You buffoon
Corbyn’s been criticised for comments
in Parliament about Russia and the tory party
Our Toon
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:22 PM
Comment #63I keep hearing we have the best league in the world. Sevilla 5th in la liga have drawn at home with Liverpool and man utd, drawn away to Liverpool and now beating man Utd deservedly by 2 goals.
ronaldo aarons
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:24 PM
Comment #64Jazzy
Agree, soon as we are safe. What I am curious about though, what happened to that company that was created, cantervale I think it was called. Has that actually been used or can anyone follow and track it, would be quite interesting if there has been no activity regarding it since it was created.
bettyswallocks
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:29 PM
Comment #65Jib…….. I was told he was definitely involved.
Jib
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:34 PM
Comment #66bettyswallocks
p r i c k
Jail for Ashley
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:38 PM
Comment #67Seriously Munster, I’ve never seen a minus heart, don’t know if it’s another glitch or not @ post 33.
Munster Mag
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:39 PM
Comment #68Our toon Spain is always so strong. The prem league have been telling us for years that they are the best…if the sides from 5th to 10th played in a mini league the Orem wudntvwin either
Munster Mag
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:40 PM
Comment #69No idea mate
Munster Mag
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:41 PM
Comment #70The run from Perez is not an easy skill . He cud be playing tonite for Seville and look ok
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:47 PM
Comment #71Betty
I wouldn’t be surprised if Russia isn’t involved in that attempted murder, never mind Corbyn.
But even if they are, Corbyn as a sleeper, really!!!!
Essex Geordie Bill
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:49 PM
Comment #72That run from Perez was brilliant, think there could be some real confidence building in the squad in all of the players.
ronaldo aarons
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:50 PM
Comment #73The saying our league is better is a term I’ve never really seen as English teams are stronger than others and would beat them. I’ve often associated this saying as better in terms of entertainment so matches that provide end to end action, strong challenges etc.
Offkey
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:55 PM
Comment #74Betty – you’re proving the point that idiots should not try and talk politics…..you should be embarrassed….
ronaldo aarons
Mar 13, 2018 at 9:58 PM
Comment #75Ben yedder always looked talented and had a few glances his way by clubs, including our own. Nobody ever took a punt on him so glad to see him showing up on the big stage.
Our Toon
Mar 13, 2018 at 10:01 PM
Comment #76Ronaldo
Even the entertainment in the PL has been dire this season. Citeh have run away with the title, apart from spurs who got knocked out by juventus, citeh and Liverpool who all play attacking football. The rest sit back, defend and hit on the counter!!
Gone are the days of this being entertaining
Our Toon
Mar 13, 2018 at 10:04 PM
Comment #77Betty
If the same papers or ppl told you that nufc are going to sign someone you’d say bollocks are we.
Papers are full of shite and propaganda, they have an agenda and push this onto people. Unfortunately people for it time and time again.
I’m off, catch up tomorrow!!
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Mar 13, 2018 at 10:04 PM
Comment #78Betsy…don’t give up your day job as Lil’ Sebastian pal 😉
Toonces
Mar 13, 2018 at 10:06 PM
Comment #79Munster/EGB @70/72
Perez did indeed make a great run to set up the 2nd goal. He has made those runs in other matches too but he has a bad habit of not lifting his head to see where his teammates are. He has missed many opportunities to play in his teammates because he played with his head down. Was so glad he looked up this time! His pass to Gayle was perfect. He will be so much better if this is a sign he is breaking this habit.
tommotoon
Mar 13, 2018 at 10:07 PM
Comment #80Back to the issue of Sunderland..top and bottom of it is Newcastle have always been the biggest club in the North East always have been always will be. They are just our poor little neighbours from up the road living in our shadows. I have worked with a lot of Sunderland supporters over the years and they are obsessed with beating us or being higher up the league etc,,jealousy pure jealousy !